- Marines at Camp Pendleton in California took the Corps' new Amphibious Combat Vehicle out for low-light and nighttime testing this month.
- The Amphibious Combat Vehicle will replace the Amphibious Assault Vehicle, which has been in service since 1972, starting in late 2020.
- Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.
The world is constantly advancing around us. As the most feared fighting force in the world, it is imperative Marines advance their capabilities along with it. The Corps' new Amphibious Combat Vehicle is here to improve Marines' amphibious capabilities.
Marines with the Amphibious Vehicle Test Branch, Marine Corps Tactical Systems Support Activity, tested the ACV's maneuverability and performance during low-light and night operations on Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton's beaches, December 16-18.
The Marines spent hours driving ACVs the Southern California surf and in the open ocean to assess how well they could interface with the vehicle and conduct operations in low light.
"AVTB has been on Camp Pendleton since 1943," said David Sandvold, the director of operations for AVTB. "We are the only branch in the military who uses our warfighters to test equipment that is in development."