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thedrifter
06-23-09, 06:35 AM
Marines unveil new amphibious vehicle
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June 22, 2009 - 4:11 PM
AMANDA HICKEY

The Marine Corps has a new tool for amphibious operations, two of which have been training at Camp Lejeune for the last two weeks.

The Expeditionary Fighting Vehicle (EFV), slated to replace the current Amphibious Assault Vehicle (AAV) by 2015, will be the primary means of tactical mobility for the Marine rifle squad during amphibious operations and will sustain ground combat operations ashore, according to EVF program officials.

The AAV will be 43 years old when the EFV, which costs approximately $15 million apiece, takes its place. The EFVs are being built by General Dynamics, in Lima, Ohio.

"There are programs that are absolutely and vitally important. One of those is our EFV," said Gen. James Conway, Commandant of the Marine Corps, in a press release. "Navy ships are not going to go closer than 25 miles to another nation's shore for reasons that have to do with the security of the ships and the safety of the Marines and sailors aboard."

So far, plans are in the works to build approximately 573 EFVs, said Emanuel Pacheco, public affairs officer for the USMC Office of the Program Manager for Advanced Amphibious Assault.

There are many advantages to the EFVs, said Staff Sgt. Niceforo Mendoza. Those advantages include a faster travel speed and more weaponry.

While the AAV contained a grenade launcher, the EFV has machine guns.

"The new vehicle is going to exceed by far everything the AAV could do," he said.

According to base officials, the EFV moves three times the speed of the AAV while in water, and has the most powerful diesel engine in the world at 2,700 horsepower.

The hull is comprised of composite armor panels made of ceramics, S2 fiberglass and a Kevlar-like woven fabric in three separate layers, according to a press release from Camp Lejeune. The combination weighs less than 20 pounds per square foot compared to typical rolled steel armor that weighs 56 pounds for foot.

About 20 Marines can fit in the EFV comfortably, Mendoza said, and the vehicle can travel the 25 miles a Navy ship cannot to shore, and more than 200 miles inland before needing to refuel.

"We're supposed to be bringing the infantry to the fight," he said.

Operational testing will for the EFV will be conducted at both Camp Lejeune and Camp Pendleton, Calif.

Contact Amanda Hickey at 910-219-8461 or ahickey@freedomenc.com. Read the Lejeune Deployed blog at http://lejeunedeployed.freedomblogging.com.



Comparing the AAV and EFV

The Expeditionary Fighting Vehicle is slated to replace the Amphibious Assault Vehicle by 2015, after more than 40 years of service.

AAV

Over the horizon: 2 miles

Speed in water: 6 knots/7 mph

Radios: VHF, GPS

Range ashore: 200 MILES

Crew/passengers: 3/18

Lethality: 40mm grenade launcher, non-stabilized 50 cal. Machine gun

Interoperability: Limited.

Base ballistic protection: 7.62mm



EFV

Over the horizon: 25 miles

Speed in water: 25 knots/29 mph

Radios: VHF, UHF, HF(C), SATCOM, GPSED, LRS, C2PC, AFATDS(C)

Range ashore: 300 miles

Crew/passengers 3/17

Lethality: 30mm automatic cannon, 7.62 machine gun, stabilized 360 degree weapons station

Interoperability: Yes

Base ballistic projection: 14.5mm

Ellie