b'Warfighter Focus ceivedbybothcrewmanThe Ordnance BombThe Ordnance Bomband mechanics alike.Cor-poral Delgado, a mechanic amongst the company stat-ed The external armor and underbellyprotectionof Ordnance Marines help write a newthe v-shaped hull will save Marines lives in combat. Despiteitsweight chapter in Marine Corps history theACVisquitenim-ble,drawingoffofa690 horsepower Cursor in-line Submitted by the Marines of Maintenance Platoon Amphibious Combat Vehicle Company D six-cylindersupercharged engine.The engine com-For the past ten months, Ma- partment is separated from rines with Delta Company, 3rd As- thecrewcompartment saultAmphibianBattalion(AABN)greatlyreducingengine havebeensupportingtheinitialnoiseandexhaustfumes.ACVs conducting ship to shore movementfielding of the Amphibious CombatThe ACV is able to achievewheeledmobilityoverof(RWS) is the same utilizedhitsduringengagements Vehicle (ACV), while simultaneous- speeds in excess of 65 mphtracks is the ability to loseon a variety of Marine andout to the weapon systems lywrappingupoperationsfortheon roadways and 56 mphmultiple wheels and the ve- Army platforms during themax effective range.Gun-Company.In October of 2020 Deltaoff-road.The overall ridehicle is still able to maneu- wars in Iraq and Afghani- ners were routinely able to Company accepted the first 18 ACVsofthevehicleismuchver out of a kill zone.All ofstan.Corporal Burger, oneeffectivelyengagetargets fieldedtotheFleetMarineForce.smootherthantheAAV,these benefits combine forofDCosmechanicsstat- with the M2 .50 cal. out to The fielding of the ACVs was bitter- usingeightindependenta powerful vehicle capableed, The RWS is a massive1,830 meters and the MK-sweetasthecompanywasnotifiednitrogen charged strut as- oftacklingawidevarietyupgrade from the previous19outto1,500meters. the month prior, under Force Designsemblies.Theengineisof terrain while increasinggeneration up gun weaponEven the best legacy AAV 2030 initiatives they would be deacti- combinedwithasevencrewcomfort.Accordingstation, making the ACV aUGWS gunners would be vating in July 2021. speedAllisontransmis- to the ACV platoons main- more lethal vehicle than itshard pressed to put rounds Over the next nine years, thesion.Powerisprovidedtenancechief,Sergeantpredecessor.Replacingon target faster than a rel-MarineCorpsisscheduledtofullytothewheelsthroughanCapstran, the ACV, Is thethe AAVP7 Up Gun Weap- ativelynewandinexperi-transition to the ACV from the legacyH-drivesystembeginningCadillac of Amphibious Ve- onStation(UGWS),theenced ACV gunner using a Amphibious Assault Vehicle (AAV).at the engine and transmis- hicles.Gone are the daysgunner now sits behind theCROWS.Delta Company and their AAVs havesion moving to the transferof breathing in exhaust andvehicle commander and isThisincreasein been a fixture aboard MarineCorpscase where power is redi- dieselfumeswhileyellingprotected inside of the hulltechnology comes at a cost, AirGroundCombatCenterTwen- rected to each side via eightto the Marines next to youof the ACV. The gunnerthe ACV is equipped with tynine Palms supporting mechanizedgearboxes.Thevehicleinordertocommunicateoperatesthesystemviaamanysophisticatedsys-training for over 40 years.The com- normally is operated in six- simplecommands.Em- joystick and display screen,tems which are vastly more pany was initially formed in 1979 asACVs ready to begin operations during ITX 3-21 wheel drive mode, with thebarked infantry and crew- equippedwithbothther- complex than the AAV.The part of an independent platoon underand helping train countless Marinescle from Iveco. The ACV is quite aoption of eight wheel drivemancannoweasilyholdmal and visual optics.ThenextgenerationofAAV 3d Tank Battalion.The platoon grewforDesertCombatOperationsindeparturefromtheAAV,themostand eight wheel differentialaconversationwhiletheCROWSisgyroscopicallyandACVmechanicswill in size in 1980 with two platoons ar- Desert Storm, Afghanistan, and Iraq.obvious difference is trading in trackslock depending on terrain.vehicle is moving at a highstabilizedandhasabili- need to develop an entire-rivingfromHawaii,reinforcingtheWhile many veterans will befor wheels.The vehicle is also larg- Thewheelassembliescanrate of speed.ty to shoot on the move, aly new mindset in order to platoonintoacompanywhilestillsad to see the venerable AAV retire,er in stature and weight, tipping thebe inflated or deflated viaOneofthemostcapability the UGWS doestroubleshoot and maintain remaining a part of 3d Tanks.Thethe latest generation of ordnance Ma- scales in excess of 70,500 lbs.Whilea central tire inflation sys- dramatic changes the ACVnot possess.The CROWSthe vehicles.While some company was re-designated as Del- rines are excited to make history.Thethe ACV may be heavier, this bulktem,similartothosein- provides is the increase inisalsoequippedwithatime tested techniques like ta Company, 3d Assault AmphibianACV marks the first new ordnanceaidsinitssurvivabilityagainstIm- stalled on the Medium Tac- the lethality of the vehicleslaserrangefinderwhichunderstanding the path of Battalion, in 1981.Since that time,vehicletheMarineCorpshasac- provised Explosives Devices (IEDs).ticalVehicleReplacementweapons system.The Com- providesaballisticfiringflow for a given system will many generations of Delta Companyquired in over 30 years.The vehiclesIEDs took a heavy toll on AAVs in(MTVR) and Logistics Ve- monRemotelyOperatedsolutionforawiderangegreatlyaidindiagnostics. ordnance Marines have built a prouddesign is based off an Italian vehicleland combat operations in Iraq andhicleSystemReplacementWeapon Station (CROWS)of weapons systems.These legacy maintaining their equipmentnamed the Super Amphibious Vehi- theupgradedprotectioniswellre- (LVSR).A key benefit ofor Remote Weapon SystemfactorsallowfirstroundContinued Next Page 4 Custodis Pro Ferrum Volume 3, Issue 4 Continued Page 305Thank You For Your Service HOctober 2021H Military Appreciation Resource Magazine 29'