Jeff19-The AAV7-A1 amphibian vehicle series Part II: The service
Thanks to the following sources:
This article is the following and last part of the first issue:
http://www.modelairplanecollectors.com/forum/topics/jeff18-the-aav7...
The LVTP-5
LVTP-5 during a landing exercise.
The LVTP-5 (Landing Vehicle, Tracked, Personnel) was a family of amphibious armored fighting vehicles used by the United States Marine Corps.
It was designed by the BorgWarner company and built by FMC (Food Machinery Corporation) along with a few other companies. It was first accepted into service in 1956. Some 1,124 basic units were produced, plus the specialist variants, and many saw action in the Vietnam War.
It was an evolution of the LVT-1 to LVT-4 World War II era Landing Vehicle Tracked series, but was considerably larger and could carry 30-34 combat-armed troops. A smaller design based on the M59 APC was also produced as the LVT-6, but only a handful built.
The LVTP-5 was replaced in service by the LVT-7 family.
The most common type was the LVTP-5, an armored personnel carrier, with mine-sweeper, command, recovery and fire support variants, the latter mounting a 105 mm howitzer. An anti-aircraft version was prototyped, but never saw service.
Variants:
LVTP-5 (Landing Vehicle Tracked, Personnel) - armored personnel carrier.
LVTC-5 (Landing Vehicle, Tracked, Command) - command vehicle.
LVTH-6 (Landing Vehicle, Tracked, Howitzer) - fire support variant armed with 105 mm howitzer. 210 units built.
LVTR-1 (Landing Vehicle, Tracked, Recovery) - recovery vehicle. 65 units built.
LVTE-1 (Landing Vehicle, Tracked, Engineer) - mine-sweeper. 41 units built.
LVTAA-X1 (Landing Vehicle, Tracked, Anti Aircraft) - anti-aircraft variant, to be fitted with the turret of the M42 Duster. Only prototype built.
The LVTP-7 giving the AAV7
The LVTP-7 was first introduced in 1972 as a replacement for the LVTP-5.
The LVTP-7.
Altaya/IXO 1/72 models of AAVP7.
In 1982, FMC was contracted to conduct the LVTP-7 Service Life Extension Program, which converted the LVT-7 vehicles to the improved AAV-7A1 vehicle by adding an improved engine, transmission, and weapons system and improving the overall maintainability of the vehicle.
-The hydraulic traverse and elevation of the weapon station was replaced by electric motors, which eliminated the danger from hydraulic fluid fires.
-The suspension and shock absorbers were strengthened as well.
-The fuel tank was made safer, and a fuel-burning smoke generator system was added.
-Eight smoke grenade launchers were also placed around the armament station.
-The headlight clusters were housed in a square recess instead of the earlier round type.
-The driver was provided with an improved instrument panel and a night vision device, and a new ventilation system was installed.
These upgraded vehicles were originally called LVT-7A1, but the Marine Corps renamed the LVTP-7A1 to AAV-7A1 in 1984.
Spanish Marines AAVP7 in demo at Santander.
Another improvement was added in the form of a Cadillac Gage weapon station or Up-Gunned Weapon Station (UGWS) which was armed with both a .50 cal (12.7 mm) M2HB machine gun and a Mk-19 40 mm grenade launcher.
Enhanced Applique Armor Kits (EAAK) were developed for the AAV-7A1 in 1989 and fitted by 1993, and the added weight of the new armor necessitated the addition of a bow plane kit when operating afloat.
AAVP7/A1.
The Assault Amphibian Vehicle Reliability, Availability, Maintainability/Rebuild to Standard (AAV RAM/RS) Program has provided for a replacement of both the engine and suspension with US Army M2 Bradley Fighting Vehicle (BFV) components modified for the AAV. The ground clearance has returned to 16 inches and the horsepower to ton ratio has changed from 13 to 1 back to 17 to 1.
Dragon Armor 1/72 model - AAVP7-A1 RAM/AS w EAAK, 2nd Assault Amphibian Battalion, USMC, Iraq 2005.
The AAV RAM/RS rebuild encompassed all AAV systems and components in order to return the AAV back to the original vehicle's performance specifications and ensure acceptable Fleet Marine Force (FMF) AAV readiness ratings until the EFV is operational.
Introduction of the BFV components and the rebuild to standard effort is expected to reduce maintenance costs for the remaining life of the AAV through the year 2013.
Future replacement:
Renamed from the Advanced Assault Amphibious Vehicle in late 2003, the Expeditionary Fighting Vehicle (EFV) was designed to replace the ageing AAV. Able to transport a full Marine rifle squad to shore from an amphibious assault ship beyond the horizon with three times the speed in water and about twice the armor of the AAV, and superior firepower as well it was the Marine Corps' number one priority ground weapon system acquisition. The EFV was intended for deployment in 2015.
The EFV prototype.
However, in January 2011 United States Defense Secretary Robert Gates announced plans to cancel the Expeditionary Fighting Vehicle. In 2012, the USMC dropped the EFV and cancelled the program. The AAV-7 is planned to remain in service for some years to come. Replacement of the AAV will now come from the Amphibious Combat Vehicle program.
Variants:
LVTP-7: Original series introduced from 1972. Originally armed with a M85 .50cal machine gun and Mk-19 Grenade launcher.
LVTP-7A1: 1982 upgraded. Renamed to AAVP-7A1 from 1984.
AAVP-7A1 (Personnel): This is the most common AAV, as it carries a turret equipped with an M2HB .50 caliber heavy machine gun, and a Mk19 40mm automatic grenade launcher. It carries four crew radios as well as the AN/VIC-2 intercom system. It is capable of carrying 25 combat equipped Marines in addition to the crew of 4: driver, crew chief/vehicle commander, gunner, and rear crewman.
AAVC-7A1 (Command): This vehicle does not have a turret, and much of the cargo space of the vehicle is occupied by communications equipment. This version only has two crew radios, and in addition to the VIC-2, it also carries two VRC-92s, a VRC-89, a PRC-103 UHF radio, a MRC-83 HF radio and the MSQ internetworking system used to control the various radios. This AAV has a crew of 3, and additionally carries 5 radio operators, three staff members, and two commanding officers. Recently, the C7 has been upgraded to use Harris Falcon II class radios, specifically the PRC-117 for VHF/UHF/SATCOM, and the PRC-150 for HF.
AAVR-7A1 (Recovery): This vehicle also does not have a turret. The R7 is considered the "wrecker", as it has a crane as well as most tools and equipment needed for field repairs. It is by far the heaviest of the three, and sits considerably lower in the water. Crew of three, not including the repairmen.
Dragon Armor 1/72 model - AAVR7A1 w/EAAK, USMC, Iraq 2006.
An AAVR-7A1 attached to the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit splashes into the Pacific Ocean from the well deck of USS Juneau before heading to the beach.
"MICLICs": Many P7s have been modified to carry the Mk 154 MCLC (or MiCLiC, for Mine Clearance Line Charge). The MCLC kit can fire three linear demolition charges to breach a lane through a minefield. MCLCs were used in the 1991 Persian Gulf War and again in Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003.
P7 MCLCs
In the 1970s, the US Army used an LVTP-7 as the basis for their Mobile Test Unit (MTU), a ground-based antiaircraft high energy laser. After several successful test firings at Redstone Army Arsenal, the laser was reportedly transferred to NASA.
Combat history:
Argentine Marines in the Falkland Islands
Twenty U.S.-built LVTP-7s were used by Argentina during the 1982 invasion of the Falkland Islands with all of them returning to the Argentine mainland before the war ended.
Argentina's LVTP-7s in the Falklands, 1982.
From 1982–1984, LVTP-7s were deployed with U.S. Marines as part of the multi-national peacekeeping force in Beirut, Lebanon. As Marines became increasingly involved in hostilities, several vehicles sustained minor damage from shrapnel and small arms fire.
On October 25, 1983 U.S. Marine LVTP-7s conducted a highly successful amphibious landing on the island of Grenada as part of Operation Urgent Fury.
It was heavily used in the 1991 Gulf War and the 2003 invasion of Iraq and has been criticized for providing poor protection for the crew and passengers compared with other vehicles such as the M2 Bradley.
Eight of them were disabled or destroyed during the Battle of Nasiriyah, where they faced RPG, mortar, tank and artillery fire. At least one vehicle was destroyed by fire from friendly A-10 Warthog attack planes.
AAV-7A1s were also used extensively in the Persian Gulf War and in Operation Restore Hope.
USMC AAVP7/A1 in Iraq, April 2004.
AAVP7/A1 characteristics:
Type Armoured personnel carrier
Place of origin United States
Service history:
In service 1972–present Used by See Operators
Wars 1982 invasion of the Falkland Islands, Gulf War, Operation
Restore Hope, Iraq War
Production history:
Designer FMC Corporation
Manufacturer FMC Corporation
Produced 1972
Specifications
Weight 29.1 tons
Length 7.94 m (321.3")
Width 3.27 m (128.72")
Height 3.26 m (130.5")
Crew 3+25
Armor 45 mm
Main armament: Mk 19 40 mm automatic grenade launcher (864 rounds) or
M242 Bushmaster 25mm (900 rounds)
Secondary armament: M2HB .50-caliber (12.7 mm) machine gun (1200 rounds)
Engine: Detroit Diesel 8V-53T (P-7),
Cummins VT 400 903 (P-7A1) 400 hp (300 kW)
VTAC 525 903 525 hp(AAV-7RAM-RS)
Power/weight 18 hp/tonne
Suspension torsion-bar-in-tube (AAV-7A1);
torsion bar (AAV-7RAM-RS)
Operational range: 480 km (300 miles); 20 NM in water, including survival in Sea
State 5
Speed 24–32 km/h (15–20 mph) off-road,
72 km/h surfaced road, 13.2 km/h water (45 mph, 8.2 mph)
More surprisingly, here is a link to a Russian documentary recapitulating the LVTs history !!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L4citT3yPtA
And this is the end of this article !!
I hope this post might be of some interest for you, mates!
Bye and take care all !
Jeff
Thanks to the following sources:
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