Headquarters Marine Corps (released Jan. 5, 2004): latest version of Marine Corps' amphibious fighting vehicles goes farther, faster.WOODBRIDGE, Va. (October 2003) -- The Marine Corps' newest expeditionary asset is the latest in a series of vehicles that began with the Roebling Alligator alligator, large aquatic reptile of the genus Alligator, in the same order as the crocodile. There are two species—a large type found in the S United States and a small type found in E China. Alligators differ from crocodiles in several ways. in 1932. The new vehicle, formerly known as the Advanced Amphibious Assault Vehicle The Amphibious Assault Vehicle (AAV)—official designation AAV-7A1 (formerly known as LVT-7) is a fully tracked amphibious landing vehicle manufactured by FMC Corporation (now BAE Systems Land and Armaments). , was recently renamed the Expeditionary Fighting Vehicle The Expeditionary Fighting Vehicle (EFV) is the newest USMC amphibious vehicle, intended for deployment in 2015.<ref name="NAVWAR" /> It was renamed from the Advanced Amphibious Assault Vehicle in late 2003. The USMC wants 1,013 AAAV's by 2015. (EFV EFV Expeditionary Fighting Vehicle EFV Electronic Viewfinder EFV Enhanced Fixed Variable (rate) EFV Electric-Field-Variant Function ). In the 20th century, the Corps' focus was on amphibious operations, but the 21st century focus is shifting to expeditionary operations, said Lt. Gen. Emil R. Bedard, the Deputy Commandant for Plans, Policies, and Operations, Headquarters, Marine Corps, during his speech at the renaming ceremony at the Worth Avenue Technology Center in Woodbridge, Va., Sept. 10. Changing the name of the vehicle reflects this cultural change in the Marine Corps' warfighting concepts. In other words Adv. 1. in other words - otherwise stated; "in other words, we are broke" put differently , "a rose by any other name would still smell like burnt oil and diesel fuel," according to Col. Clayton F. Nans, the direct reporting program manager at the technology center. Nans added that this vehicle, which is unique to the Marine Corps, has seen a lot of improvements from the original design and better complements the expeditionary nature of the Corps' current warfighting concepts. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The EFV, along with the MV-22 Osprey osprey (ŏs`prē), common name for a bird of prey related to the hawk and the New World vulture and found near water in most parts of the world. and the Landing Craft Air-Cushioned, are the future of Marine Corps warfighting, said Lt. Gen. Bedard. "It is about being able to go where we want to go and to be able to go as deep and fast as we need to. (The EFV) is the vehicle that will take us from farther out farther out Of or relating to an option contract with a later expiration date than a contract that is currently owned or being considered. For example, a contract with a May expiration date is farther out than a contract with a February expiration date of to sea, to deeper into the heart of the enemy." The predecessor to the EFV, the Amphibious Assault Vehicle (AAV AAV Adeno-Associated Virus AAV Asian-American Village AAV Amphibious Assault Vehicle (US DoD) AAV Association of Avian Veterinarians AAV All Activity Vehicle (Mercedes-Benz) AAV Airborne Assault Vehicle ), has been in service for almost 40 years. The vehicle, which was originally fielded in 1972, has been overhauled and upgraded numerous times throughout its career, but a 1988 Mission Area Analysis determined that it was deficient to meet the Corps' needs in areas such as water and land speed, firepower, armor protection, and system survivability sur·viv·a·ble adj. 1. Capable of surviving: survivable organisms in a hostile environment. 2. That can be survived: a survivable, but very serious, illness. . "The Marine Corps has always been an expeditionary force," said Charles M. Hall, president of General Dynamics Land Systems, which was awarded the contract to develop and demonstrate the vehicle in February 2001. "This new vehicle's capabilities must surpass previous amphibious vehicles so the Marine Corps can continue to exploit the sea and the land." [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The EFV will exceed the requirements set forth by the Marine Corps, Hall said. "We have demonstrated most of those requirements. The EFV will provide the capabilities necessary for the 21st century Marine." The vehicle is expected to exceed the water speed of the AAV by three times; have a land mobility equal to or greater than an M1A1 tank; have increased survivability features over the AAV; provide command and control capabilities to subordinate, adjacent, and higher units; and provide nuclear, biological, and chemical protection for its crew and accompanying troops. Lance Cpls. Edward J. Castleberry and Kenneth D. Koonce, both AAV operators and veterans of Operation Iraqi Freedom, recently had a chance to put the EFV through some of its paces. "Its awesome, absolutely years and years more advanced than what we have now," said Castleberry, a crew chief with 2nd Amphibious Assault Battalion out of Marine Corps Base Camp Lejuene, N.C. "It is way better than the one we have right now--a lot more firepower and speed," added Koonce, an AAV crewman based at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton is the major West Coast base of the United States Marine Corps and serves as its prime amphibious training base.[1] It is located in Southern California between the cities of Oceanside and San Clemente. , Calif. "EFV is much more than an Amphibious Assault Vehicle and truly represents a transformational leap in technology and capability beyond any previous Assault Amphibian amphibian, in zoology amphibian, in zoology, cold-blooded vertebrate animal of the class Amphibia. There are three living orders of amphibians: the frogs and toads (order Anura, or Salientia), the salamanders and newts (order Urodela, or Caudata), and the . EFV will be one of the most capable and advanced fighting vehicles ever fielded," said Gen. Michael W. Hagee, Commandant of the Marine Corps The Commandant of the United States Marine Corps is the highest ranking officer of the United States Marine Corps and a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, reporting to the Secretary of the Navy but not to the Chief of Naval Operations. , in a letter to the direct reporting program manager of the EFV program. The EFV program entered the system development and demonstration phase of the acquisition cycle in December 2000. Since receiving the SSD See solid state disk. contract, General Dynamics Land Systems subsidiary, General Dynamics Amphibious Systems has been fabricating and testing the second generation of the vehicle. They have completed three and will build a total of nine of the second generation prototypes and one live-fire test vehicle at the Worth Center facility. They will also develop the low-rate initial production design. Looking ahead, General Dynamics Amphibious Systems expects to enter into operational assessments in fiscal year 05, according to Hall. Extensive testing of the reliability, survivability, and capabilities of the prototype vehicles will continue throughout the SSD phase. This is a long-term program and a third generation of the EFV will be developed before it is fielded, said Nans. "We expect to begin fielding the EFV in fiscal year 2008." Currently, a total of 1,013--935 EFVP, for personnel, and 78 EFVC, command vehicles--are scheduled to be built and delivered through fiscal year 2018. General Dynamics has selected a Prince William County facility for production of the EFV. Staff Sgt. Cindy Fisher, USMC |
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