The history of the LVTP7/AAV7 may be summarized as follows:Why is this quick and dirty rundown of the AAV important? Simple! It shows the date of service entry for the AAV, highlights the various name changes that have been used to paper over the replacement issue and perfectly illustrates the danger that future Marines are being placed in by having a vehicle that has a projected service life of....58 years!
- 1972 - 1975 LVT7 Fielded. Most common variant was the LVTP7.
- 1983 - 1986 LVT7A1 Service Life Extension Program (SLEP)
- 1987 Redesignated AAV7A1 to better reflect mission
- 1987 - 1999 Product Improvement Program (PIP) - Upgrade Lethality, Survivability and Communications
- 1999 – 2003 AAV7A1 Vehicle Reliability, Availability and Maintainability/Rebuild to Standard Program (RAM/RS)
Yeah you read that right. The United States Marine Corps is planning on keeping the Amphibious Assault Vehicle in service for 58 years.
Consider. This is the same as asking a Marine Tanker to drive a Sherman into combat during the 1st Gulf War!
The F-35 has destroyed the Marine Corps' budget and appears to be well on its way to destroying the institution itself. This is no longer bothersome.
The USMC has an armored vehicle crisis.
SIDENOTE: This may all become irrelevant. I can't imagine the vehicles even being road worthy much less combat ready for much longer. Even if the replacement ACV is delivered on time there will be at least a 5 year gap (by my estimation) of the Marine Corps NOT having armored protection for its infantry forces...at least 5 years and probably longer.
