Adapting and Improving the Amphibious Combat Vehicle Operational Readiness

Abstract

In 2018 the U.S. Marine Corps selected BAE Systems to manufacture the next generation of armored amphibious vehicles, named the Amphibious Combat Vehicle (ACV). The ACV was designed to support Marine Corps amphibious operations by protecting Marines as they transit from ship to shore under combat and non-combat environments. In November 2020 the first shipment of ACVs was reported to hit the Marine Corps Fleet. As the Marine Corps continues to transition the aging fleet of Assault Amphibian Vehicles to ACVs, fleet readiness on the new ACV is significantly lower than expected. The reduced readiness of the ACV limits the Marine Corps’ ability to prepare for and respond to global conflict. The focus of this research is to examine why ACV readiness levels are low and suggest steps that could be taken at the unit, organization, and program management levels to improve the overall readiness of ACVs. The findings indicate consistent problems with major ACV subsystems, especially suspension, as well as compounding issues within the logistics chain and unit staffing. As new ACV variants approach production and deployment and more ACVs are fielded to the fleet, considerations should be made to potential changes in unit Tables of Organization and Equipment (TO&E), reevaluation of support contracts, additional test and evaluation (T&E) and conducting an independent readiness assessment.