USMC Expeditionary Fighting Vehicle. Note the bow, which is extended into hydroplaning position.

U.S. Marines disembark from an EFV.

The Expeditionary Fighting Vehicle (EFV) is the newest USMC amphibious vehicle, intended for deployment in 2015.^[1] It was renamed from the Advanced Amphibious Assault Vehicle in late 2003. The USMC wants 1,013 AAAV's by 2015. Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 800 × 576 pixelsFull resolution (2025 × 1458 pixel, file size: 149 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) The US Marine Corps Expeditionary Fighting Vehicle. ... General Dynamics Corporation (NYSE: GD) is a defense conglomerate formed by mergers and divestitures, and as of 2006 it is the sixth largest defense contractor in the world[2]. The company has changed markedly in the post-Cold War era of defense consolidation. ... The United States Marine Corps (USMC) is a branch of the United States military responsible for providing power projection from the sea,[1] utilizing the mobility of the U.S. Navy to rapidly deliver combined-arms task forces. ... General Dynamics Corporation (NYSE: GD) is a defense conglomerate formed by mergers and divestitures, and as of 2006 it is the sixth largest defense contractor in the world[2]. The company has changed markedly in the post-Cold War era of defense consolidation. ... Military vehicles are commonly armoured to withstand the impact of shrapnel, bullets or shells, protecting the soldiers inside from enemy fire. ... Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 800 × 576 pixelsFull resolution (5003 × 3602 pixel, file size: 652 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) US Marine Corps Expeditionary Fighting Vehicle while hydroplaning. ... Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 800 × 576 pixelsFull resolution (5003 × 3602 pixel, file size: 652 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) US Marine Corps Expeditionary Fighting Vehicle while hydroplaning. ... United States Marine Corps Emblem The United States Marine Corps (USMC) is the second smallest of the five branches of the United States armed forces, with 170,000 active and 40,000 reserve Marines as of 2002. ... Hydroplaning and hydroplane have several meanings: With boats, planing or hydroplaning is a method by which a hull skims over the surface of the water, rather than plowing through it. ... Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 800 × 576 pixelsFull resolution (2032 × 1463 pixel, file size: 205 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) United States Marines disembarking from an Expeditionary Fighting Vehicle. ... Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 800 × 576 pixelsFull resolution (2032 × 1463 pixel, file size: 205 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) United States Marines disembarking from an Expeditionary Fighting Vehicle. ... United States Marine Corps Emblem The United States Marine Corps (USMC) is the second smallest of the five branches of the United States armed forces, with 170,000 active and 40,000 reserve Marines as of 2002. ... An amphibious vehicle is a vehicle or craft, that is a means of transport, viable on land as well as on water - just like an amphibian. ...

The vehicle is an amphibious armored personnel carrier; launched at sea, from an amphibious assault ship beyond the horizon, able to transport a full Marine rifle squad to shore. It will maneuver cross country with an agility and mobility equal to or greater than the M1 Abrams. The word amphibious or amphibian, when used alone, has several possible meanings in the English language. ... East German BRDMs on parade during celebrations of the 40th anniversary of East Germany in 1989 Armoured personnel carriers (APCs) are light armoured fighting vehicles for the transport of infantry. ... Six of the U.S. Navys assault ships in formation; lead ship and first ship to port are Tarawa-class, all others are Wasp-class Amphibious assault ships, usually shortened to amphibs, phibs or popularly known as gator freighters, denotes a range of classes of warship employed to land... Horizon. ... British Royal Marines in a Rigid Raider assault watercraft Marines (from the English adjective marine, meaning of the sea, from Latin language mare, meaning sea, via French adjective marin(e), of the sea) are, in principle, seaborne land soldiers that are part of a navy. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged into Off-roading. ... The M1 Abrams main battle tank is the principal combat tank of the United States Army, the United States Marine Corps and the Australian Army, with three main versions being deployed starting in 1980: the M1, M1A1, and M1A2. ...

The EFV is designed to replace the aging AAV, and is the Marine Corps' number one priority ground weapon system acquisition. It has three times the speed in water and about twice the armor of the AAV, and superior firepower as well. The Amphibious Assault Vehicle (AAV)—official designation AAV-7A1 (formerly known as LVT-7) is the current amphibious troop transport of the United States Marine Corps and is also operated by other forces. ... Firepower is a measure of the ability of weapons, specifically weapons which involve fire or explosion, to inflict harm, damage, or kill. ...

Background

In the 1980s the Marine corps developed an "over the horizon" strategy for ocean based assaults. The intention was to protect naval ships from enemy mines and shore defenses. It included the MV-22 Osprey, the Landing Craft Air Cushion (LCAC), and the EFV. Polish wz. ... The V-22 Osprey is a joint service, multi-mission aircraft with vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) capability. ... Landing craft Rapière LCU 1656 departs USS Bataan (LHD-5) well deck during Hurricane Katrina relief operations. ...

Development for the AAAV began on the late 1970’s with prototypes in the early 1980’s at the command at Camp Pendleton. The predecessor to the AAAV the LVTP7 life expectancy was extended in 1983/1984 by use of the SLEP (Service Life Extension Program) which modified and upgraded many of the key systems creating the LVTP7A1 then designated the AAVP7A1. At the time these vehicles were released the USMC had anticipated and communicated delivery of the AAAV by the mid 1990’s (1993). Because of delays the AAVP7A1 has received another SLEP type upgrade in the mid 1990’s while the USMC still awaits final development and delivery of the AAAV now over 14 years behind original projected time frames.

Design

The General Dynamics Land Systems EFV is an amphibious armored tracked vehicle with an aluminum hull. The engine is a custom MTU Friedrichshafen diesel (MT883) with two modes of operation; a high power mode for planing over the sea, and a low power mode for land travel. General Dynamics Corporation (NYSE: GD) is a defense conglomerate formed by mergers and divestitures, and as of 2006 it is the sixth largest defense contractor in the world[2]. The company has changed markedly in the post-Cold War era of defense consolidation. ... MTU Friedrichshafen GmbH is a manufacturer of commercial engines. ...

The hull has a hydraulically actuated bow flap to aid planing. Shrouded Honeywell waterjet propulsors are integrated into each side of the hull and hydraulically actuated chines cover the tracks while in seafaring mode. Planing has several meanings: With boats, planing or hydroplaning is a method by which a hull skims over the surface of the water, rather than plowing through it. ... Categories: Marine propulsion | Stub ... Mark-50 torpedo propulsor A propulsor is a mechanical device that gives propulsion. ...

The aluminum hull has caused some controversy due to protection and flammability concerns. However, aluminum hulls have been used for decades in military ground vehicles and boats. The rear loading ramp is not able to open while the vehicle is afloat. This is also typical of other swimming military ground vehicles. For example, the M113 is another armored military ground vehicle the US currently is using that swims. It also has an aluminum hull, and its rear ramp cannot open while the vehicle is afloat. Aluminum is a soft and lightweight metal with a dull silvery appearance, due to a thin layer of oxidation that forms quickly when it is exposed to air. ... A symbol for flammable chemicals Flammability is the ease with which a substance will ignite, causing fire or combustion. ... The M113 is an armored personnel carrier family of vehicles in use with the US military and many other nations. ...

It has a crew of three and can transport 17 Marines and their equipment.

There is a Command Platform version with secure command and control electronics (and seven work stations), but lacking the 30 mm cannon. In telecommunication, the term work station has the following meanings: 1. ...

Armament

It is fitted with composite armor, mine-blast protection, and a nuclear, biological and chemical defense system (NBC). The standard version also has a Bushmaster II 30 mm cannon, which fires up to 250 rounds per minute with single, burst and full auto capabilities up to 2,000 meters in all weather conditions. The Bushmaster II is a derivative of the M242 Bushmaster cannon. ...

Other features;

• 7.62 mm Machine Gun (1, coaxial)
• Smoke / Gas Dispensers (32)
• Rear Troop Hatch
• Top Troop Hatches (2)
• Reinforced Crew Compartment

NATO 7. ... Coaxially mounted weapons refer to those weapon systems that are mounted coaxially, side-by-side, with the main weapon system. ...

Controversy

Reliability issues

In February 2007 the Washington Post reported the USMC was not satisfied with the reliability of the prototypes and was not going to initiate production as planned. Instead the corps has asked for seven new prototypes, to address the current deficiencies which have caused an average of one failure for every four and a half hours of operation.^[2] Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era. ... ... United States Marine Corps Emblem The United States Marine Corps (USMC) is the second smallest of the five branches of the United States armed forces, with 170,000 active and 40,000 reserve Marines as of 2002. ...

IED protection

In June 2007 members of the House Armed Services Subcommittee on Seapower and Expeditionary Forces sent a letter to the Marine Corps Commandant urging that the EFV be redesigned to give troops better protection against roadside bombs.^[3] June 2007 is the sixth month of that year. ...

References

See also

• Amphibious Assault Vehicle
• M242 Bushmaster

The Amphibious Assault Vehicle (AAV)—official designation AAV-7A1 (formerly known as LVT-7) is the current amphibious troop transport of the United States Marine Corps and is also operated by other forces. ... Caliber: 25 mm NATO Firearm action: Chain gun Manufactured by: ATK Barrel Length: 85. ...

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to:

Expeditionary Fighting Vehicle

United States Marine Corps Portal

• Official USMC Site
• MTU diesel engines
• Globalsecurity EFV article

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