MARINE CORPS WEAPONS & VEHICLES

Sea Power, Jan 2006

LIGHT ARMORED VEHICLE (LAV)

The Marine Corps inventory includes more than 700 LAVs in several variants. Eight configurations of the LAV are now in service, including the LAV-25, armed with an M242 25mm chain gun; the LAV-antitank, armed with the TOW missile system; and the LAV-command-and-control version, equipped with a communications suite. The Marine Corps also has produced LAVlogistics vehicles, LAV-81mm mortar carriers, LAV-recovery vehicles, LAV-air defense platforms and LAV-mobile electronic warfare support systems.

The multifold LAV mission profile centers on providing reconnaissance and counter-reconnaissance security force capability in a highly mobile combat environment. LAVs are capable of fording rivers and streams and traversing rough terrain at relatively high speed. During Operation Iraqi Freedom, the Corps mobilized most of its LAV inventory to drive more than 600 miles inland from Kuwait to Tikrit, north of Baghdad, demonstrating the mobility requirement of the modern MAGTE

A service life-extension program for the LAVs is now in process. The objectives of the extension program are to improve vehicle survivability, readiness and maintainability, and reduce fleet operation and support costs by incorporating a block of vehicle upgrades, including a next-generation improved thermal sight system, thermal and visual signature-reduction kits, and electrical/electronic system upgrades. Additional upgrades to the LAVs are under consideration, including an upgrade to a 120mm mortar, a replacement for the LAV-antitank turret, a lethality upgrade for the LAV-25 and an upgrade to the LAV-C2 variant.

M1A1 MAIN BATTLE TANK

The M1A1 is the Marine Corps' only main battle tank. Powered by the Honeywell AGT 1,500-horsepower gas-turbine engine, the 67.6-ton tank has a governed speed of 42 mph, a crosscountry speed of 30 mph and a 279-mile cruising range. It can climb a 60-degree slope at 4.5 mph and traverse a trench three yards wide. It is armed with a 120mm smoothbore gun, a coaxially mounted M240 7.62mm machine gun, an M240 loader's weapon and a .50-caliber M2 commander's weapon. The MlAl is equipped with an NBC overpressure protection system. The Marine Corps began acquiring its new tanks in 1991 and has assigned them to two fleet Marine force battalions, two reserve battalions and three maritime prepositioning ship squadrons. The tanks have seen extensive combat in Iraq since 2003.

MAGTF EXPEDITIONARY FAMILY OF FIGHTING VEHICLES (MEFFV)

The MEFFV is the proposed replacement for the Marine Corps' family of LAVs and the M1A1 main battle tank in the 2018-2022 time frame. The MEFFV is analogous to the U.S. Army's program to field a family of manned ground vehicles as part of its Future Combat System (FCS). The MEFFV may consist of other combat, combat support and combat service support variants to capitalize on commonality of hulls and parts in order to minimize operations and maintenance costs. The Army and Marine Corps have signed a memorandum of agreement to coordinate activities for MEFFV and FCS under a joint program office.