"Most of the machines are out of whack": the US investigates the loss of marines in the AAV in 2020

The United States investigated the loss of 11 Marines who sank along with the AAV assault vehicle off the coast of California in July 2020. The military investigation assigned responsibility to the battalion commander, who allowed the faulty equipment to be used by unprepared soldiers.

Expeditionary platoon on faulty equipment

The Marine Platoon was added to the Expeditionary Force, received into service with the AAV and was preparing for a business trip abroad.

The platoon received equipment late, was not properly trained and tested, and was equipped with an AAV in a terrible state.

- the investigator considers.

During the exercise, the platoon fought all day with mechanical breakdowns of several vehicles. As a result, 4 amphibians were left on one of the islands after disembarkation, the remaining nine left the beach and headed towards the ship, which was almost three miles away. One of the AAVs, already in the process of moving, lost contact with the ship, and the other required towing due to a malfunction.

On one of the vehicles that continued to move, a leak occurred, the water rose by about 50 cm. But the commander, instead of evacuating the crew, preferred to “desperately wave the distress flag”. The signal was noticed on one of the neighboring AAVs only 20 minutes later and information about the incident was transmitted by radio communication. There was no rescue boat aboard the ship. When the water rose to chest level, the vehicle commander gave the order to evacuate.

The Marines, with their bulky Kevlar body armor and some with flotation collars and rifles, struggled to open the top hatch and get out.

- indicates the investigation.

The water rushing inside knocked the crew to the ground, causing "shock and disorientation." As a result, only 26 out of 3 Marines managed to get out of the 13-ton AAV, two of them survived.

Management oversights

In addition to safety failures and delays in the evacuation of the crew, critical failures in the mechanical state of the vehicles were found.

- explained in the investigation.

After the incident, the AAV fleet was thoroughly checked. As a result, it was found that "most of them are out of order", with a leaky hull, an inoperative exit emergency lighting system and an inappropriate bilge pump.

The battalion commander was appointed as the main culprit, who handed out faulty equipment to the Bravo company, instructing them to repair it on their own, and also did not follow the preparation of the unit. He has already been fired "for loss of confidence."

The battalion commander really tried to fix the disruptions in the service of the AAV platoon as soon as he found out about them. But he made mistakes in the management of the unit

- consider in the command.

Comments

[Vladimir_2U]

I feel sorry for people, but as a soldier of the most probable enemy, and what is there, the enemy, I do not feel sorry at all. Well, the level of training of both the composition and the technique, and even that of the vaunted US MC, cannot but rejoice.

[Uncle lee]

only 26 out of 3 Marines managed to get out of the 13-ton AAV, two of them survived.

They couldn't even get out, and only two of those who got out were rescued .... Horror!

[Mwg]

The USA today more and more resembles the USSR at the end of its existence.

[YOUR]

I wonder why you made such a conclusion.

[Slipper 2]

At the time, the Muscovites did not have sneakers or gum, so they betrayed the country by making a shameful choice for everyone.
And myrikos have something to wear and chew, so there is nothing in common at all

[yehat2]

Quote: Taptyzhka 2

The Musketeers didn't have sneakers or gum

began the destruction of the USSR Khrushchev, who was never a Muscovite
and in the absence of sneakers and chewing gum, this was done for the sake of built socialism in a separate apartment, i.e. a kind of imitation of the contentment of the philistine, on the one hand, and the uncontrolled growth of party privileges, on the other. And the party was in all the republics, and there was no difference between the Uzbek bai and the Lithuanian leader. They equally tried in their place to squeeze out financial flows and privileges as much as possible and make the transfer of these privileges to children. Those. in essence, restore private ownership of the "common" country and its resources and infrastructure.

[Lech from Android.]

They found an extreme ... battalion commander, put faulty equipment in the unit, and when it turned out to be your fault, the battalion commander turned out to be to blame ... it looks like someone should be put higher against the wall.

[carstorm 11]

Such a position is always a responsibility. You are to blame for everything, by definition, because these are your people and you are responsible for their lives. Having faulty equipment during such events, you cannot be unaware of its condition. And in fact, he risked the lives of his subordinates. He generally has to sit. Crew training is also his fiefdom. Throwing into the water with such training is also a crime of the highest order.

[Lech from Android.]

Here is a fork for the responsible commander, if he refuses to go to carry out a combat mission with faulty equipment, he will also be fired.
If he refuses to accept faulty equipment, he will also be removed from office and a different, more loyal one will be appointed.
In the army, orders must be followed, not questioned.

[carstorm 11]

Not certainly in that way. If you want not to have such a choice, do your job. The hardware should be in order. People must constantly learn. And you don't have to make that choice. There is no fork here. And the truth reminds the late USSR.

[Lech from Android.]

In the described case, the battalion commander made a number of mistakes that spoke of his inexperience.
Did not check the readiness of military equipment to carry out the order,
did not inform his superiors in time about the malfunction of the equipment, did not prepare the personnel for actions in an extreme situation, did not give the order in time to save people ... the result is natural.
If you can't look one step ahead, be prepared to get a bunch of problems.

[Mordvin 3]

Quote: carstorm 11

The hardware should be in order.

You know, my materiel was always in order. But the antibiotic (Victor Palych) destroyed our plant.

[Old tanker]

The whole problem is that the US Armed Forces have no fixed equipment in the unit. It is obtained from the storage base before exercises or hostilities. Therefore, what the battalion commander was given, on that he had to study. He left some of the faulty cars on the shore. Those who were more or less sure were sent afloat. The main mistake here is the late started evacuation. Well, the unprepared personnel. And sergeants are responsible for his individual training in the US Armed Forces. So there are many questions not only to the battalion commander. Although, he, as the head of the lesson, is definitely to blame. And we would have planted it 100%.
But the state of technology of a potential adversary cannot but rejoice. It reminds me of the end of the 90s, the very beginning of the XNUMXs with us. When there were no spare parts or spare parts. And the repair was carried out at best by cannibalism of cars awaiting major overhaul.

[Lara Croft]

Quote: Old Tanker

The whole problem is that the US Armed Forces have no fixed equipment in the unit. It is obtained from the storage base before exercises or hostilities. Therefore, what the battalion commander was given, on that he had to study.

Almost right. In each US DMF, these vehicles are in service with a separate battalion (4 AAV companies), which are attached to the MP regiments, respectively, if the investigation has established that there are many defective AAVs in the division, then the battalion commander of the separate amphibious assault battalion and the division commander himself may be dismissed. , well, this is in the event that the cars were not brought from the storage base, but for any reason those who did not check the equipment and ditched the military unit and the one who was responsible for the technical condition of the cars because of this ... You can't get off with a battalion commander ...
After all, the relatives of the victims will file claims against the US Department of Defense, otherwise they will file recourse claims against officials because of whom people drowned, respectively, the US Department of Defense needs more than one culprit, one will not recoup all legal costs ...

[Lara Croft]

Quote: Lech from Android.

If he refuses to accept faulty equipment, he will also be removed from office and a different, more loyal one will be appointed.

You're not right. The Ukrainian battalion commander in the ATO zone refused to accept the tanks that came from the factory and they left with defects back ...

The adviser to the Ukrainian president, Yuri Biryukov, confirmed the information that one of the battalions refused to sign documents on the acceptance of tanks. True, at the same time, Mr. Biryukov claims that the reason for the refusal was "just the absence of walkie-talkies."

https://topwar.ru/66406-ukrainskie-kombaty-ne-podpisyvayut-dokumenty-o-priemke-noveyshih-tankov-ot-poroshenko.html

[Old tanker]

Turn in the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, there are also such fundamental ones. And as a rule, in spite of the pressure they get their way.

[Lara Croft]

Quote: Old Tanker

Turn in the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, there are also such fundamental ones. And as a rule, in spite of the pressure they get their way.

Yes, I do not doubt the Legendary and Invincible and her l / s ...

[matross]

Quote: carstorm 11

in fact, he risked the lives of his subordinates. He generally has to sit. Crew training is also his fiefdom. Throwing into the water with such training is also a crime of the highest order.

Forgive me, please, but did you personally command what in life?
Whatever happens, in any army, in any situation - a commander for kichu! From all the cracks, nulliparous mothers and non-commanding officers crawl out and race to denounce and stigmatize!
The commander of the car (not the battalion commander!) Waited until water was up to his chest and waved his flag, instead of ordering to remove the equipment and armor. I hope the shrimp are eating it now! On the ship (!) There was no boat for rescue - also the battalion commander did not provide ?!

[YOUR]

Of course the battalion commander is to blame. If the equipment is faulty, then why did he not leave it in the box, did not organize repairs. If the equipment was already from the factory in an unusable condition, then why was silent. Definitely guilty. And he and the deputy head or whatever they call a similar position. Another culprit is the platoon commander who is in charge of this technique.

[alexey sidykin]

This is not their technique, it was given to them before the teachings. Do you at least read before writing the comintarii

[Lara Croft]

Quote: Lech from Android.

It looks like someone should be placed higher against the wall.

or for example someone lower, such as deputy. by the tech battalion ...

[Prisoner]

What's wrong? He flashed bread with bread, in fact he killed people.

[Mordvin 3]

He has already been fired "for loss of confidence."
Whom does it remind me of ... iPhone with Meadow, or something ...

[Thrifty]

The last one is much easier to appoint, especially when about
the investigation is being carried out "yesterday," here you can even blame a squid that sailed past.

[Mikhail Zakharov]

battalion commander. daddy battalion commander

[svp67]

There was no rescue boat aboard the ship.

And in this the same battalion commander was to blame ...?
In short, a "switchman" was appointed.

[Olddetractor]

I wonder how this rescue boat didn't turn up?

[svp67]

Quote: Olddetractor

I wonder how this rescue boat didn't turn up?

The battalion commander sent to the nearest port for vodka not otherwise ...

[Old tanker]

I don’t know about them, but before the start of the lesson, the leader of the lesson must make sure that there are life-saving equipment and their readiness for use. And to have constant communication with the head of the rescue and evacuation group. If the SEG is not ready, it is strictly forbidden to carry out swimming lessons (underwater driving of tanks).

[svp67]

Quote: Old Tankman

I don’t know about them, but we

Yes, they do the same. But even this does not negate the personal readiness to act in extreme situations. And they, it seems, were not ready for this and there were gaps in training, and not only the battalion commander is responsible for this, but also the entire command link, starting with the squad leader.

[Old tanker]

They didn't even have a rescue boat! And the battalion commander did not even know about it!
Complete negligence of him, as the leader of the lesson. Unless, of course, they have, like ours.

[Retvizan 8]

Yes, the boys have a cruel death!
Although they are now our potential enemies, I still sympathize.

[bar]

The battalion commander was appointed as the main culprit. gave out company "Bravo" faulty equipment

What it means gave out? And before that, the company did not have its own equipment? And the equipment itself was somewhere else in a neglected state? Then it was not surprising that the equipment was faulty, and the personnel did not know how to handle it.

[Usher]

Quote: bar

The battalion commander was appointed as the main culprit. gave out company "Bravo" faulty equipment

What it means gave out? And before that, the company did not have its own equipment? And the equipment itself was somewhere else in a neglected state? Then it was not surprising that the equipment was faulty, and the personnel did not know how to handle it.

their equipment is not assigned to units.

[Lara Croft]

Quote: bar

What it means gave out? And before that, the company did not have its own equipment?

Did not have. All these vehicles are collected in a separate battalion of the DMP, see my comment ...

[bar]

Cool. Didn't know about it. Are tanks given to tankers before the battle, too?

[Lara Croft]

Quote: bar

Cool. Didn't know about it. Are tanks given to tankers before the battle, too?

Since XB, its staff has not changed:
The division is the largest tactical compound of the ground forces of the marines. It includes the 19000 man. The division is armed:
70 Abrams tanks M1A1,
12 203,2-mm self-propelled howitzers M110,
16 155 mm M109 self-propelled howitzers,
80 towed howitzers M198,
72 81-mm mortar M29A1,
81 60-mm Mortar M-224,
144 ATGM "TOU",
216 Dragon ATCM,
208 floating BTR and about 3000 cars.
The division includes:
headquarters with headquarters battalion
three regiments of marines
artillery regiment
separate battalions: tank, light motorized infantry, reconnaissance, floating armored personnel carriers and engineering.
https://topwar.ru/8027-morskaya-pehota-ssha.html
Now there is a reform of the ILC, in order to change the structure and method of application of the ILC ...

According to the plans of the American military department, the number of the USMC will be reduced by about 20 thousand people, thereby coming to the final figure of 170 thousand Marines. All seven tank units will be cut, as well as ships intended for transporting tanks.. Instead of heavy armored vehicles, LAV-25 wheeled armored personnel carriers and ACV amphibious combat vehicles will be introduced, which will replace tracked landing vehicles (AAV) in the KMP. As the commander of the Marine Corps, General David Berger, said in the future, the U.S. ILC does not expect to conduct large-scale military operations against serious opponents. In the current configuration, the Marine Corps has exhausted its capabilities and cannot resist Russia and China, so in the future the emphasis will be on compact, mobile troops that do not have heavy weapons.

https://topwar.ru/169381-korpus-morskoj-pehoty-ssha-lishitsja-vsej-tjazheloj-bronetehniki.html

The ILC will include an experimental littoral (coastal) regiment, the Marine Littoral Regiment (MLR). While on it new concepts of application will be tested and the structure of the formation itself will be improved. The results should help in deciding on a broader reorganization of the expeditionary force. Improvement of the organizational structure of the expeditionary infantry units (MEU) is also being studied.

https://iz.ru/993335/aleksei-tarasov/more-po-koleno-amerikantcy-gotoviatsia-k-konfliktu-s-kitaem

[Lara Croft]

The United States investigated the loss of 11 Marines who sank along with the AAV assault vehicle off the coast of California in July 2020.

Which modification of it drowned? As far as I know, it should be replaced with ACV 1.1 from BAE Systems.
It can be assumed that the drowned vehicle either stood without operation in the AAV DMP battalion or was driven from the storage base before the exercises without checking its performance.
The machine itself is reliable, but morally outdated; in addition to the US ILC, AAV operators are Japan, South Caucasus, Argentina, Brazil, Venezuela, Indonesia, Spain, Italy, Thailand, Taiwan ...
Here is an article on the VO website, incl. and about her - https://topwar.ru/100975-desantnyy-plavayuschiy-bronetransporter-lvtp7-aav7a1-ssha.html