AAV-7A1
Summary
| Origin country | 🇺🇸 United States |
| Category | Armored Personnel Carrier |
| Sub-type | Amphibious armored personnel carrier |
| Manufacturer | BAE Systems Platforms & Services |
| Number built | 942 units |
| Est. avg unit price | $2.5 million |
Technical specifications
| Crew | 3+21 personnels |
| Range | 480 km |
| Mass | 24.0 tons |
| Height | 3.26 m (10.7 ft) |
| Width | 3.27 m (10.7 ft) |
| Length | 7.94 m (26.0 ft) |
| Max. speed | 72 km/h (45 mph) |
| Engine | Cummins VTA-903T (P-7A1), 525 hp |
| Weapon 1 | Mk 19 40 mm automatic grenade launcher |
| Weapon 2 | 12.7 mm M2HB heavy machine gun |
| Weapon 3 | M153 Common Remotely Operated Weapon Station (CROWS) |
| Weapon 4 | Mk 154 Mine Clearance Line Charge (MCLC) |
Further Reading
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Historical operators
Description
The AAV-7A1, originally designated Landing Vehicle, Tracked, Personnel-7 (LVTP-7), was developed to replace the LVTP-5. The United States Marine Corps initiated the requirement in 1964, seeking improved range, water speed, and maintainability. FMC Corporation designed the vehicle between 1964 and 1969, delivering the first prototype, the LVTPX12, in 1967. Following testing, a production contract was awarded in 1970, with the first units becoming operational in 1972. Between 1982 and 1984, the fleet was converted to the AAV-7A1 standard, featuring engine and transmission upgrades.
The AAV-7A1 is a fully tracked amphibious landing vehicle. The personnel variant accommodates a crew of three and 21 combat-equipped troops. Its armament is housed in a weapon station containing a Mk 19 40mm automatic grenade launcher and an M2HB 12.7mm heavy machine gun. Modern configurations include the M153 Common Remotely Operated Weapon Station (CROWS), which incorporates a sensor suite with thermal cameras and a laser rangefinder. Armor protection includes the Enhanced Applique Armor Kit (EAAK), designed to defeat 14.5mm rounds and 155mm artillery fragments. The Reliability, Availability, Maintainability/Rebuild to Standard (RAM/RS) program later replaced the suspension and engine with components derived from the M2 Bradley. Variants include command (AAVC-7A1) and recovery (AAVR-7A1) models, while some personnel units are modified to carry the Mk 154 Mine Clearance Line Charge.
The U.S. Marine Corps operated the AAV-7A1 until 2025. The vehicle is operated by several international forces, including Argentina, Brazil, South Korea, Taiwan, Spain, and Italy. Argentine forces deployed the LVTP-7 during the 1982 invasion of the Falkland Islands. U.S. Marine Corps deployments include the 1983 invasion of Grenada, the 1991 Persian Gulf War, and the 2003 invasion of Iraq. During the Battle of Nasiriyah in 2003, multiple vehicles were disabled by RPG, mortar, and artillery fire. In 2010, the Brazilian Marine Corps used the vehicle to clear urban barricades during security operations in Rio de Janeiro. Following a 2020 training accident off San Clemente Island, the U.S. Marine Corps restricted the fleet from maritime operations except in emergencies.