Assault Amphibious Vehicle

AAVP7A1 RAM/RS
US Marine Corps AAV in Fallujah, Iraq
Type	Armoured personnel carrier
Place of origin	United States
Service history
In service	1972–present
Used by	See Operators
Wars	Falklands War, Persian Gulf War, Somali Civil War, Iraq War
Production history
Designer	FMC Corporation
Manufacturer	United Defense
Produced	1972
Specifications
Weight	29.1 tons
Length	7.94 m (321.3")
Width	3.27 m (128.72")
Height	3.26 m (130.5")
Crew	3+21
Armor	45 mm
Main armament	Mk 19 40 mm automatic grenade launcher (rounds: 96 ready; 768 stowed)
Secondary armament	M2HB .50-caliber (12.7 mm) machine gun (rounds: 200 ready; 1,000 stowed)
Engine	Detroit Diesel 8V-53T (P-7), Cummins VTA-525 /903 cubic inches(P-7A1) 400 hp (300 kW) VTAC 525 903 525 hp(AAV-7RAM-RS)
Power/weight	18 hp/tonne
Suspension	torsion-bar-in-tube (AAV-7A1); torsion bar (AAV-7RAM-RS)
Operational range	480 km (300 miles); 20 NM in water, including survival in Sea State 5
Speed	24–32 km/h (15–20 mph) off-road, 72 km/h (45 mph) surfaced road, 13.2 km/h (8.2 mph) water

The Assault Amphibious Vehicle (AAV)—official designation AAV-P7/A1 (formerly known as Landing Vehicle, Tracked, Personnel-7 abbr. LVTP-7)—is a fully tracked amphibious landing vehicle manufactured by U.S. Combat Systems (previously by United Defense, a former division of FMC Corporation) and FNSS Defence Systems.

The AAV-P7/A1 is the current amphibious troop transport of the United States Marine Corps. It is used by U.S. Marine Corps Assault Amphibian Battalions to land the surface assault elements of the landing force and their equipment in a single lift from assault shipping during amphibious operations to inland objectives and to conduct mechanized operations and related combat support in subsequent mechanized operations ashore. It is also operated by other forces. Marines call them "amtracks," a shortening of their original designation, "amphibious tractor."

The LVTP-7 was first introduced in 1972 as a replacement for the LVTP-5. In 1982, FMC was contracted to conduct the LVTP-7 Service Life Extension Program, which converted the LVT-7 vehicles to the improved AAV-7A1 vehicle by adding an improved engine, transmission, and weapons system and improving the overall maintainability of the vehicle. The Cummins VT400 diesel engine replaced the GM 8V53T, and this was driven through FMC's HS-400-3A1 transmission. The hydraulic traverse and elevation of the weapon station was replaced by electric motors, which eliminated the danger from hydraulic fluid fires. The suspension and shock absorbers were strengthened as well. The fuel tank was made safer, and a fuel-burning smoke generator system was added. Eight smoke grenade launchers were also placed around the armament station. The headlight clusters were housed in a square recess instead of the earlier round type. The driver was provided with an improved instrument panel and a night vision device, and a new ventilation system was installed. These upgraded vehicles were originally called LVT-7A1, but the Marine Corps renamed the LVTP-7A1 to AAV-7A1 in 1984.

Another improvement was added starting in 1987 in the form of a Cadillac Gage weapon station or Up-Gunned Weapon Station (UGWS) which was armed with both a .50 cal (12.7 mm) M2HB machine gun and a Mk-19 40 mm grenade launcher.