Amphibious Assault Vehicle

Eighteen armored assault vehicles wait to cross an improved ribbon bridge Feb. 6, 2012, aboard Camp Lejeune, N.C. Marines with Bridge Company, 8th Engineer Support Battalion, 2nd Marine Logistics Group set up the IRB to transport vehicles from one side of the waterway to the other. This event was part of exercise Bold Alligator 2012, an exercise that tested the Marine Corps' amphibious readiness. (Photo by Sgt. Rachael K. A. Moore)

Amphibious Assault Vehicle

U.S. Marines from Charlie Co. 2nd Assault Amphibious Battalion, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, execute a maritime preposition of force amphibious landing unique to the United States Marine Corps during exercise Cobra Gold 11, Jan. 23, 2011. The United States remains committed to supporting the war on terror as well as supporting the security and humanitarian interests of Thailand and other regional allies and partners. (U.S. Marine Corps Photo by Pfc. Nathaniel Henry/ Released)

Amphibious Assault Vehicle

U.S. Marines from Charlie Co. 2nd Assault Amphibious Battalion, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, disembark from U.S. Naval Ship 1st Lt Jack L. Lummus as part of a maritime preposition of force training evolution during exercise Cobra Gold 2011, U.S. Naval Ship 1st Lt Jack L. Lummus, Gulf of Thailand, Kingdom of Thailand Jan. 23, 2011. The evolution demonstrated the amphibious assault capabilities unique to the U.S. Marine Corps. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Alejandro Peña/Released)

Amphibious Assault Vehicle

U.S. Marines from Charlie Co. 2nd Assault Amphibious Battalion, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, execute a maritime preposition of force amphibious landing unique to the United States Marine Corps during exercise Cobra Gold 11, Jan. 23, 2011. The United States remains committed to supporting the war on terror as well as supporting the security and humanitarian interests of Thailand and other regional allies and partners. (U.S. Marine Corps Photo by Pfc. Nathaniel Henry/ Released)

Amphibious Assault Vehicle

U.S. Marines from Charlie Co. 2nd Assault Amphibious Battalion, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, execute a maritime preposition of force amphibious landing unique to the United States Marine Corps during exercise Cobra Gold 11, Jan. 23, 2011. The United States remains committed to supporting the war on terror as well as supporting the security and humanitarian interests of Thailand and other regional allies and partners. (U.S. Marine Corps Photo by Pfc. Nathaniel Henry/ Released)

Amphibious Assault Vehicle

Marines with 2nd Amphibious Assault Battalion, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine.Expeditionary Force, demonstrate the amphibious assault vehicle’s capabilities here Feb. 6, 2011,.during Exercise Cobra Gold 2011. The battalion is currently assigned to the Unit Deployment Program,.Combat Assault Battalion, 3rd MarDiv, III MEF. Cobra Gold is a regularly scheduled multinational training exercise designed to improve partner nation interoperability. (U.S. Marine Photo by Staff Sgt. Leo A. Salinas/Released)

Amphibious Assault Vehicle

Marines with 2nd Amphibious Assault Battalion, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine.Expeditionary Force, demonstrate the amphibious assault vehicle’s capabilities here Feb. 6, 2011,.during Exercise Cobra Gold 2011. The battalion is currently assigned to the Unit Deployment Program,.Combat Assault Battalion, 3rd MarDiv, III MEF. Cobra Gold is a regularly scheduled multinational training exercise designed to improve partner nation interoperability. (U.S. Marine Photo by Staff Sgt. Leo A. Salinas/Released)

Amphibious Assault Vehicle

Marines with 2nd Amphibious Assault Battalion, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine.Expeditionary Force, storm ashore during a demonstration of the amphibious assault vehicle’s.capabilities here Feb. 6, 2011, during Exercise Cobra Gold 2011. The Marines display the shark fin hand.signal when they come ashore signifying their unofficial nickname. The battalion is currently assigned to the Unit Deployment Program, Combat Assault Battalion, 3rd MarDiv, III MEF. Cobra Gold 2011 is a regularly scheduled multinational training exercise designed to improve partner nation interoperability. (U.S. Marine Photo by Staff Sgt. Leo A. Salinas/Released)

Amphibious Assault Vehicle

Marines with 2nd Amphibious Assault Battalion, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine.Expeditionary Force, demonstrate the amphibious assault vehicle’s capabilities here Feb. 6, 2011,.during Exercise Cobra Gold 2011. The battalion is currently assigned to the Unit Deployment Program,.Combat Assault Battalion, 3rd MarDiv, III MEF. Cobra Gold 2011 is a regularly scheduled multinational training exercise designed to improve partner nation interoperability. (U.S. Marine Photo by Staff Sgt. Leo A. Salinas/Released)

Amphibious Assault Vehicle

Royal Thailand Marines drive an amphibious assault vehicle up the beachhead providing security during an amphibious assault raid here Feb. 10, 2011. U.S. infantry Marines with the Battalion Landing Team, 2nd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, 3rd Marine Expeditionary Brigade Forward, III Marine Expeditionary Force, also participated in the raid here Feb. 10, 2011 during Exercise Cobra Gold 2011. Cobra Gold 2011 is a regularly scheduled multinational training exercise designed to improve partner nation interoperability. (U.S. Marine photo by Pfc. Mark W. Stroud/Released)

Assault Amphibious Vehilce

Royal Thai Marines manuever an assault amphibious vehilce through the beachhead during an amphibious assault raid here Feb. 10, 2011, during Exercise Cobra Gold 2011. Cobra Gold is a regularly scheduled multinational training exercise designed to improve partner nation interoperability. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Pfc. Nathaniel Henry/Released)

Amphibious Assault Vehicle

Marines aboard an amphibious assault vehicle transiting to the amphibious assault ship USS Kearsarge (LHD 3) pass a landing craft air cushion during Bold Alligator 2012. Bold Alligator 2012 is the largest naval amphibious exercise in the past 10 years and represents the Navy and Marine Corps' revitalization of the full range of amphibious operations. The exercise focuses on today's fight with today's forces, while showcasing the advantages of sea basing. This exercise will take place Jan. 30 through Feb. 12, 2012 afloat and ashore in and around Virginia and North Carolina. #BA12 (U.S. Navy Photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Jonathan Vargas/Released)

Amphibious Assault Vehicle

Marines aboard an amphibious assault vehicle transit to the amphibious assault ship USS Kearsarge (LHD 3) during Bold Alligator 2012. Bold Alligator 2012 is the largest naval amphibious exercise in the past 10 years and represents the Navy and Marine Corps' revitalization of the full range of amphibious operations. The exercise focuses on today's fight with today's forces, while showcasing the advantages of sea basing. This exercise will take place Jan. 30 through Feb. 12, 2012 afloat and ashore in and around Virginia and North Carolina. #BA12 (U.S. Navy Photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Jonathan Vargas/Released)

Amphibious Assault Vehicle

An armored assault vehicle assigned to Combat Assault Company (CAC), 3rd Marine Regiment, transports Indonesian Marines from the Royal Australian Navy Ship HMAS Tobruk (LSH 50) to shore for a beach assault exercise at Pacific Missile Range Facility Barking Sands as part of this year's Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) 2008 exercise. RIMPAC is the world's largest multinational exercise and is scheduled biennially by the U.S. Pacific Fleet. Participants include the United States, Australia, Canada, Chile, Japan, Netherlands, Peru, Republic of Korea, Singapore, and the United Kingdom. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Paul D. Honnick)

Amphibious Assault Vehicle

Armored assault vehicles assigned to Combat Assault Company (CAC), 3rd Marine Regiment, perform maneuvers during a demonstration at Pacific Missile Range Facility Barking Sands as part of this year's Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) 2008 exercise. RIMPAC is the world's largest multinational exercise and is scheduled biennially by the U.S. Pacific Fleet. Participants include the United States, Australia, Canada, Chile, Japan, Netherlands, Peru, Republic of Korea, Singapore, and the United Kingdom. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Paul D. Honnick

Amphibious Assault Vehicle

Two Amphibious Assault Vehichles (AAVP7 RAMRS) prepare to board HMAS Kanimbla with a Landing Craft Air Cushion in the background. Crewman of the AAV 112 are Corporal Burbage, Sergeant Guerrero and Lance-Corporal Sanderson. Mid Caption; Fox Company Embarked Forces consisting of United States Marine Corps, Royal Candian Regiment and Indonesian Marine Corp disembarked from HMAS Kanimbla via Amphibious Assault Vehichles (AAVP7 RAMRS) with a successful return of all AAVs to HMAS Kanimbla as part of the second phase of Exercise RIMPAC 2010. The Australian Defence Force’s largest international maritime exercise, Exercise Rim-of-the-Pacific (RIMPAC) 2010 has commenced in Hawaii. RIMPAC is designed to test interoperability with 14 Pacific Rim nations. Approximately 1200 ADF personnel will be participating. This year marks the 22nd RIMPAC. It will be hosted by the US Third Fleet over a five weeks. (Photo: Australia DoD)

Amphibious Assault Vehicle

AAVP7 Amphibious assault vehicle carries Australian soldiers and Unites States Marines to the weapons range at Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii for the "live fire" phase of the amphibious assault. Members of 2 RAR (BCoy) take part in a mechanised assault at Kaneohe Bay to wrap up the amphibious evolution of RIMPAC 2010. The Australians came ashore from USS Cleveland before travelling to the range in Amphibious Assault Vehicles driven by the US Marine Corps. (Photo: Australia DoD)

Amphibious Assault Vehicle

United States Marine Corps Amphibious Assault Vehicles (AAVs) travel from HMAS TOBRUK to the beach during RIMPAC 2008. The Amphibious Task Group conducted AAV beach landing exercises from HMAS TOBRUK to the beach on Kauai in Hawaii during the exercise. (Photo: Australia DoD)

Amphibious Assault Vehicle

HMAS Kanimbla and the Combat Assault Company, a unit of the United States Marine Corps successfully launched and recovered Amphibious Assault Vehicles (AAVP7 RAMRS) whilst anchored off the Hawaiian Island of Oahu. This is the first time an amphibious vehicle of this type has been launched from an Royal Australian Navy Landing Platform Amphibious ship. The AAVP7 RAMRS joined HMAS Kanimbla whilst alongside in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii prior to the sea phase of Exercise RIMPAC 2010. Mid caption: HMAS Kanimbla is currently operating off the coast of Hawaii as part of the Exercise RIMPAC 2010 sea phase. Infantry and Marines from Canada, the United States and Indonesia are embarked on the ship for the first phase of the exercise. The Australian Defence Force’s largest international maritime exercise, Exercise Rim-of-the-Pacific (RIMPAC) 2010 has commenced in Hawaii. RIMPAC is designed to test interoperability with 14 Pacific Rim nations. Approximately 1200 ADF personnel will be participating. This year marks the 22nd RIMPAC. It will be hosted by the US Third Fleet over a five week period, finishing on the 1st August 2010. (Photo: Australia DoD)

Amphibious Assault Vehicle

An Amphibious Assault Vehicle disembarks the ship from the stern door onboard HMAS TOBRUK heading out into the harbour towards the USS Missouri. United States Marines load up their Amphibious Assault Vehicles (AAVs) with their equipment and packs on the tank deck of HMAS TOBRUK, before loading personnel and disembarking through the stern door. HMAS TOBRUK berthed alongside Hotel Pier at Pearl Harbour Naval Station to disembark United States Marine AAVs and personnel as part of the sea phase of exercise RIMPAC 2008. (Photo: Australia DoD)