U.S. Marines Expand Amphibious Combat Vehicle Role Beyond Ship-to-Shore Operations

U.S. Marines used Amphibious Combat Vehicles during a September 16 raid rehearsal at Camp Lejeune as Battalion Landing Team 1/8 prepared for deployment with the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit. The ACVs carried infantry from the amphibious force into the objective area and then provided protected mobility ashore, illustrating a role beyond the initial ship-to-shore movement. That employment supports the Marine Corps' shift toward distributed littoral operations in which vehicles continue contributing after landing. Separate training has explored additional payloads and fires, but this rehearsal specifically demonstrated transport and protected maneuver rather than announcing a new ACV variant or procurement.