U.S. Marines Deploy New Amphibious Combat Vehicles in Well Deck Operations Aboard USS Ashland.

U.S. Marines with the 1st Marine Division conducted well deck operations with the Amphibious Combat Vehicle aboard USS Ashland off California on February 20, 2026. The training advances the Corps’ transition from legacy Assault Amphibious Vehicles to a more survivable, networked platform designed for contested littoral operations.

U.S. Marines with the 1st Marine Division conducted well deck operations using the Amphibious Combat Vehicle (ACV) aboard USS Ashland (LSD 48) off California, according to a February 20, 2026, Marine Corps release. Led by the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit under Task Force Ashland, the training validated ship-to-shore launch and recovery procedures as the Corps continues replacing legacy Assault Amphibious Vehicles. The event marks another step in integrating the eight-wheeled ACV into fleet operations, strengthening maritime crisis response capabilities in contested littoral environments.
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U.S. Marines assigned to the 1st Marine Division stage Amphibious Combat Vehicles inside the flooded well deck of USS Ashland (LSD 48) during ship-to-shore readiness drills off the California coast on February 20, 2026. (Picture source: USMC)

Conducted in the Pacific training ranges, the well deck evolutions involved the controlled launch and recovery of an ACV (Amphibious Combat Vehicle) from the USS Ashland’s flooded well deck, validating ship-to-shore maneuver procedures under realistic sea states. Ballasting procedures lowered the ship’s stern to allow seawater to enter the well deck, effectively creating a controlled internal harbor from which ACVs maneuvered into open waters using dual water jets. Navy deck crews and Marine vehicle operators coordinated vehicle spacing, propulsion checks, watertight integrity inspections, and recovery sequencing before the ship was dewatered and secured. Unlike the aging AAV-7A1, the ACV brings significant enhancements in survivability, mobility, and digital integration. Built by BAE Systems in partnership with Iveco Defence Vehicles, the 8x8 platform features improved ballistic and blast protection, a V-shaped hull optimized against underbody threats, and a modern C4ISR backbone enabling real-time data exchange with naval and joint forces.

Marine officials familiar with the operation described the drills as part of a broader effort to refine Expeditionary Advanced Base Operations concepts across the Indo-Pacific theater. One senior officer embarked aboard USS Ashland told Army Recognition that “the ACV fundamentally changes how we approach littoral maneuver. It extends our reach from ship to shore and gives commanders a protected, networked platform ready for distributed operations.” While the Marine Corps has previously declared initial operational capability for the ACV Personnel variant, exercises such as this one demonstrate its maturation within integrated amphibious ready groups and confirm growing institutional confidence in the platform.

USS Ashland, a Harpers Ferry-class dock landing ship displacing approximately 16,000 t, provides a well deck specifically designed for the deployment of landing craft, amphibious vehicles, and support equipment. With the capacity to carry multiple amphibious assault vehicles or landing craft air cushion units, the vessel remains a critical enabler for Marine expeditionary operations. Its integration with next-generation platforms such as the ACV reinforces the U.S. Navy-Marine Corps team’s focus on distributed maritime operations in the face of peer competition.

Task Force Ashland, under the command of the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit, is a flexible, forward-deployed crisis response force capable of conducting amphibious assaults, non-combatant evacuation operations, humanitarian assistance, and limited contingency operations. The 15th MEU, one of seven Marine Expeditionary Units, is structured around a reinforced infantry battalion, a composite aviation squadron, and a logistics combat element. Its rotational deployments in the Indo-Pacific place it at the forefront of U.S. deterrence strategy, particularly amid ongoing tensions in the South China Sea and around Taiwan.

From a technical standpoint, the ACV Personnel variant transports 13 embarked Marines plus a crew of three. Powered by a 700 hp diesel engine, the vehicle reaches road speeds exceeding 105 km/h and transitions seamlessly to water operations, propelled by dual water jets. The modular architecture allows for mission-specific configurations, including command-and-control and recovery variants. The ACV-30 variant, armed with a stabilized 30 mm cannon turret, is entering service to provide organic direct fire support far superior to the legacy AAV’s 12.7 mm heavy machine gun and 40 mm automatic grenade launcher.

The ACV replaces the LVTP-7, later redesignated AAV-7A1, a tracked amphibious armored personnel carrier introduced in the early 1970s. For more than 5 decades, the LVTP-7 has been the backbone of the Marine Corps' amphibious assault forces. It could transport approximately 21 combat-equipped Marines, plus a crew of three, and offered good cross-country mobility due to its tracked configuration. However, its aluminum hull provided limited protection against improvised explosive devices, underbody mines, and modern anti-armor weapons. Water speed averaged 6-8 kn, and although the vehicle underwent numerous upgrades, its Cold War-era architecture no longer met contemporary survivability and network integration requirements.

The transition from tracks to an 8x8 wheeled configuration marks a decisive technological shift. Wheeled vehicles require less maintenance, offer greater reliability, and achieve higher sustained road speeds and operational range. The ACV’s advanced independent suspension improves ride stability and off-road handling, enhancing maneuverability across varied terrain once ashore. Survivability improvements are equally significant. The steel hull, with its V-shaped underbody, deflects blast energy away from the crew compartment. At the same time, energy-absorbing seating and modern fire-suppression systems raise crew protection standards well beyond those of the LVTP-7.

Digitally, the difference is transformative. The ACV integrates modern communications systems and battlefield management networks, enabling real-time situational awareness and coordination with naval strike groups, aviation assets, and joint ground forces. The LVTP-7 originated in the analog era and, even with incremental upgrades, could not match the ACV’s network-centric warfare capabilities.

Defense analysts view the integration of the ACV into routine well deck operations as a pivotal milestone in restoring credible amphibious assault capability. The phased retirement of the AAV fleet following safety incidents had temporarily constrained Marine Corps amphibious maneuver options. The ACV’s enhanced safety profile, upgraded naval ship interfaces, and refined launch procedures now signal renewed institutional confidence in armored ship-to-shore operations.

Beyond equipment modernization, the exercise highlights evolving U.S. amphibious doctrine. Instead of large, concentrated beach assaults, today’s Marine units are training for dispersed, rapid insertions across multiple littoral objectives under contested conditions. The ACV enables distributed maneuver while maintaining protection, mobility, and digital connectivity essential for modern maritime conflict.

As the United States continues to prioritize Indo-Pacific deterrence in force posture planning and budget allocations, investments in amphibious modernization remain central. Congressional support for ACV procurement has sustained production lines and expanded fielding across Marine divisions. The operations in California, therefore, represent more than routine training. They constitute a visible confirmation that the U.S. Marine Corps is rebuilding and redefining its armored amphibious edge at sea, ensuring forward-deployed Marine Expeditionary Units remain prepared to respond decisively wherever maritime access is challenged.

Written by Alain Servaes – Chief Editor, Army Recognition Group
Alain Servaes is a former infantry non-commissioned officer and the founder of Army Recognition. With over 20 years in defense journalism, he provides expert analysis on military equipment, NATO operations, and the global defense industry.