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Amphibious Combat Vehicle (ACV-30): Replacing the USMC’s Venerable AAV
An ACV-30 during trials.
- Basic Description:
- The ACV-30, or Amphibious Combat Vehicle, is an infantry fighting vehicle originally based off of the Italian Iveco SuperAV, that is being adopted by the United States Marine Corps. The program, dubbed Amphibious Combat Vehicle, began in March, 2015 after the previous program, the Expeditionary Fighting Vehicle (EFV), was cancelled in 2011 due to reliability issues. The new ACV program was tailored to replace the long-running Amphibious Assault Vehicles (AAV) that the USMC has been operating since the 1970’s. The new focus of this program was on increasing speed and lethality during amphibious operations. This led to the competition between ST Kinetics/SAIC’s TERREX 2 and BAE/Iveco’s SuperAV. Ultimately BAE/Iveco won the competition. There are 4 main variants of the ACV being offered, the baseline ACV-P which is designed to carry personnel, ACV-C which is the command variant for situational awareness and C2, the ACV-R for field maintenance and recovery operations, and the improved lethality variant featuring a 30mm main gun which would later be dubbed the ACV-30. All ACV variants from BAE/Iveco features a 690hp turbocharged diesel engine for enhanced speeds through water with the ability to upgrade in the future, modular armor, and the capability to wade through water at speeds of 6-7kmph at a sea state of 3. Even with the 30mm turret, the ACV maintains it’s amphibious capability and still maneuver in the higher sea states.
- After BAE’s ACV was selected in 2018, low-rate production began. In 2020, initial ACV-P’s were delivered with ACV-C’s delivered in 2022. According to Congressional Reports, by FY2025, the USMC will be fielding the ACV-30 however there was much deliberation on what turret will be utilized for the gun-variant of the ACV. Options included the OTO Melara Hitfist OWS which is already offered on the Iveco SuperAV as well as the Leonardo Hitrole. However, the only field tested and approved turret the military has selected was the Kongsberg MCT-30. In 2020, the Marine Corps eventually selected the Kongsberg MCT-30 to be incorporated on the ACV, which can feature advanced technologies such as Laser Warning Receivers, incorporation of Javelin and Stinger missiles, and a Kongsberg Protector RWS. The main gun utilized is the widely used 30mm Mk. 44 Bushmaster II Automatic Cannon capable of firing ammunition to meet whatever threat that the ACV comes across. Right above the main gun is the coaxial gun that can be reloaded from the inside.
- The ACV program is broken up into two phases, phase 1 and phase 2. Phase 1 will be a standard acquisition plan, first acquiring the different variants of the vehicle while phase 2 is focused on further developing the speed and deployment capabilities, allowing the vehicles to be deployed from 13-15kts. Further emphasis will be on increasing the overall speed of the ACV without sacrificing the armor and weaponry of the vehicle.
- Overall the ACV-30 will be the cornerstone of the United States Marine Corps, capable of meeting many different needs whether they are short range air defense, fire support, or continuing its base function of moving personnel. An estimated 50-75 vehicles are currently in use by the USMC for operational testing with the potential to grow by several hundred.
- Specifications:
- Role: Amphibious IFV
- Origin: Italy/USA
- Operator: United States Marine Corps
- Armament:
- Turret: Kongsberg MCT-30 Remote Turret
- Primary: 30mm Mk. 44 Bushmaster II Automatic Cannon
- Ammunition:
- Mk 258 APFSDS-T
- Mk 238 HEI-T/SD
- Mk 264 MPLD-T
- Mk 310 HEAB-T (Airburst)
- Ammunition:
- Coaxial: 7.62mm M240C Machine Gun
- Roof-Mounted: 12.7mm Protector Remote Weapon Station
- Optional:
- Anti-tank Guided Missile Launcher:
- FGM-184 Javelin Missile
- Characteristics:
- Mass: 15.9kg (Missile/Tube)
- Length:
- Missile: 1.1m
- Launch Tube: 1.2m
- Diameter:
- Missile: 127mm
- Launch Tube: 142mm
- Target Acquisition: Fire and Forget
- Guidance: Infrared Homing
- Engine: Solid-fuel Rocket
- Warhead:
- Type: Tandem-charge HEAT
- Weight: 8.4kg
- Penetration:
- 750mm through RHA
- 600mm through RHA w/ ERA
- Detonation Mechanism: Impact
- Effective Range: 4,750m (from vehicles)
- Flight Patterns: Top Attack & Direct-Fire
- Max Height: 150m Top Attack/60m Direct-Fire
- Characteristics:
- FGM-184 Javelin Missile
- Anti-Aircraft Quad-Missile Launcher:
- FIM-92 Stinger Missile
- Characteristics:
- Mass: 10.1kg
- Length:
- Missile: 1.1m
- Launch Tube: 1.2m
- Diameter:
- Missile: 70mm
- Target Acquisition: All-Aspect
- Guidance: Infrared Homing
- Engine: Solid-fuel Rocket
- Warhead:
- Type: High Explosive
- Characteristics:
- FIM-92 Stinger Missile
- Anti-tank Guided Missile Launcher:
- Primary: 30mm Mk. 44 Bushmaster II Automatic Cannon
- Turret: Kongsberg MCT-30 Remote Turret
- Dimensions:
- Length: 9.2m
- Width: 3.1m
- Height: 2.9m
- Weight: 35-40t
- Mobility :
- Engine: 690hp - Turbocharged Diesel Engine
- Max Speed: 105km/h (~6km/h in water)
- Transmission: ZF 7HP902 Fully-automatic Transmission (7-Forward, 1-Reverse)
- Suspension: 8 x 8
- Crew:
- Commander
- Gunner
- Driver
- Features:
- Laser Rangefinder
- Optional: Laser Warning System
- 8x 76mm Smoke Grenade Launchers
- Amphibious
- Armor:
- Hull:
- STANAG Level 4.
- Further upgraded with modular armor.
- Turret:
- STANAG 4569 Level 1
- Upgradable to STANAG 4569 Level 4
- Hull:
- Optics:
- Gunner: 3rd-generation Thermal Imager
- Commander: Protector RWS (3rd-generation Thermal Imager)
- Driver: Night Vision Device
- In-game :
- Fully loaded, the ACV-30 is a true multi-purpose platform armed with the most advanced technologies to target any vehicle, whether it be aircraft, helicopters, tanks, or light vehicles. For it’s main gun alone it is capable of firing APFSDS-T and Airburst rounds. On the defensive side this vehicle is heavily armored and features a laser warning system to provide the operator warning of laser rangefinders or missiles. This vehicle will be quite deadly and will reinforce the light vehicle line before the HSTV-L.
- Estimated Battle Rating: 10.3.
- Sources:
- https://www.naval-technology.com/analysis/featureus-marine-corps-acv-competition-profiling-the-contenders-5806031/
- https://sgp.fas.org/crs/weapons/IF11755.pdf
- https://www.military.com/equipment/equipment/military-vehicles/amphibious-combat-vehicle
- https://www.militaryaerospace.com/power/article/14210310/armored-combat-vehicle-30millimeter-cannon-amphibious-assault
- https://www.kongsberg.com/newsandmedia/news-archive/20202/bae-systems-selects-kongsbergs-mct-30-turret-for-u.s.-marine-corps-acv-program/#:~:text=The KONGSBERG MCT-30 is,wheeled or tracked combat vehicles.
- https://www.baesystems.com/en-us/product/amphibious-combat-vehicle
- ACV to get Stryker variant of 30mm cannon
- Kongsberg MCT-30 30mm Turret Selected for USMC ACV
- The USMC Already Wants To Up-Gun Its New Amphibious Combat Vehicle With A 30mm Cannon
- PROTECTOR MCT-30 - Fighting-Vehicles.com
- https://www.gd-ots.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/30x173mm-Ammunition-Suite.pdf
- Javelin Weapon System | Lockheed Martin
- https://asc.army.mil/web/portfolio-item/javelin/
- Javelin missile: Made by the US, wielded by Ukraine, feared by Russia
- https://www.armyrecognition.com/united_states_american_missile_system_vehicle_uk/stinger_fim-92_fim-92a_man_portable_air_defense_missile_system_manpads_technical_data_sheet_picture.html
- Imagery (Note: Due to lack of imagery, photos of the baseline ACV will be used as well):
A fully equipped ACV-30 demonstrator showing the capabilities of the MCT-30 turret, LWS, ATGM’s, SAM’s, rear sensors including crew compartment thermal sight, and more.
ACV-30 during field testing
Baseline ACV-P armored with a remote weapon station.
Baseline ACV during amphibious operations.
30mm Round Specifications by General Dynamics.