An Assault Amphibian Battalion is a mechanized battalion of the U.S. Marine Corps whose primary weapon system is the Amphibious Assault Vehicle. An Amphibious Assault Vehicle is a fully tracked amphibious landing vehicle that serves as a troop transport for the 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.
Marines call them “amtracks,” a shortening of their original designation, “amphibious tractor.” In this video, U.S. Marines with Company B, 2nd Assault Amphibian Battalion, 2nd Marine Division conduct a river-crossing exercise as part of a Deployment for Training exercise (DFT) on Fort Stewart, Ga. The river-crossing exercise marked the first time any amphibious landing exercise had been conducted on Fort Stewart. Pretty sweet. Check it out:
[revad2]
