Remains recovered after California Marine tank sinks
Source: AP News
SAN DIEGO (AP) Authorities on Friday recovered the bodies of nine people killed when a Marine landing craft sank in hundreds of feet of water off the Southern California coast, authorities said.
The remains of seven Marines and a Navy sailor were found after underwater salvage operations that followed the sinking on July 30. They will be flown to Dover Air Force Base in Delaware to be prepared for burial by mortuary affairs teams, according to a statement Friday night from the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force.
The remains will then be released to their families in accordance with their wishes, the statement said.
The amphibious vehicle sank in 385 feet (117 meters) of water as it headed back to a Navy ship after completing routine training, the military said.
Read more: https://apnews.com/1bcbeee0036a4ab7394b660bf4fb80db
Rest in peace, good soldiers..........
oldsoftie
(12,410 posts)I thought they were ship-to-shore vehicles. And I cant imagine needing to launch or return in 400 ft when the ship could get closer
But I was not in the Navy, so I dont know the answer
sarisataka
(18,220 posts)except when something goes wrong and you need to retrieve one. They will operate sometime in even deeper water
Jimvanhise
(295 posts)If such a vehicle malfunctions, and in this case sprung a leak, the soldiers had no emergency escape hatch? Is it that poorly designed that 9 men drowned?
Baclava
(12,047 posts)https://www.military.com/daily-news/2020/08/03/marine-aav-hit-rough-seas-rapidly-took-water-sinking.html
CloudWatcher
(1,831 posts)From the article .... "they hit rough seas .... leaving one AAV filling with more water than it could pump out"
I'm no boat designer, but ... seriously? The pumps fail or are overwhelmed and it sinks? Is this routine or an absurdly bad design? It seems rather basic that a boat like this should be water tight enough to weather bad seas
Polybius
(15,239 posts)They should not have trained in such a rough sea.
CloudWatcher
(1,831 posts)My question is why the design allows for water to come in at all. Shouldn't there be water-tight hatches to keep the water out? Or snorkels (for the engines and people) or something? They should at least be able to batten-down-the-hatches and wait it out if it gets really bad.
Polybius
(15,239 posts)Hmm, maybe it was accidentally opened or wasn't shut tight?
Happy Hoosier
(7,081 posts)Me neither. Nothing is risk free. That fact that these dont sink regularly is a sign that the design is not absurdly bad. Any vehicle used outside its design limits can fail.
sarisataka
(18,220 posts)it is an amphibious vehicle. They are not designed to ride out a storm at sea, but sometimes the weather does not cooperate and conditions can change.
As far as routine- without looking it up, when was the last time one sank?
OnlinePoker
(5,702 posts)That's a big seal on the aft hatch that has to stay intact. One misalignment or crack on the seal and it's going to leak. It could have been worse, they can hold up to 25 fully equipped marines plus 4 crew. These vehicles are slated for replacement with a contract signed with BAE in 2018.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assault_Amphibious_Vehicle#/media/File:1st_platoon,_Alpha_Company,_1st_Battalion,_9th_Marine_Regiment,_24th_MEU,_Djibouti,_2010.jpg
sarisataka
(18,220 posts)two circular hatches for the crew and two long doors on the top of the troop bay.
It is however a combat vehicle, not a pleasure boat. Everything is armored and will be difficult to open with water pouring in- just like a car door is nearly impossible to open if one sinks. Also the Marines will be in full combat gear which will hinder using the smaller hatches.
It is a very good design, much better than the landing craft of WW2 that dropped the front ramps into enemy fire. Unfortunately when something goes catastrophically wrong, there will be 15-20 lives at risk.
iluvtennis
(19,758 posts)KY_EnviroGuy
(14,483 posts)Wikipedia
Link: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assault_Amphibious_Vehicle
-------------------------
AAV7 Amphibious Assault Vehicle
Military.com
Link: https://www.military.com/equipment/aav7-amphibious-assault-vehicle
--------------------------
I'm sure the investigation will reveal the cause of this vehicle taking on water but that large troop exit door sure seems a likely candidate if accidentally cracked open.
I was surprised to learn it's propelled via the tank treads both on land and in water.
KY
oasis
(49,152 posts)sarisataka
(18,220 posts)point of correction- a better term would be Marines and Sailor. Customarily soldier refers to Army personnel.