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KY_EnviroGuy

(14,483 posts)
Sat Aug 8, 2020, 10:33 AM Aug 2020

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..........
16 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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Remains recovered after California Marine tank sinks (Original Post) KY_EnviroGuy Aug 2020 OP
Are these vehicles supposed to be traversing in that depth of water? oldsoftie Aug 2020 #1
Depth of water is not terribly important sarisataka Aug 2020 #11
No escape hatch? Jimvanhise Aug 2020 #2
Floating tank, rough seas, 9 of 16 inside died, so some made it out Baclava Aug 2020 #3
thanks for the link CloudWatcher Aug 2020 #5
If the water is rough enough, no pump could pump out faster than what's coming in Polybius Aug 2020 #7
water tight? CloudWatcher Aug 2020 #9
Good point Polybius Aug 2020 #10
Remember the last time one sank? Happy Hoosier Aug 2020 #8
It is not a boat, sarisataka Aug 2020 #12
Here is a picture of one of these offloading troops. OnlinePoker Aug 2020 #16
There is a main drop hatch in the rear, sarisataka Aug 2020 #14
... iluvtennis Aug 2020 #4
Some info on this vehicle here.... KY_EnviroGuy Aug 2020 #6
K and R oasis Aug 2020 #13
Fair Winds and Following Seas sarisataka Aug 2020 #15

oldsoftie

(12,410 posts)
1. Are these vehicles supposed to be traversing in that depth of water?
Sat Aug 8, 2020, 11:16 AM
Aug 2020

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)
11. Depth of water is not terribly important
Sat Aug 8, 2020, 03:00 PM
Aug 2020

except when something goes wrong and you need to retrieve one. They will operate sometime in even deeper water

Jimvanhise

(295 posts)
2. No escape hatch?
Sat Aug 8, 2020, 11:51 AM
Aug 2020

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?

CloudWatcher

(1,831 posts)
5. thanks for the link
Sat Aug 8, 2020, 01:02 PM
Aug 2020

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)
7. If the water is rough enough, no pump could pump out faster than what's coming in
Sat Aug 8, 2020, 01:33 PM
Aug 2020

They should not have trained in such a rough sea.

CloudWatcher

(1,831 posts)
9. water tight?
Sat Aug 8, 2020, 02:21 PM
Aug 2020

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.

Happy Hoosier

(7,081 posts)
8. Remember the last time one sank?
Sat Aug 8, 2020, 02:15 PM
Aug 2020

Me neither. Nothing is risk free. That fact that these don‘t 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)
12. It is not a boat,
Sat Aug 8, 2020, 03:03 PM
Aug 2020

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)
16. Here is a picture of one of these offloading troops.
Sat Aug 8, 2020, 03:54 PM
Aug 2020

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)
14. There is a main drop hatch in the rear,
Sat Aug 8, 2020, 03:13 PM
Aug 2020

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.

KY_EnviroGuy

(14,483 posts)
6. Some info on this vehicle here....
Sat Aug 8, 2020, 01:08 PM
Aug 2020
Assault Amphibious Vehicle
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

sarisataka

(18,220 posts)
15. Fair Winds and Following Seas
Sat Aug 8, 2020, 03:18 PM
Aug 2020


point of correction- a better term would be Marines and Sailor. Customarily soldier refers to Army personnel.
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