Marines to acquire amphibious assault vehicles

From the Manila Times (Jul 2): Marines to acquire amphibious assault vehicles

The Philippine Marines have announced plans of acquiring amphibious assault vehicles similar to the ones the United States Marines used in the Cooperation Afloat Readiness Training (Carat) that concluded here on Monday.

Lt. Col. Jesse Cerbo, operations officer of 3rd Marine Brigade, revealed the plan during the closing of CARAT that featured amphibious landing of members of the Philippine and American marines.

“For 20 years of Carat, every year we have to level up, particularly this year that we have bigger participation, because we anticipate our acquisition of amphibious assault vehicles,” said Cerbo, the representative of the Philippine Navy’s landing force.

He said they are beefing up the capacity of their amphibious operations so they trained their men in the doctrines, techniques and practicing procedures on the AAVs.

“As marines, that is our corps competency and we need to improve that and this exercise gives us an opportunity to be able to straighten it,” Cerbo said.

“What we wanted to know are new tactics, techniques and procedures especially on amphibious operation,” he said.

Cerbo said that they were also interested in amphibious planning. To attain this, they have staff officers and other officers who embarked on the USS Ashland where 13 AAVs and two landing craft air cushions (LCACs) were on board.

Six AAvs and two LCACs were used in the landing exercise.

http://www.manilatimes.net/marines-to-acquire-amphibious-assault-vehicles/108570/