No Marines or sailors were injured when one of the vehicles flipped onto its side Tuesday in unusually high waves from a southern hemisphere storm. The other was crippled when 2.4m waves hit the shoreline. The mishaps forced the troops to jump out of the vehicles and head ashore at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, north of San Diego. The accidents were first reported by The San Diego Union-Tribune. The new vehicles were introduced to replace Vietnam War-era amphibious assault vehicles, one of which was involved in one of the deadliest Marine Corps training accidents of its kind two years ago off the coast of Southern California. Lt. Gen. David J. Furness, the Marine Corps deputy commandant for plans, policy and operations, said officials have decided to halt floating operations involving the newer vehicles as a precaution while an investigation is conducted. The Marine Corps will continue to use the vehicles for ground operations. “This is the right thing to do,” Furness said in a statement. The effort will allow time to “ensure our amphibious assault community remains ready to support our nation,” he added. In the July 30, 2020 amphibious vehicle accident, eight Marines and a sailor died when the vehicle quickly sank in 385 feet (117 meters) of water off San Clemente Island. Seven of the Marines were rescued. A Marine Corps investigation found that inadequate training, shoddy maintenance and poor judgment by leaders led to the sinking. Marines use amphibious vehicles to transport troops and their equipment from Navy ships ashore. Armored vehicles equipped with machine guns and grenade launchers look like tanks as they roll ashore for beach assaults, with Marines pouring out of them to take up positions.
