amphibious vehicles. And also not just because we’re Marines and Marines without amphibious vehicles are, well, Army.”
“Ma’am?” Januscheitis said.
“I’ll discuss it with the colonel,” Faith said. “This is amphibious, right?”
“Yes, ma’am,” Januscheitis said. “Barely. Not rated for ocean.”
“Can it swim the river?” Faith asked.
“It will operate downstream, ma’am,” Januscheitis said. “Upstream? Possibly. The last SLEP eliminated most amphib capability.”
“SLEP?” Faith asked.
“Service Life Extension Program, ma’am,” Januscheitis replied.
“Why would a program eliminate amphibious ability from one of its vehicles?” Faith asked.
“That is one of those questions that falls into ‘God and the Pentagon work in mysterious ways,’ ma’am,” Januscheitis said. “We all asked that.”
“So what do we need if we need an amphib?” Faith asked. “Some of those hovercraft?”
“No, ma’am,” Januscheitis said. “If you’ll follow me, ma’am?”
* * *
“And this is or is not a tank?” Faith asked, looking up at the tall slab-side of the AAV. “’Cause, again, sorry, it looks like a tank. Sort of. Cross between a tank and a Winnebago maybe.”
“This is not a tank, ma’am,” Januscheitis said. “This is an amphibious assault vehicle, ma’am. Specifically an AAV-7A1. Crew of three, can carry up to twenty-five Marines in adequate discomfort. It is fully ocean capable and can easily negotiate the river, ma’am. This, ma’am, is what most Marine infantry use to get from ships to shore. And if you want to swim the river, probably a better choice than the LAV.”
“How long to get one of these running?” Faith asked.
“Not as long as an M1, ma’am,” Januscheitis said. “Less to break. Few days with some manuals, parts and tools.”
“Which should be somewhere on this base,” Faith said, hands on hips. “We’ll spend more time looking for the stuff than getting these things running, I suspect. And first S and S has to get some of the base operating.”
“Getting a class on Marine vehicles, Lieutenant?” Gunny Sands asked, walking up.
“Yes, Gunnery Sergeant,” Faith replied. “I have been respectfully informed that just because something has armor and a gun it is not a tank, that for some reason the Pentagon decided that Marine vehicles didn’t have to be amphibious, that any military vehicle that has been sitting out for months requires more than new batteries to run, unlike half the civilian cars we’ve gotten into operation, and that I lack patience. But we all knew that last one.”
“For that matter, I knew the other ones, ma’am,” Gunny Sands said. “The LAV was never very good at amphibious ops and keeping the drive train for the propeller operating was always one of those things that failed on inspection. So they just removed all the parts. It will still move in water using the wheels for propulsion but not very well. And they have a hell of a tendency to sink at the worst possible moment. If you’re thinking of using something to cross the river and clear the base using this as your safe point, I’d suggest the AAV. For clearance on the civilian side, which we’re going to be assigned pretty quick, I’d go with the MAT-V.”
Faith paused, then opened her mouth.
“Before you even go there, ma’am,” Januscheitis said. “With due respect, it’s a type of fighting vehicle based on the MTVR. Five tons, ma’am. But I didn’t see any.”
“Should have looked closer at the satellite image, Staff Sergeant,” Gunny Sands said. “If you would care to follow me, ma’am?”
The walk was long. To a completely different parking area near the river. The walk had taken them past lines and lines and lines of Humvees, MTVRs, wreckers, what looked like weird forklifts, LVSs and every other kind of support wheeled vehicle. They all showed signs of having been sitting out in the weather for a while. It might as well have
“Ma’am?” Januscheitis said.
“I’ll discuss it with the colonel,” Faith said. “This is amphibious, right?”
“Yes, ma’am,” Januscheitis said. “Barely. Not rated for ocean.”
“Can it swim the river?” Faith asked.
“It will operate downstream, ma’am,” Januscheitis said. “Upstream? Possibly. The last SLEP eliminated most amphib capability.”
“SLEP?” Faith asked.
“Service Life Extension Program, ma’am,” Januscheitis replied.
“Why would a program eliminate amphibious ability from one of its vehicles?” Faith asked.
“That is one of those questions that falls into ‘God and the Pentagon work in mysterious ways,’ ma’am,” Januscheitis said. “We all asked that.”
“So what do we need if we need an amphib?” Faith asked. “Some of those hovercraft?”
“No, ma’am,” Januscheitis said. “If you’ll follow me, ma’am?”
* * *
“And this is or is not a tank?” Faith asked, looking up at the tall slab-side of the AAV. “’Cause, again, sorry, it looks like a tank. Sort of. Cross between a tank and a Winnebago maybe.”
“This is not a tank, ma’am,” Januscheitis said. “This is an amphibious assault vehicle, ma’am. Specifically an AAV-7A1. Crew of three, can carry up to twenty-five Marines in adequate discomfort. It is fully ocean capable and can easily negotiate the river, ma’am. This, ma’am, is what most Marine infantry use to get from ships to shore. And if you want to swim the river, probably a better choice than the LAV.”
“How long to get one of these running?” Faith asked.
“Not as long as an M1, ma’am,” Januscheitis said. “Less to break. Few days with some manuals, parts and tools.”
“Which should be somewhere on this base,” Faith said, hands on hips. “We’ll spend more time looking for the stuff than getting these things running, I suspect. And first S and S has to get some of the base operating.”
“Getting a class on Marine vehicles, Lieutenant?” Gunny Sands asked, walking up.
“Yes, Gunnery Sergeant,” Faith replied. “I have been respectfully informed that just because something has armor and a gun it is not a tank, that for some reason the Pentagon decided that Marine vehicles didn’t have to be amphibious, that any military vehicle that has been sitting out for months requires more than new batteries to run, unlike half the civilian cars we’ve gotten into operation, and that I lack patience. But we all knew that last one.”
“For that matter, I knew the other ones, ma’am,” Gunny Sands said. “The LAV was never very good at amphibious ops and keeping the drive train for the propeller operating was always one of those things that failed on inspection. So they just removed all the parts. It will still move in water using the wheels for propulsion but not very well. And they have a hell of a tendency to sink at the worst possible moment. If you’re thinking of using something to cross the river and clear the base using this as your safe point, I’d suggest the AAV. For clearance on the civilian side, which we’re going to be assigned pretty quick, I’d go with the MAT-V.”
Faith paused, then opened her mouth.
“Before you even go there, ma’am,” Januscheitis said. “With due respect, it’s a type of fighting vehicle based on the MTVR. Five tons, ma’am. But I didn’t see any.”
“Should have looked closer at the satellite image, Staff Sergeant,” Gunny Sands said. “If you would care to follow me, ma’am?”
The walk was long. To a completely different parking area near the river. The walk had taken them past lines and lines and lines of Humvees, MTVRs, wreckers, what looked like weird forklifts, LVSs and every other kind of support wheeled vehicle. They all showed signs of having been sitting out in the weather for a while. It might as well have
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