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LVTP7
AAVP7A1

Landing Vehicle, Tracked, Personnel, Mark 71-3
LVTP7: General
Date of first acceptance 1971 Total acceptances 971
Manufacturer FMC Corp. Crew
28 men:
  • Commander in weapon station
  • Driver in hull left front
  • Assistant driver in hull left center
  • Troop commander in hull left front
  • 24 passengers
LVTP7: Dimensions
Combat weight 50,350lbs
22,840kg		 Height 128.5"
326.4cm
Length 312.75"
794.39cm		 Width 128.72"
326.95cm
Tread 123.8"
314.5cm		 Ground clearance 16"
41cm
Ground pressure, zero penetration 7.7psi
.54kg/cm²
LVTP7: Armament
Type Mount Ammunition Traverse Max traverse rate Elevation Max elevation rate
.50cal M85 MG Armament station on hull right front 400 rounds 360°
(manual and hydraulic)		 60°/sec +60° to -15°
(manual and hydraulic)		 60°/sec
Night vision
Infrared periscope M24 for driver
LVTP7: Armor
Assembly
Welding
Hull
5083 aluminum alloy
Maximum 1.75"
4.45cm		 Minimum 1"
2.5cm
LVTP7: Automotive
Engine General Motors 8V53T; 8 cylinder, 2 cycle, vee, turbosupercharged diesel
Horsepower Gross: 400@2800rpm Torque Gross: 825 ft-lb@2150rpm Fuel capacity 180gal
680L
Transmission FMC HS-400-3, 4 speeds forward, 2 reverse
Steering Hydrostatic, steering wheel
Brakes Mechanical
LVTP7: Suspension
Type Road wheels Track return rollers
Torsion tube over bar 6 individually sprung dual/track Flat track
Drive sprockets Idlers Shock absorbers
11-tooth front drive Dual adjustable at rear of track On first and last road wheels/track
LVTP7: Track
Center guide, single pin, steel with detachable rubber pad
Width 21"
53cm		 Pitch 6"
15cm		 Shoes/track 84 Ground contact length 155"
394cm
LVTP7: Performance
Max level road speed 40mph
64kph		 Max water speed 8.4mph
14kph
Max trench 96"
240cm		 Max sideslope 60%
Max grade 60% Max vertical obstacle 36"
91cm
Min turning diameter Pivot Max fording depth Floats
Cruising range ~300mi, roads
~56mi, water
~480km, roads
~90km, water


LVTP7 was a fully-enclosed vehicle with a very different shape than its amphibian predecessors. The vehicle was front-drive, and had a rear ramp for infantry entry and exit. The rear halves of the tracks were exposed, and the main propelling action in the water was by a water jet on either side of the vehicle. The driver and infantry troop commander each had a cupola on the left side of the hull, and the vehicle commander was positioned in the weapon station on the right side of the hull. The assistant driver was seated behind the troop commander. The cargo compartment had folding covers which allowed access from above.

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Assault Amphibian Vehicle, Personnel, Mark 7A11-3
AAVP7A1: General
Date of first acceptance October 1983 Total acceptances 333 + 853 converted from LVTP7
Manufacturer FMC Corp. Crew
28 men:
  • Commander in weapon station
  • Driver in hull left front
  • Assistant driver in hull left center
  • Troop commander in hull left front
  • 24 passengers
AAVP7A1: Dimensions
Combat weight 56,552lbs
25,652kg		 Height 130.5"
331.5cm
Length 321.3"
816.1cm		 Width 128.7"
326.9cm
Tread 123.8"
314.5cm		 Ground clearance 16"
41cm
Ground pressure, zero penetration 8.7psi
.61kg/cm²
AAVP7A1: Armament
Type Mount Ammunition Traverse Elevation
.50cal M2HB MG Armament station on hull right front 250 rounds ready 360°
(manual and electric)		 +60° to -15°
(manual and electric)
40mm Automatic Grenade Launcher Mk. 19 Armament station on hull right front 48 rounds ready 360°
(manual and electric)		 +60° to -15°
(manual and electric)
Night vision
Passive AN/VVS-2(V)1A
AAVP7A1: Armor
Assembly
Welding
Hull
5083 aluminum alloy
Maximum 1.75"
4.45cm		 Minimum 1"
2.5cm
AAVP7A1: Automotive
Engine Cummins VT400; 8 cylinder, 4 cycle, vee, turbosupercharged diesel
Horsepower Gross: 400@2800rpm Torque Gross: 825 ft-lb@2050rpm Fuel capacity 171gal
647L
Transmission FMC HS-400-3A1, 4 speeds forward, 2 reverse
Steering Hydrostatic, steering wheel
Brakes Mechanical
AAVP7A1: Suspension
Type Road wheels Track return rollers
Torsion tube over bar 6 individually sprung dual/track Flat track
Drive sprockets Idlers Shock absorbers
11-tooth front drive Dual adjustable at rear of track On first and last road wheels/track
AAVP7A1: Track
Center guide, single pin, steel with detachable rubber pad
Width 21"
53cm		 Pitch 6"
15cm		 Shoes/track 84
(85 on new vehicles)		 Ground contact length 155"
394cm
AAVP7A1: Performance
Max level road speed 45mph
72kph		 Max water speed 8.2mph
13kph
Max trench 96"
240cm		 Max sideslope 60%
Max grade 60% Max vertical obstacle 36"
91cm
Min turning diameter Pivot Max fording depth Floats
Cruising range ~300mi, roads
~56mi, water
~480km, roads
~90km, water


A service life extension program was instituted in the early 1980s to bring the LVTP7 up to speed in reliability, communications, and safety. The Cummins VT400 diesel engine replaced the GM 8V53T, and this was driven through FMC's HS-400-3A1 transmission. The hydraulic traverse and elevation of the weapon station was replaced by electric motors, which eliminated the danger from hydraulic fluid fires. The suspension and shock absorbers were strengthened as well. The fuel tank was made safer, and a fuel-burning smoke generator system was added. Eight smoke grenade launchers were also placed around the armament station. The headlight clusters were housed in a square recess instead of the earlier round type. The driver was provided with an improved instrument panel, a night vision device, and a new ventilation system was installed. These upgraded vehicles were originally called LVTP7A1, but the Marine Corps renamed the LVTP7A1 to AAVP7A1 in 1984. Another improvement was added in the form of a Cadillac Gage weapon station which was armed with both a .50cal machine gun and a 40mm automatic grenade launcher. Applique armor kits were developed for the AAVP7A1, and the added weight of the new armor necessitated the addition of a bow plane kit when operating afloat.

In November 1998, a program to further prolong the life of the AAVP7A1 began. Under this AAV Reliability, Availability, Maintainability/Rebuild to Standard (AAV RAM/RS) plan, the AAVP7A1 will inherit the engine and transmission of the M2 Bradley infantry fighting vehicle.


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References

  1. Hunnicutt, R.P. Bradley: A History of American Fighting and Support Vehicles. Navato, CA: Presidio Press, 1999.
    Reprinted with permission from Bradley, R.P. Hunnicutt ©1999, available from Presidio Press, 505B San Martin Drive, Suite 160, Navato, CA 94945.

  2. Crismon, Fred W. U.S. Military Tracked Vehicles. Osceola, WI: Motorbooks International, 1992.

  3. Federation of American Scientists. "Assault Amphibian Vehicle Personnel Model 7A1 (AAVP7A1)." DOD 101. 14 Apr 2000. 27 Apr 2001 <http://www.fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/land/aavp7a1.htm>. DOD 101



Last updated 11 Jan 2002.

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© Copyright 2001-02 Chris Conners