The Marine Personnel Carrier was a wheeled armored personnel carrier under development
for acquisition by the United States Marine Corps. The program was canceled in 2013 but
resurrected in 2014 as part of phase one of the Amphibious Combat Vehicle.
Role The United States Marine Corps is preparing
to acquire a new fleet of wheeled armored vehicles to meet the attributes and metrics
of the Marine Personnel Carrier requirement. The MPC will serve as a medium weight personnel
carrier and complements the capabilities offered by the Joint Light Tactical Vehicle and the
Expeditionary Fighting Vehicle. This triad of capabilities EFV – MPC – JLTV comprises
the USMC ground mobility portfolio and the means by which expeditionary, scalable, and
networked armored protected seats will be provided to the Marine Air-Ground Task Force
in the future. The Marine Personnel Carrier will serve as
a medium lift personnel carrier and complements the capabilities offered by the Joint Light
Tactical Vehicle for light lift purposes and the Expeditionary Fighting Vehicle for heavy
lift purposes. The MPC will provide landward lift to infantry battalions. One infantry
battalion can be lifted by one MPC company along with the infantry battalion's organic
wheeled assets. Two MPC-Personnel Carriers can lift a reinforced Infantry squad. An Initial
Capabilities Document has already been approved and the Capability Development Document is
in development. The MPC is a new capability that will be a
multi-wheeled, armored personnel carrier designed to operate across the range of military operations
but focused on an irregular warfare operating environment characterized by operations in
constrained and urban terrain. Required to carry 8-9 combat loaded Marines and 2-man
crew, the MPC will enable high-speed land maneuver as well as substantial ballistic
protection to embarked Marines. Design
The MPC will possess a balance between the performance, protection and payload attributes
and shall be designed to accomplish a broad array of missions across the range of military
operations in a variety of operating environments in which expeditionary operations take place.
Variants The MPC family of vehicles will consist of
a basic vehicle and two role-specific variants. MPC-Personnel
The MPC-Personnel will be the basic vehicle, two of which carry and support a reinforced
rifle squad of 17 marines. Each vehicle would carry 8–9 combat-equipped marines and a
two-man crew. This meets the need to transport more marine infantrymen than the existing
Light Armored Vehicle or Humvee platforms while providing greater protection.
MPC-Command The MPC-Command will be equipped to serve
as a mobile command-echelon/ fire-support coordination center for the infantry battalion
headquarters. MPC-Recovery
The MPC-Recovery will be the maintenance and recovery variant of the MPC.
Development
The Marine Corps deferred Milestone A for the Marine Personnel Carrier program by two
years to FY10. The two-year investment period allowed for the maturation of Government Furnished
Equipment and armoring technologies the Marine Corps plans to integrate onto the vehicles
once produced. In addition, an MPC Technology Demonstrator
vehicle effort will be initiated to inform CDD development on achievable capabilities
and integration risks at the Nevada Automotive Test Center. This is the location that hosted
the Combat Tactical Vehicle test bed for the JLTV program. The MPC-Technology Demonstrator
vehicle will address all major functional areas and specifically the following:
Mobility Survivability
Electrical power generation, management and distribution
C4ISR Vehicle Health Monitoring
The initial Analysis of Alternatives included "legacy" Stryker and the MPC AOA identified
a medium armored personnel carrier as the solution to the MPC requirement. The MPC Program
Office is pursuing jointness with the Army and including Stryker MOD in the revised MPC
AoA. It is scheduled to begin Engineering, Manufacturing and Development in 2012, with
initial operational capability in 2018. The acquisition objective is approximately 630
vehicles. Competitors
IVECO Defence Vehicles teamed with BAE Systems Global Combat Systems to offer its Superav
8x8 amphibious armored personnel carrier. In 2007, Lockheed Martin teamed up with Patria
to offer the Patria AMV In August 2012, the Marines awarded development
contracts to four companies for their vehicles: the Lockheed Martin Havoc, the BAE Systems
Superav, the SAIC Terrex, and an unspecified General Dynamics vehicle. Winners each received
$3.5 million contracts for a demonstration and study vehicle for water performance evaluation,
survivability testing, and an analysis of human factors and stowage capacity starting
in fall 2012. Testing
Amphibious tests On 3 April 2013, the Lockheed Havoc successfully
completed amphibious testing as part of its evaluation for the MPC program. Trials were
conducted at Camp Pendleton with the vehicle loaded to its full combat weight. The Havoc
demonstrated its resistance to water penetration and ability to negotiate all surf and wave
conditions while accommodating a full complement of Marine Corps battle gear for the crew.
It maintained 100 percent operational readiness throughout the test.
On 8 May 2013, BAE and Iveco successfully completed 12 days of evaluations on the Superav
for the MPC program at Camp Pendleton. The evaluations included a water performance demonstrations
in various sea conditions, as well as human factors and stowage capacity. The Superav
exceeded all vehicle requirements, performing personnel exit drills in less than 17 seconds
and showcasing advanced interior layout and compartmentalization that allowed for the
stowage of more than three days of supplies without jeopardizing the survivability of
the vehicle and personnel. Similar tests conducted by Iveco confirmed the vehicle's ability to
be launched and recovered from ships and transition in surf zones. BAE and Iveco then prepared
for survivability demonstrations in the summer. On 6 June 2013, General Dynamics successfully
completed water performance swim and human factors testing at Camp Pendleton. The General
Dynamics MPC entry is based on their LAV III APC with a Double V-hull, making it the first
vehicle with the hull design to have swim capabilities. The General Dynamics MPC demonstrated
swim capabilities at its fully armored combat weight, along with the required ability to
carry 12 Marines and their equipment. Rapid tactical and emergency egress through the
vehicle’s large roof hatches and rear ramp was also demonstrated. The vehicle was buoyant
at its full combat weight, which included two days of supplies to support 12 marines.
It also maneuvered safely through varying sea levels up to four feet deep and reached
water speeds of over six knots. On 18 July 2013, SAIC, along with ST Kinetics
and Armatec Survivability Corporation, successfully completed two weeks of evaluations for the
Terrex at Camp Pendleton. The tests included a series of water performance demonstrations
in various sea conditions and an evaluation of human factors and stowage capacity. The
Terrex completed all required surf transit and ocean swim maneuverability tests at its
fully loaded combat weight. It demonstrated load capabilities through successful stowage
of gear and supplies that Marines would require for three days of operations, with space available
for additional equipment. The human factors evaluation demonstrated the spacious interior
by accommodating the specified number of combat-equipped Marines and enabling rapid tactical and emergency
egress through a quick-release hatch. The Terrex repeated ocean swim and maneuverability
results achieved in a March 2013 rehearsal event. SAIC began ballistic and blast tests
at the Nevada Automotive Test Center in May 2013, and was scheduled to complete all ballistic
and mine blast demonstrations in July. The Marines are to deliver a final report in September
2013. Survivability tests
During the summer of 2013, the Havoc successfully completed protection systems testing during
a series of blast tests. The vehicle completed all threshold and objective protection system
testing, with instrumentation indicating that no disabling injuries would have resulted
to any of the three crew members and nine dismounted Marines. Lockheed also delivered
a report demonstrating the high degree of commonality between the Havoc and other Marine
Corps vehicles, aimed at reducing cost, training requirements, and logistics needs.
Deferment In June 2013, days after General Dynamics
completed water performance swim and human factors testing, the Marine Corps officially
put the MPC program on hold. The program was delayed by budget cuts and prioritization
of the Amphibious Combat Vehicle by the Marines. Although the MPC's primary role is to carry
troops once ashore, it is amphibious like the ACV, and Congress has expressed concerns
about funding two vehicle programs to fulfill the role. Marine officials promised to maintain
contact with interested vehicle manufacturers so that if the decision was made to restart
the MPC program, it could be done in an expeditious and cost-efficient manner. Procurement of
the planned 579 MPC vehicles was on "indefinite hold," and it could have been 10 years before
development was restarted. It would have taken several years for the vehicle to be designed,
built, and fielded. Congress may have further explored the operational implications of MPC
deferment. Given technological advancements as well as emerging threat weapons systems
and the constantly changing geo-strategic environment, the MPC developmental requirements
may not have been valid or relevant over the next five to ten years. As opposed to simply
restarting the existing program, the Marines may establish criteria on when it would be
necessary to initiate a new MPC program. ACV Increment 1.1
Shortly after the Marine Corps submitted their FY 2015 budget request in February 2014, General
Jim Amos decided to postpone development of the Amphibious Combat Vehicle program and
return funding to the Marine Personnel Carrier. Originally, the Marines planned to buy both
the ACV and MPC to replace outdated vehicles to complement each other for different missions.
During an amphibious assault, a limited number of ACVs would carry the initial landing force
from ship to shore and further inland. After the beach was secured, a larger number of
MPCs would be landed by landing craft to reinforce the first wave. When budgets tightened, the
ACV was taken as the priority and funding was removed from the MPC, with the service
figuring they could buy an off-the-shelf wheeled troop transport later when money was available.
Technical challenges to the proposed ACV continued to mount as funds kept getting constrained,
so the decision was made that wheeled APC advancements where significant enough to address
needs quicker. Marines still want a high-speed fully amphibious vehicle to move troops from
the ocean to a beach with enough armor, mobility, and firepower to fight while on land, so a
phased approach was decided for the ACV. Phase 1 would be the procurement of an interim vehicle
to replace the aging Amphibious Assault Vehicle, while Phase 2 would develop desired capabilities
for the platform. There was some suggestion of incorporating the MPC into ACV Phase 1,
and combining it with a high-speed watercraft that can bring it to the landing area, or
close enough that it can use its own limited amphibious capabilities. If the MPC had funding
restored in 2015, time spent on holding a competition and evaluations would lead to
operational quantities being available around 2020.
ACV Phase I is a restructured version of the MPC, which will be the procurement of a modified
U.S. or foreign wheeled armored troop transport. 200 basic transports will be bought as part
of ACV 1.1, following which ACV 1.2 will buy an additional 400 vehicles in other variants
including command and fire support. Phase I ACV submissions are likely to include the
previous contenders for the MPC program. The vehicle will need a higher swim capability
standard than the MPC, with the ability to move 5 mi to shore from water after being
dropped off by a connector. It will travel that distance in one hour, roughly the same
time and distance the AAV deploys and travels at.
See also Expeditionary Fighting Vehicle a heavier tracked
Infantry Fighting Vehicle that was being developed for the U.S. Marine Corps but has been cancelled
Future Combat Systems manned ground vehicles, a canceled American family of tracked vehicles
Stryker, a recent American family of wheeled vehicles
Joint Light Tactical Vehicle, a future American family of light vehicles
Combat Vehicle Reconnaissance, an earlier but similar British family of vehicles
References ^ a b Freedberg Jr., Sydney J.. "A Sneak Peek
At Marines’ New Amphibious Combat Vehicle". breakingdefense.com. Breaking Media, Inc.
Retrieved 2 April 2014. ^ Lockheed Martin and Patria join forces
^ Personnel carrier development contracts awarded - Militarytimes.com, September 10,
2012 ^ Lockheed Martin's Havoc 8x8 Completes Swim
Tests - Lockheed press release, April 3, 2013 ^ US Marine Corps Successfully Test Iveco
SuperAV 8x8 Marine Personnel Carrier - Deagel.com, May 8, 2013
^ General Dynamics Marine Personnel Carrier Completes Critical Marine Corps Swim and Human
Factors Testing - General Dynamics press release, 6 June 2013
^ Terrex Completes U.S. Marine Corps’ Amphibious Vehicle Evaluation in Camp Pendleton - SAIC
press release, 18 July 2013 ^ Havoc 8x8 Demonstrates High Levels of Crew
Protection in Marine Corps' Blast Testing - Deagel.com, 24 September 2013
^ Commitment to Swimming Vehicle Throws Off Marines’ Tight Modernization Schedule - Nationaldefensemagazine.org,
October 2013 ^ Marines Budget Scramble: Commandant Resurrects
MPC, ACV In Limbo - Breakingdefense.com, 17 February 2014
This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the
United States Marine Corps. "Marine Personnel Carrier". Marine Corps Systems
Command. Retrieved 27 March 2010. "Marine Personnel Carrier - Program Synopsis".
United States Army TACOM Life Cycle Management Command. November 18, 2009. Retrieved 27 March
2010. External links