USMC Amphibious Assault Vehicles and Marines, 1996

This photo was taken by a USMC photographer on the island of Kauai, Hawaii on 15 June 1996. It shows Marines deploying after an amphibious landing in the AAV7A1 Amphibious Assault Vehicle in the background. This action was one event during RIMPAC '96, at the Pacific Missile Range Facility, Barking Sands, Kauai, Hawaii, conducted by the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) from Camp Pendleton, CA.

RIMPAC '96 was a large exercise that involved Navy and Marine air, ground and sea forces for training as a combined amphibious assault force. More than 44 ships, 200 aircraft and 30,000 soldiers, sailors, Marines, airmen and Coast Guardsmen were involved. The purpose was to improve coordination and interoperability of combined and joint forces in maritime tactical and theater operations. Australia, Canada, Chile, Japan, the Republic of Korea and the U.S. participated.

Today in WW II: 17 Sep 1939 Soviet troops invade Poland from the east. More ↓

17 Sep 1944 Thousands of Allied planes begin airborne assault on Holland, Operation Market Garden.
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