General Dynamics Marine Personnel Carrier Completes Critical Marine Corps Swim and Human Factors Testing

STERLING HEIGHTS, Mich., June 6, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- General Dynamics Land Systems' Marine Personnel Carrier (MPC) vehicle successfully completed the U.S. Marine Corps' water performance swim and human factors testing at the Amphibious Vehicle Test Branch (AVTB), in Camp Pendleton, Calif. General Dynamics Land Systems is a business unit of General Dynamics (NYSE: GD).

"Our teams in Michigan, South Carolina, Virginia and Canada developed a vehicle that performed impressively during testing and demonstrated the ability to meet the Marine Corps' MPC vehicle requirements," said Michael D. Bolon, senior vice president, General Dynamics Land Systems U.S. Marine Corps and Navy Business Sector. "Our vehicle clearly demonstrated it has the amphibious capabilities that the Marines seek with the required outstanding survivability." 

Marine Corps teams at AVTB tested many critical vehicle features including troop egress and component storage, reserve buoyancy, center of gravity, water maneuverability, hydrodynamic stability, ocean speed into head seas and surf transit capability.  The General Dynamics MPC demonstrated exceptional 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 General Dynamics MPC demonstrated ample buoyancy at the fully armored combat weight, including two days of supplies to support 12 Marines in combat operations, and provided substantial stability and safety for amphibious tactical movements. This included safe maneuvering through plunging surf levels of up to four feet and reaching water speeds of over six knots. The General Dynamics MPC's rugged design allows it to maintain a stable waterborne attitude for all swimming and surf-penetration maneuvers.

In addition to its strong swimming capability, General Dynamics' MPC offers excellent crew, troop and equipment accommodation.  It provides land mobility capability compatible with the M1A1 tank.  Based on the combat-proven LAV III family of vehicles, its unique double-V hull provides unmatched protection levels for improved survivability. This MPC is the first amphibious vehicle of its type to demonstrate its swim capability with the double-V hull.

"General Dynamics has a long and proud history of providing land and amphibious combat systems to the Marine Corps. We look forward to continuing this strong partnership by drawing on the industry's broadest base of amphibious combat vehicle knowledge and experience to deliver optimum and best value solutions," said Bolon.

More information about General Dynamics Land Systems is available at www.gdls.com.

Information about General Dynamics is available at www.generaldynamics.com.

SOURCE General Dynamics Land Systems

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