US Marine Corps transfers retired AAVs to Black Sea allies

After more than five decades of carrying Marines to shore, the U.S. Marine Corps’ assault amphibious vehicle (AAV) made its final appearance this month during a military exercise in Romania before beginning its next task: defending allied countries in the Black Sea region, the Marine Corps said in a Thursday release.

The AAV-P7, affectionately known to Marines as "Trax," is being replaced by the amphibious combat vehicle. However, rather than being retired to storage, the battle-tested tracked vehicles are slated to be transferred to partner nations by experienced instructors.

Service History

• The AAV entered service in 1972 and became a mainstay of the Corps’ amphibious assault capabilities for decades.
• It underwent multiple upgrades over the years and saw combat in Lebanon and Iraq.
• The platform was officially decommissioned in September 2025.

Final Exercise

During the exercise, the AAV was used in doctrinal roles, including:

• Mechanized assault platform
• Logistics carrier
• Direct fire asset

The Corps noted that the vehicle was tested alongside drones, which have fundamentally changed the nature of warfare since the AAV was first introduced.

Emotional Farewell

For many Marines, the Trax was the center of their careers, and its retirement marked an emotional end to what was more than just a weapons system.

Master Sgt. Daniel Porter, logistics chief for 4th Assault Amphibian Battalion, spent 22 years working on the vehicle after first seeing one as a new Marine.

"This has been my home since I started in the Marine Corps," Porter said in the statement, which later chronicled his sentimental last look at the vehicle. "Last ride," he said, after bidding farewell to the beast he called "old girl."

About the Author

Eve Sampson is a reporter and former Army officer. She has covered conflict across the world, writing for The New York Times, The Washington Post, and The Associated Press.