3rd Assault Amphibian Battalion 3rd Assault Amphibian Battalion ( 3rd AABn ) is one of two active duty assault amphibian battalions in the United States Marine Corps . The battalion ' s primary weapon system is the Amphibious Assault Vehicle or AAV . The AAV is a 26 - ton armored vehicle that carries up to 18 combat - loaded Marines and is armed with the UGWS ( UpGunned Weapons Station ) , which mounts a . 50 cal ( 12 . 7 mm ) M2HB machine gun and a Mk - 19 40 mm grenade launcher . The AAV is the only armored vehicle in the U . S . inventory that is fully capable of operations both on land and in the ocean . The battalion is part of the 1st Marine Division and the I Marine Expeditionary Force . The unit is based in Camp Pendleton , California . Mission . Land the surface assault element of the landing force and their equipment in a single lift from assault shipping during amphibious operations to inland objectives ; to conduct mechanized operations and related combat support in subsequent operations ashore . The specific Mission Essential Tasks List ( METL ) includes : Subordinate units . 3rd Assault Amphibian Battalion is currently composed of 6 companies located at Camp Pendleton and 1 reinforced company located at the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms . History . World War II . 3rd Assault Amphibian Battalion was originally activated 16 September 1942 at San Diego , California , as 3rd Amphibian Tractor ( Amtrac ) Battalion and assigned to the 3rd Marine Division . During December 1942 the battalion relocated from San Diego a short distance up the coast to Camp Pendleton . After training for a few months the battalion then deployed in February – March 1943 to Auckland , New Zealand in preparation for combat in the Pacific theater . During World War II , the battalion was primarily armed with Landing Vehicle Tracked ( LVT ) , specifically the LVT - 2 also known as " WATER BUFFALOS " . The battalion fought in the following combat actions : - Bougainville with 124 LVT - 1s - Guam with 193 LVT - 2s and LVT - 4s - Iwo Jima with 90 LVT - 2s For its actions in World War II , 3rd Amphibian Tractor Battalion was awarded the Presidential Unit Citation Streamer , Asiatic - Pacific Campaign Medal Streamer With Four Bronze Stars , and the World War II Victory Medal Streamer . At the conclusion of World War II the battalion redeployed in March 1945 to Maui , territory of Hawaii and then relocated during February 1946 back to Camp Pendleton , California . It was deactivated several months later on 1 May 1946 . 1952 - 1966 . 3rd Amphibian Tractor Battalion was reactivated 1 April 1952 at Camp Pendleton , California , and assigned to Fleet Marine Force , Pacific . It was subsequently reassigned during October 1955 to the 1st Marine Division . Elements participated in the Cuban Missile Crisis , October – December 1962 During this period the battalion was still armed with LVTs - transitioning primarily to the LVT - 5 in the late 1950s . Vietnam War and 1970s . 3rd Amphibian Tractor Battalion deployed during February 1965 to Camp Schwab , Okinawa and redeployed again in june 1965 to the Republic of Vietnam . There the battalion fought in the Vietnam War from June 1966 - January 1970 . During this conflict the battalion distinguished itself at : Throughout Vietnam the battalion was armed with variants of the LVT - 5 . For its actions in Vietnam , 3rd Amtrac Battalion was awarded the Presidential Unit Citation Streamer , Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation Streamer , National Defense Service Medal Streamer , Vietnam Service Medal Streamer With Two Silver Stars , Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm Streamer , and the Vietnam Civil Actions Medal Unit Citation Streamer . The battalion relocated during February 1970 to Camp Pendleton , California , and was reassigned to the 5th Marine Expeditionary Brigade . It was again reassigned in August 1970 to the 5th Marine Amphibious Brigade . Subsequently in April 1971 the battalion was reassigned to the 1st Marine Division with whom it remains to this day . In the early 1970s the battalion transitioned from the LVT - 5 to its replacement the LVT - 7 . On 30 December 1976 the battalion was re - designated from 3rd Amphibian Tractor Battalion to 3rd Assault Amphibian Battalion ( written as 3rd AABn ) . The battalion participated in numerous training exercises throughout the remainder of the 1970s . 1980s . Throughout the 1980s , 3rd Assault Amphibian Battalion deployed companies on its regular schedule of six month deployments to the forward units in Hawaii and Okinawa , including units aboard amphibious troop ships for fast - reaction forces in the Pacific and Indian Oceans and into the Persian Gulf . It shared personnel and vehicles with the 1st Armored Assault Battalion as part of the Unit Deployment Program . In the early 1980s the battalion ' s LVT - 7s underwent a Service Life Extension Program ( SLEP ) , which converted the LVT - 7 vehicles to the improved Amphibious Assault Vehicle - 7A1 ( AAV - 7A1 ) by adding an improved engine , transmission , and weapons system and improving the overall maintainability of the vehicle . Upon realizing the need to mechanize units participating in the Combined Arms Exercises ( CAX ) , two platoons of AAVs were transferred to the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms ( MCAGCC ) in July 1979 . The two platoons were formed from Camp Pendleton one went to Company A , 3d Tank Battalion , and the other platoon went to Company B , 3d Tank Battalion . The two platoons later merged and became Company D , 3rd Tank Battalion in September 1980 . Two additional platoons from 3d Assault Amphibian Battalion in Hawaii arrived on board the MCAGCC in December 1981 . A redesignation ceremony was held on 18 January 1982 in which the colors of Company D , 3rd Tank Battalion were formally retired and replaced with the new colors of Company D ( Rein ) , 3d Assault Amphibian Battalion . The company was instrumental in training Marines in desert warfare as they rotated in and out of the live - fire desert training area , a key to the Marine Corp ' s success in the 1991 Gulf War . For its superior performance from 1983 – 1985 , the battalion was awarded a Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation . Desert Shield / Storm . In August 1990 , 3rd AABn received orders to prepare for an overseas deployment to Southwest Asia as a response to the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait . In the following month the unit deployed to Saudi Arabia and received shipments of its Amphibious Assault Vehicle s from Maritime Prepositioning ship s to augment its current vehicle ranks . During this time the battalion began upgrading its AAVP - 7A1s to carry the UGWS ( UpGunned Weapons Station ) , which mounts a . 50 cal ( 12 . 7 mm ) M2HB machine gun and a Mk - 19 40 mm grenade launcher . In preparation for the assault into Kuwait , the battalion divided into two main mechanized infantry task forces , along with 1st and 3rd Tank Battalion s , to form Task Force Ripper and Task Force Papa Bear respectively . The units trained and patrolled the Saudi frontier with Kuwait until the start of the ground war in February 1991 . After five days of combat the two task forces , along with other Marine task forces , British and Pan - Arab units , captured Kuwait International Airport and a cease - fire was announced . During the march to Kuwait City , the mechanized infantry task forces were responsible for the defeat of numerous Iraqi regiments , the capture of tens of thousands of Iraqi prisoners , and the capture or destruction of thousands of enemy armored vehicles . 3rd AABn returned to Camp Pendleton in March 1991 . For its actions during the Gulf War , the battalion was awarded a { Presedential Unit Citation } Streamer . Navy Unit Commendation Streamer , National Defense Service Medal Streamer , and the Southwest Asia Service Medal Streamer With Two Bronze Stars . Restore Hope . On 9 December 1992 , elements of 3rd AABn attached to the 15th MEU landed on the beach just outside the Mogadishu International Airport in Somalia in support of Operation Restore Hope . These initial forces were soon followed by Bravo , Delta , and H & S Companies of 3rd AABn . These units ' operations stretched from Mogadishu to Bardera , Baidoa , and Kismayo . The battalion served as a blocking force for the International Airport ' s reception of airlifted humanitarian supplies , then extended its services as road guards for supply convoys and foot patrols in and around Mogadishu . Elements of 3rd AABn served in Somalia or off the coast aboard MEUs from 1992 until approximately 1995 . For its actions during Operation Restore Hope , the battalion was awarded the Joint Meritorious Unit Award Streamer and the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal Streamer . Global War on Terror . In 2003 , 3rd AABn participated in Operation Iraqi Freedom as part of the 1st Marine Division . They first deployed in February 2003 to Kuwait and crossed the border into Iraq in March , attacking all the way to Baghdad . The battalion served as the primary mechanized assault support for the infantry and proved to be an invaluable asset in crossing the vast distances and urban areas of Iraq . Companies from 3rd AABn continue to deploy to Iraq on a regular basis in support of Multi - National Forces West ( MNF - W ) . In the Al Anbar province they conduct all manner of operations ranging from traditional infantry mechanized assault support to acting independently as motorized forces patrolling vast urban and desert areas . To date , the battalion ' s actions in support of the Global War on Terror have earned it a Presidential Unit Citation Streamer , Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation Streamer , National Defense Service Medal Streamer , Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal Streamer , and the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal Streamer . Unit Honors . 3rd Assault Amphibian Battalion ' s unit awards include :