2nd Assault Amphibian Battalion 2nd Assault Amphibian Battalion is a mechanized battalion of the United States Marine Corps . Their primary weapon system is the Amphibious Assault Vehicle and they are part of the 2nd Marine Division and the II Marine Expeditionary Force . The unit is based out of the Camp Lejeune , North Carolina 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 . History . World War II . The Battalion organization was activated on March 18 , 1942 at Marine Barracks San Diego , California . The " Second Amphibian Tractor Battalion " was an Organic unit of the 2nd Marine Division , composed of a Headquarters and Service Company and three letter companies , all equipped with the Landing Vehicle Tracked - 1 ( LVT - 1 ) . In 1942 , the Battalion set sail from San Diego , CA with the 1st Marine Division to meet the Japan ese tide sweeping across the South Pacific . Elements of the 2nd Amphibian Tractor Battalion participated in assaults on Guadalcanal , Tarawa , Saipan , Tinian and Okinawa . After the surrender of Japan in August 1945 , the battalion returned to the United States and deactivated on 29 November 1945 . The 2nd Amphibian Tractor Battalion was reactivated on 1 May 1946 . The Battalion was stationed at Camp Lejeune , North Carolina where it participated in peace time training with the 2nd Marine Division . During this time the Battalion was equipped with the LVT - 3 and consisted of a Headquarters and Service company and four letter companies . As a result of the economy program , the Battalion was once again deactivated on 16 October 1949 . Vietnam War . In 1966 , the battalion transferred 260 Amphibian Tractor Crew men to Vietnam . Throughout the war , the 2nd Amphibian Tractor Battalion supported routine deployments and provided training support to the 2nd Marine Division . 1980s and 1990s . Elements of deployed in support of Multinational Force Beirut Lebanon 1983 - 1985 as part of the 24th Marine Amphibious Unit ( MAU ) . Elements of the battalion participated in Operation Urgent Fury in Grenada in 1983 as part of the 22nd Marine Amphibious Unit ( MAU ) . Deployment to the Persian Gulf as part of Operation Desert Shield and Operation Desert Storm . Deployment to Somalia in support of protecting the delivery of food in Dec . 1992 , and in May 1993 the UN took control of the relief efforts from the U . S . In August 1994 , a platoon from Bravo Company 2nd AABN and Golf Company , 2nd Battalion , 2nd Marines departed for the Caribbean and Haitian waters for Operation Support Democracy . On the morning of September 20 , Marines once again landed on the shores of Cap Haitian , Haiti since the first landing by Major Smedley Butler in 1915 . Tensions were high and a fire fight ensued between Haitian military police and a Marine patrol . The incident ended with no Marine deaths but Ten Haitian Policeman were killed . Battalion 2 / 2 and its AAV attachment remained during Operation Uphold Democracy lasting until October 1994 . In April 1996 , Golf Company 2 / 2 and Charlie Company 1st Platoon was attached to the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit . The AAV platoon was used as rifleman and as a reactionary force in support of Golf Company during the reinforcement of the American Embassy in Monrovia , Liberia during Operation Assured Response . Global War on Terror . Operation Iraqi Freedom . The battalion was deployed to the Middle East in 2003 and took part in Operation Iraqi Freedom I providing mechanized support for the infantry regiments . On 23 March , elements of Company A and C fought in the Battle of Nasiriyah with Regimental Combat Team 2 . After the invasion , the battalion began a regular rotation of companies to Iraq . Usually designated " Team Gator " , these companies provided both traditional AAV missions and provisional infantry missions . Company C and D participated in the Operation Phantom Fury ( Second Battle of Fallujah ) in November 2004 - January 2005 . In 2007 , Company D was the last 2d AABn unit to use AAVs in country . They switched , in January 2008 , to MRAPs and continued security missions all along Mobile , their usual area of operations ( AO ) , after Operation Phantom Fury . Company B deployed to Ramadi in support of 1st Battalion , 9th Marines . The company was tasked with operating the numerous entry control points ( ECPs ) around the city . Company A deployed as MRAP Company and relieved Company B and took over the ECP ' s in Oct 2008 in Ramadi . They then closed all ECP ' s down and turned them over to the Iraqi Police in Feb 2009 and returned home . Operation Enduring Freedom . Elements of Company C deployed to the Helmand Province with Battalion Landing Team 1 / 6 as part of the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit . The platoon was part of combat operations in the Taliban filled district of Garmsir . Company D deployed to the Helmand Province , Afghanistan as MRAP Company , Regimental Combat Team 3 in 2009 . They conducted route security missions , local population engagements , screening missions , and manned two combat outposts while attached to 1st Battalion , 5th Marines . Company B , Det - A deployed from November 2009 to May 2010 to relieve Company D as MRAP Company for Regimental Combat Team 7 . Fourth Platoon was attached to 1st Battalion , 3d Marines and conducted provisional infantry missions from two combat outposts . Third Platoon and the company headquarters element participated in Operation Moshtarak ( Battle of Marjeh ) . After supporting clearing operations with the 3 / 4 / 205 Afghan National Army battalion , the platoon provided security at the Marjeh Government Center and for the District Governor . Company B , Det - B deployed as part of the troop surge in Afghanistan in December 2009 . They were designated as the Base Defense Operations Center company and secured the major southern Helmand Province Marine base Camp Dwyer . Second Platoon provided the guard force for the base and manned a nearby outpost . Elements of 1st Platoon also participated in route security and screening missions during the preparations phase of Operation Moshtarak . Operation Unified Response Following the devastating earthquake Haiti in January 2010 , platoons of Company A and C ( as part of the 22nd and 24th Marine Expeditionary Units ) as well as Yankee Platoon from Headquarters and Service Company ( part of African Partnership 2010 ) deployed to the country to provide humanitarian assistance