{"id":22909,"date":"2021-12-06T16:29:03","date_gmt":"2021-12-06T16:29:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/uncategorized\/2021\/12\/06\/marine-helicopter-crew-carries-12-ton-vehicle-over-water-in-testing-first\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T20:29:40","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T20:29:40","slug":"marine-helicopter-crew-carries-12-ton-vehicle-over-water-in-testing-first","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/training-sim\/2021\/12\/06\/marine-helicopter-crew-carries-12-ton-vehicle-over-water-in-testing-first\/","title":{"rendered":"Marine helicopter crew carries 12-ton vehicle over water in testing first"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Marines recently transported a 12-ton light armored vehicle from an amphibious assault ship to shore with a testing version of the Corps\u2019 most workhorse of helicopters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Marine Operational Test and Evaluation Squadron One, or VMX-1, did the over-the-horizon heavy lift and troop transport ship-to-shore maneuver over the Atlantic Ocean from Nov. 19\u201321 using the CH-53K King Stallion <\/a>helicopter, according to a Marine Corps statement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Moving such heavy gear and troops is key to future combat operations concepts such as expeditionary advanced base operations that the Marines are leaning into so that they can enable naval forces<\/a> in future fights.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The CH-53K\u2019s lift ability of 12 tons is three times the amount of the previous CH-53E variant, according to a report from the Pentagon\u2019s Department of Test and Evaluation.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\t