4th Assault Amphibian Battalion
Encyclopedia
4th Assault Amphibian Battalion is a mechanized battalion of the United States Marine Corps
reserve. Their primary weapon system is the Amphibious Assault Vehicle
and they are part of the 4th Marine Division and the Marine Forces Reserve. The unit is based out of the Tampa Bay, Florida with subordinate units in Virginia
, Mississippi
and Texas
.
To conduct mechanized operations and related combat support in subsequent operations ashore.
.
Reassigned during January 1944 to Corps Troops, Amphibious Corps, and deployed to the Pacific area.
Reassigned during April 1944 to Corps Troops, 3rd Amphibious Corps, and participated in the following campaigns in World War II:
Redesignated on September 8, 1944 as the 4th Amphibian Tractor Battalion, Fleet Marine Force, Pacific Troops, 3rd Amphibious Corps.
Detached on November 11, 1944 from the 3rd Amphibious Corps.
Redesignated on July 15, 1945 as the 4th Amphibian Tractor Battalion, 2nd Amphibian Tractor Group (Provisional), Fleet Marine Force, Pacific, and deployed to Guam, Marianas Islands.
Redesignated on September 30, 1945 as the 4th Amphibian Tractor Battalion, Fleet Marine Force, Pacific.
Redeployed during October 1945 to Camp Pendleton, California and deactivated on November 26, 1945.
as the 4th Amphibian Tractor Battalion, Force Troops, Fleet Marine Force, United States Marine Corps Reserve
Redesignated on October 1, 1976 as the 4th Assault Amphibian Battalion, Fleet Marine Force, United States Marine Corps Reserve
Participated in training exercises throughout the 1970s and 1980s.
Participated in southwest Asia, Desert Shield, and Desert Storm as augmentation force to sister Assault Amphibian Battalions.
4th AAVBn have provided augmentation to its sister Assault Amphibian Battalions during Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom. These battalions were in the 1st Marine Division and 3rd Marine Division.
4th AAV Bn was activated in the month of January 2003, and deployed to the Middle East
in February 2003. On March 18, 2003 - hours after President George W. Bush
's speech and aerial attacks on the country, all convoys were staged to push to Baghdad
. Weeks later, Bravo Company (-) reservists were the first to set foot in Baghdad
. Although destroyed bridges were an obstacle to many units, B(-) ability to cross the major rivers were an integral part to the overall mission.
4th AAV Bn have deployed company sized elements in support of Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa.
In the wake of Hurricane Katrina
, 4th AAV Bn was deployed to the Gulf Coast in support of rescue and recovery operations.
Alpha Company, 4th Assault Amphibian Battalion was deployed to Iraq in 2008 to support Regimental Combat Team 5. Where they conducted Helo Quick Reaction Force and infantry operations throughout the Al Anbar Providence.
Bravo Company, 4th Assault Amphibian Battalion was deployed in 2009 to Al Asad, Iraq attached to 1st Battalion 8th Marines.
Presidential Unit Citation - OKINAWA 1945
Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Streamer with Three Bronze Stars
WORLD WAR II Victory Streamer
United States Marine Corps
The United States Marine Corps is a branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for providing power projection from the sea, using the mobility of the United States Navy to deliver combined-arms task forces rapidly. It is one of seven uniformed services of the United States...
reserve. Their primary weapon system is the Amphibious Assault Vehicle
Amphibious Assault Vehicle
The Assault Amphibious Vehicle —official designation AAV-7A1 is a fully tracked amphibious landing vehicle manufactured by U.S. Combat Systems .The AAV-7A1 is the current amphibious troop transport of the United States Marine Corps...
and they are part of the 4th Marine Division and the Marine Forces Reserve. The unit is based out of the Tampa Bay, Florida with subordinate units in Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
, Mississippi
Mississippi
Mississippi is a U.S. state located in the Southern United States. Jackson is the state capital and largest city. The name of the state derives from the Mississippi River, which flows along its western boundary, whose name comes from the Ojibwe word misi-ziibi...
and Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
.
Mission
To land the surface assault elements 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.
Current units
| Name | Location |
|---|---|
| H&S Company | Tampa, Florida Tampa, Florida Tampa is a city in the U.S. state of Florida. It serves as the county seat for Hillsborough County. Tampa is located on the west coast of Florida. The population of Tampa in 2010 was 335,709.... |
| Alpha Company | Norfolk, Virginia Norfolk, Virginia Norfolk is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia in the United States. With a population of 242,803 as of the 2010 Census, it is Virginia's second-largest city behind neighboring Virginia Beach.... |
| Alpha Company (3rd Platoon) | Gulfport, Mississippi Gulfport, Mississippi Gulfport is the second largest city in Mississippi after the state capital Jackson. It is the larger of the two principal cities of the Gulfport-Biloxi, Mississippi Metropolitan Statistical Area, which is included in the Gulfport-Biloxi-Pascagoula, Mississippi Combined Statistical Area. As of the... |
| Bravo Company | Jacksonville, Florida Jacksonville, Florida Jacksonville is the largest city in the U.S. state of Florida in terms of both population and land area, and the largest city by area in the contiguous United States. It is the county seat of Duval County, with which the city government consolidated in 1968... |
| Bravo Company (3rd Platoon) | Galveston, Texas Galveston, Texas Galveston is a coastal city located on Galveston Island in the U.S. state of Texas. , the city had a total population of 47,743 within an area of... |
1943 - 1945
Activated on August 19, 1943 at Camp Pendleton, California, as the 4th Amphibian Tractor Battalion, Division Special Troops, 4th Marine Division, Fleet Marine ForceFleet Marine Force
The United States Fleet Marine Forces are combined general and special purpose forces within the United States Department of the Navy that are designed in engaging offensive amphibious or expeditionary warfare and defensive maritime employment...
.
Reassigned during January 1944 to Corps Troops, Amphibious Corps, and deployed to the Pacific area.
Reassigned during April 1944 to Corps Troops, 3rd Amphibious Corps, and participated in the following campaigns in World War II:
- Battle of KwajaleinBattle of KwajaleinThe Battle of Kwajalein was a battle of the Pacific campaign of World War II, fought from 31 January-3 February 1944, on Kwajalein Atoll in the Marshall Islands. Employing the hard-learned lessons of the battle of Tarawa, the United States launched a successful twin assault on the main islands of...
- Battle of GuamBattle of GuamThe Second Battle of Guam was the American capture of the Japanese held island of Guam, a United States territory during the Pacific campaign of World War II.-Background:...
- Battle of OkinawaBattle of OkinawaThe Battle of Okinawa, codenamed Operation Iceberg, was fought on the Ryukyu Islands of Okinawa and was the largest amphibious assault in the Pacific War of World War II. The 82-day-long battle lasted from early April until mid-June 1945...
Redesignated on September 8, 1944 as the 4th Amphibian Tractor Battalion, Fleet Marine Force, Pacific Troops, 3rd Amphibious Corps.
Detached on November 11, 1944 from the 3rd Amphibious Corps.
Redesignated on July 15, 1945 as the 4th Amphibian Tractor Battalion, 2nd Amphibian Tractor Group (Provisional), Fleet Marine Force, Pacific, and deployed to Guam, Marianas Islands.
Redesignated on September 30, 1945 as the 4th Amphibian Tractor Battalion, Fleet Marine Force, Pacific.
Redeployed during October 1945 to Camp Pendleton, California and deactivated on November 26, 1945.
1962 - 2000
Reactivated on July 1, 1962 at Tampa, FloridaTampa, Florida
Tampa is a city in the U.S. state of Florida. It serves as the county seat for Hillsborough County. Tampa is located on the west coast of Florida. The population of Tampa in 2010 was 335,709....
as the 4th Amphibian Tractor Battalion, Force Troops, Fleet Marine Force, United States Marine Corps Reserve
Redesignated on October 1, 1976 as the 4th Assault Amphibian Battalion, Fleet Marine Force, United States Marine Corps Reserve
Participated in training exercises throughout the 1970s and 1980s.
Participated in southwest Asia, Desert Shield, and Desert Storm as augmentation force to sister Assault Amphibian Battalions.
2000 - present
4th AAV Bn was activated in the month of January 2003, and deployed to the Middle East
Middle East
The Middle East is a region that encompasses Western Asia and Northern Africa. It is often used as a synonym for Near East, in opposition to Far East...
in February 2003. On March 18, 2003 - hours after President George W. Bush
George W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
's speech and aerial attacks on the country, all convoys were staged to push to Baghdad
Baghdad
Baghdad is the capital of Iraq, as well as the coterminous Baghdad Governorate. The population of Baghdad in 2011 is approximately 7,216,040...
. Weeks later, Bravo Company (-) reservists were the first to set foot in Baghdad
Baghdad
Baghdad is the capital of Iraq, as well as the coterminous Baghdad Governorate. The population of Baghdad in 2011 is approximately 7,216,040...
. Although destroyed bridges were an obstacle to many units, B(-) ability to cross the major rivers were an integral part to the overall mission.
4th AAV Bn have deployed company sized elements in support of Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa.
In the wake of Hurricane Katrina
Hurricane Katrina
Hurricane Katrina of the 2005 Atlantic hurricane season was a powerful Atlantic hurricane. It is the costliest natural disaster, as well as one of the five deadliest hurricanes, in the history of the United States. Among recorded Atlantic hurricanes, it was the sixth strongest overall...
, 4th AAV Bn was deployed to the Gulf Coast in support of rescue and recovery operations.
Alpha Company, 4th Assault Amphibian Battalion was deployed to Iraq in 2008 to support Regimental Combat Team 5. Where they conducted Helo Quick Reaction Force and infantry operations throughout the Al Anbar Providence.
Bravo Company, 4th Assault Amphibian Battalion was deployed in 2009 to Al Asad, Iraq attached to 1st Battalion 8th Marines.
Honors
Presidential Unit Citation - WORLD WAR IIPresidential Unit Citation - OKINAWA 1945
Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Streamer with Three Bronze Stars
WORLD WAR II Victory Streamer
See also
- List of United States Marine Corps battalions
- Organization of the United States Marine CorpsOrganization of the United States Marine CorpsThe United States Marine Corps is organized within the Department of the Navy, which is led by the Secretary of the Navy . The most senior Marine officer is the Commandant of the Marine Corps, responsible for organizing, recruiting, training, and equipping the Marine Corps so that it is ready for...