Few capabilities are more indispensable to the future combat effectiveness of the Marines than those that enable troops and equipment to be rapidly and survivably transported from assault ships over the beach and around the battle zone.

CENTERFORSECURITYPOLICY: Center for Security Policy | ��Do The Right Thing��: Congressional Defense Choices For The Post-Kuwait World

Testing 94 systems distributed across nine ships during an amphibious assault was an important part of the validation test -- and the first time an entire MEU has participated in such a test, Malagon said.

CNN: Navy, Marines throw early Y2K New Year's party

In October the USS Makin Island, an amphibious assault ship, was the first of 12 hybrid-powered ships to take to the water.

ECONOMIST: Monitor