SAN DIEGO – The United States Marine Corps will keep its new amphibious combat vehicle – a kind of navigation tank – out of the water while it investigates why two of the vehicles ran into trouble off the coast. California’s southern coast this week amid heavy surf, military officials said Wednesday.

No Marines or sailors were injured when one of the vehicles rolled on its side Tuesday in unusually high surf due to a Southern Hemisphere storm. The other was disabled when waves reaching 8 feet (2.4 meters) hit the shoreline.

The incidents prompted troops to jump out of vehicles and head for shore at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, north of San Diego. The incidents were first reported by The San Diego Union-Tribune.

The new vehicles were introduced to replace Vietnam War-era amphibious assault vehicles, one of which was involved in one of the deadliest Marine Corps training accidents there is. two years off the coast of Southern California.

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Lt. Gen. David J. Furness, deputy commandant of the Marine Corps for plans, policy, and operations, said officials decided to halt maritime operations involving the new vehicles as a precaution while an investigation is In progress. The Marine Corps will continue to use the vehicles for land operations.

“It’s the right thing to do,” Furness said in a statement. The effort will allow time to “ensure that our assault amphibian community remains ready to support our nation,” he added.

In the July 30, 2020 amphibious vehicle crash, eight Marines and one sailor died when the vehicle rapidly sank in 385 feet (117 meters) of water off San Clemente Island. Seven of the Marines were rescued.

A Marine Corps investigation found that inadequate training, poor maintenance, and poor judgment by leaders led to the sinking.

Marines use amphibious vehicles to transport troops and their equipment from Navy ships to shore. Armored vehicles equipped with machine guns and grenade launchers resemble tanks as they land for beach attacks, with Marines rolling out to take up position.