US Marines prepare to attach a light armoured vehicle (below) to a CH-53K at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, on 19 November. The CH-53K is undergoing IOT&E to develop tactics, techniques, and procedures for its future use. (US Marine Corps)

The US Marine Corps (USMC) performed over-the-horizon (OTH) heavy lift and troop transport ship-to-shore tests with Sikorsky CH-53K King Stallion heavy lift helicopters for the first time on 19–21 November.

Marine Operational Test and Evaluation Squadron One (VMX-1) evaluated the CH-53K's ability to meet programme specification for OTH heavy lift capability, according to a corps statement. USMC spokesman Major Jorge Hernandez said on 6 December that the squadron conducted four round trips for troop movement and four round trips carrying a 12,247 kg light armoured vehicle (LAV-25). Each round trip covered up to 220 n miles.

VMX-1 tested the CH-53K's ability to transport the LAV-25 from the Wasp-class amphibious assault ship USS Iwo Jima

US Marines prepare to attach a light armoured vehicle (below) to a CH-53K at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, on 19 November. The CH-53K is undergoing IOT&E to develop tactics, techniques, and procedures for its future use. (US Marine Corps)

The US Marine Corps (USMC) performed over-the-horizon (OTH) heavy lift and troop transport ship-to-shore tests with Sikorsky CH-53K King Stallion heavy lift helicopters for the first time on 19–21 November.

Marine Operational Test and Evaluation Squadron One (VMX-1) evaluated the CH-53K's ability to meet programme specification for OTH heavy lift capability, according to a corps statement. USMC spokesman Major Jorge Hernandez said on 6 December that the squadron conducted four round trips for troop movement and four round trips carrying a 12,247 kg light armoured vehicle (LAV-25). Each round trip covered up to 220 n miles.

VMX-1 tested the CH-53K's ability to transport the LAV-25 from the Wasp-class amphibious assault ship USS Iwo Jima

US Marines prepare to attach a light armoured vehicle (below) to a CH-53K at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, on 19 November. The CH-53K is undergoing IOT&E to develop tactics, techniques, and procedures for its future use. (US Marine Corps)

The US Marine Corps (USMC) performed over-the-horizon (OTH) heavy lift and troop transport ship-to-shore tests with Sikorsky CH-53K King Stallion heavy lift helicopters for the first time on 19–21 November.

Marine Operational Test and Evaluation Squadron One (VMX-1) evaluated the CH-53K's ability to meet programme specification for OTH heavy lift capability, according to a corps statement. USMC spokesman Major Jorge Hernandez said on 6 December that the squadron conducted four round trips for troop movement and four round trips carrying a 12,247 kg light armoured vehicle (LAV-25). Each round trip covered up to 220 n miles.

VMX-1 tested the CH-53K's ability to transport the LAV-25 from the Wasp-class amphibious assault ship USS Iwo Jima

US Marines prepare to attach a light armoured vehicle (below) to a CH-53K at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, on 19 November. The CH-53K is undergoing IOT&E to develop tactics, techniques, and procedures for its future use. (US Marine Corps)

The US Marine Corps (USMC) performed over-the-horizon (OTH) heavy lift and troop transport ship-to-shore tests with Sikorsky CH-53K King Stallion heavy lift helicopters for the first time on 19–21 November.

Marine Operational Test and Evaluation Squadron One (VMX-1) evaluated the CH-53K's ability to meet programme specification for OTH heavy lift capability, according to a corps statement. USMC spokesman Major Jorge Hernandez said on 6 December that the squadron conducted four round trips for troop movement and four round trips carrying a 12,247 kg light armoured vehicle (LAV-25). Each round trip covered up to 220 n miles.

VMX-1 tested the CH-53K's ability to transport the LAV-25 from the Wasp-class amphibious assault ship USS Iwo Jima

US Marines prepare to attach a light armoured vehicle (below) to a CH-53K at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, on 19 November. The CH-53K is undergoing IOT&E to develop tactics, techniques, and procedures for its future use. (US Marine Corps)

The US Marine Corps (USMC) performed over-the-horizon (OTH) heavy lift and troop transport ship-to-shore tests with Sikorsky CH-53K King Stallion heavy lift helicopters for the first time on 19–21 November.

Marine Operational Test and Evaluation Squadron One (VMX-1) evaluated the CH-53K's ability to meet programme specification for OTH heavy lift capability, according to a corps statement. USMC spokesman Major Jorge Hernandez said on 6 December that the squadron conducted four round trips for troop movement and four round trips carrying a 12,247 kg light armoured vehicle (LAV-25). Each round trip covered up to 220 n miles.

VMX-1 tested the CH-53K's ability to transport the LAV-25 from the Wasp-class amphibious assault ship USS Iwo Jima

US Marines prepare to attach a light armoured vehicle (below) to a CH-53K at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, on 19 November. The CH-53K is undergoing IOT&E to develop tactics, techniques, and procedures for its future use. (US Marine Corps)

The US Marine Corps (USMC) performed over-the-horizon (OTH) heavy lift and troop transport ship-to-shore tests with Sikorsky CH-53K King Stallion heavy lift helicopters for the first time on 19–21 November.

Marine Operational Test and Evaluation Squadron One (VMX-1) evaluated the CH-53K's ability to meet programme specification for OTH heavy lift capability, according to a corps statement. USMC spokesman Major Jorge Hernandez said on 6 December that the squadron conducted four round trips for troop movement and four round trips carrying a 12,247 kg light armoured vehicle (LAV-25). Each round trip covered up to 220 n miles.

VMX-1 tested the CH-53K's ability to transport the LAV-25 from the Wasp-class amphibious assault ship USS Iwo Jima