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Marine inspector general suspended amid tank sinking probe

By: The Associated Press

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Monday, May 3, 2021 5:41 PM

FILE - In this July, 2, 2003., file photo, a U.S. Marine Corps amphibious assault vehicle drives past a marked endangered species area as a black-necked Stilt, flies overhead at Red Beach on Camp Pendleton Marine Corps Base, Calif. Marines are training in seafaring tanks for the first time since nine men died when when one of the troop carriers sank off the Southern California coast during an exercise on July 30, 2020. The Orange County Register reports Marines from Camp Pendleton resumed exercises in water recovery and troop transfers, without troops in early April 2021. The Marine Corps has said that last year's accident was caused by inadequate training, shabby maintenance and poor judgment by commanders. (AP Photo/Denis Poroy, File)

The Associated Press

FILE - In this Friday June 2, 2010 file photo, Amphibious Assault Vehicles storm Red Beach during exercises at Camp Pendleton, Calif. Marines are training in seafaring tanks for the first time since nine men died when when one of the troop carriers sank off the Southern California coast during an exercise on July 30, 2020. The Orange County Register reports Marines from Camp Pendleton resumed exercises in water recovery and troop transfers, without troops in early April 2021. The Marine Corps has said that last year's accident was caused by inadequate training, shabby maintenance and poor judgment by commanders. (AP Photo/Lenny Ignelzi, File)

The Associated Press

FILE - In this July 31, 2020, file photo, the U.S. flag was lowered to half-staff at Park Semper Fi in San Clemente, Calif., after a seafaring assault vehicle sank off the coast of Southern California. Marines are training in seafaring tanks for the first time since nine men died when when one of the troop carriers sank off the Southern California coast during an exercise on July 30, 2020. The Orange County Register reports Marines from Camp Pendleton resumed exercises in water recovery and troop transfers, without troops in early April 2021. The Marine Corps has said that last year's accident was caused by inadequate training, shabby maintenance and poor judgment by commanders. (Paul Bersebach/The Orange County Register via AP, File)

The Associated Press

SAN DIEGO, Calif. (AP) The Marine Corps inspector general, Major General Robert Castellvi, has been suspended amid the ongoing probes into last summer's fatal sinking of a seafaring tank off the Southern California coast, a newspaper reported Monday.

Nine men died in the accident involving an amphibious assault vehicle July 30 near San Clemente Island.

Castellvi becomes the highest-ranking officer to face discipline in the multiple investigations into the disaster, the San Diego Union-Tribune reported. His suspension was announced by the assistant commandant of the Marine Corps commander in a hearing before the House Armed Services Subcommittee on Readiness on Monday.

Gen. David Berger, the commandant of the Marine Corps, ordered the suspension last week pending the outcome of the probe, the newspaper said.

Castellvi was the commanding general of the Camp Pendleton-based 1st Marine Division until September. He was named in a previous investigation as someone who has some responsibility in the accident. However, the Marines did not punish him.

The commanding officers of the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit and Battalion Landing Team involved in the accident were both relieved of command and seven other Marines faced other administrative or disciplinary actions, the Marines said.

The Marine Corps has said last years accident was caused by mechanical failures, shabby maintenance, inadequate training, and poor judgment by commanders.

The Marines use the vehicles to transport troops and their equipment from Navy ships to land. The armored vehicles outfitted with machine guns and grenade launchers look like tanks as they roll ashore.

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