4th Assault Amphibian Battalion is a mechanized battalion of the United States Marine Corps Reserve. Their primary weapon system is the AAV-P7/A1 (formerly LVTP-7) Amphibious Assault Vehicle and they are part of the 4th Marine Division of the Marine Forces Reserve. The unit is based out of Tampa, Florida, with subordinate units in Florida, Virginia and Texas. 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 History 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 Force. 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 Kwajalein Battle of Guam Battle of Okinawa 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, Florida, 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 CONUS and OCONUS training exercises throughout the 1970s, 1980s, 1990s and 2000s Participated in Southwest Asia during Operation Desert Shield and Operation Desert Storm as augmentation force to sister Assault Amphibian Battalions 2000 – present The 4th AABn has provided augmentation to its sister Assault Amphibian Battalions in the Regular Marine Corps during Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom. These latter battalions were in the 1st Marine Division and 2nd Marine Division. 4th AABN was activated in January 2003 and deployed to the Middle East in February 2003. The Marines held camp in Camp Matilda, Kuwait before