PACIFIC OCEAN (Nov. 30, 2022) U.S. Marines assigned to 3rd Assault Amphibian Battalion, 1st Marine Division conduct amphibious assault exercises in Amphibious Combat Vehicles (ACVs) launched from dock landing ship USS Harpers Ferry (LSD 49) during exercise Steel Knight 23 (SK23), Nov. 30, 2022. ACV’s are currently authorized to conduct waterborne operations in open and protected waters, while surf zone transit testing is ongoing. SK23 provides U.S. 3rd Fleet and I Marine Expeditionary Force with an opportunity to practice amphibious operations and demonstrate that amphibious forces can access critical areas that shape actions across the range of military operations to resolve conflict, conduct humanitarian assistance or combat the adversary. Steel Knight is an annual combined-arms live-fire exercise led by the 1st Marine Division which ensures forces are optimized for naval expeditionary warfare in contested spaces and is purpose-build to facilitate future operations afloat and ashore. (U.S. Navy Photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Zachariah Issa)