Direct-fire amphibious vehicles versus heavier Marine tanks

Should the US Marine Corps retain fewer tanks and upgrade them?

A direct-fire 8x8 is preferred here because increasingly heavy tanks are harder to fit into the intended amphibious operations.

A direct-fire version of the 8x8 vehicle being developed for the US Marine Corps is proposed as an alternative to retaining upgraded tanks. The concern is that bringing tanks up to the desired protection standard would make them too heavy for the intended operations. Mobility and the ability to move ashore influence the choice alongside firepower. The desired vehicle is compared with a modern LVT, placing amphibious suitability at the centre of this July 2020 proposal.