Cold War Vehicle I-D: Short lived Chenowth F-A-V, U.S. Army vs U.S. Navy

U.S. Navy SeAL Team 5’s Scorpion Fast Attack Vehicle (FAV, now called Desert Patrol Vehicle or DPV), Naval Amphibious Base Coronado, California, January 1993. USN photo by Photographer’s Mate Second Class Mike Poche.

USN SeAL Team 5’s three seat Scorpion Fast Attack Vehicle (FAV), Naval Amphibious Base Coronado, California, January 1993. USN photo by Photographer’s Mate Second Class Mike Poche.

The Marine Corps Combat Development Command checked out the Chenowth Scorpion FAV in February 1992, on Marine Corps Base Quantico, Virginia. USMC photo by Lance Corporal S.D. Dommer.

Photo by Charles Mussi, October 1991.

Scorpion FAV with ASP 30mm chain gun, October 1991. Photo by Charles Mussi.

USN SeAL team parade their Scorpion FAVs through San Diego, California, 18MAY1991 (after Desert Storm). USN photo by Journalist Petty Officer First Class Joe Gawlowicz.

In May 1987, my father William Hutchins (a GS12 Contract Monitor on Edwards Air Force Base) became one of several people responsible for maintaining several of the original two seat Chenowth FAVs.

Sometime in the early 1990s, Edwards AFB, California.

In the early 1990s, my dad actually let me, and on another occasion my brother (Ernst F. Hutchins) and one of my brother’s friends, take an FAV for a joy ride.  I thought it was like any other Volkswagen powered dune buggy, I never liked those air cooled boxer motors.

Sometimes Ernie was the passenger…

My dad’s photos of my brother’s test drive make it look like he was enjoying it.

…sometimes the driver.

Ernie would go on to become an Officer in the U.S. Navy, his last duty assignment at CentCom HQ in Florida, before early retirement.

My father ended up retiring early (too early for him, anyway) from USAF Civil Service, in the mid-1990s.

The U.S. Air Force intent was to use the former U.S. Army FAVs in the development of its Mobile Targeting Systems (like the LANTIRN program that helped kill the N/AW-10), as moving ground targets.

U.S. Army ‘s 2nd Battalion, 1st Infantry, 9th Infantry Division (Light) FAV during exercise Team Spirit, in Korea, March 1986. U.S. Army photo by Al Chang.

TOW missile armed FAV, exercise Team Spirit, March 1986. USA photo by Staff Sergeant Arnold W. Kalmanson.

TOW missile armed FAV, exercise Team Spirit, March 1986. USA photo by Staff Sergeant Arnold W. Kalmanson.

TOW missile armed FAV, exercise Team Spirit, March 1986. USA photo by Staff Sergeant Arnold W. Kalmanson.

Over-watching the Han River crossing operation, March 1986. USA photo by Al Chang.

Photo by Sergeant Jimmie T. Dugans Junior, March 1986.

FAV armed with Mark 19 40mm grenade launcher. USA photo by Staff Sergeant Arnold W. Kalmanson, March 1986.

FAV with a 30mm chain gun (bolt is electrically operated by a chain drive system). Photo dated October 1984.

FAV with a 30mm chain gun (bolt is electrically operated by a chain drive system). Photo dated October 1984.

FAV prototype being tested on Fort Lewis, Washington, September 1982. USA photo by Master Sergeant Gene D. Tackett.

Chenowth FAV prototype being tested on Fort Lewis, Washington, September 1982. USA photo by Master Sergeant Gene D. Tackett.

Chenowth FAV prototype with M60D and Mk19, Fort Lewis, Washington. Conflicting dates on the photo, some prints say September 1982 while others say October 1983. USA photo by Master Sergeant Gene D. Tackett.

FAV with M2 and M60D, Fort Lewis, Washington, September 1982. USA photo by Second Lieutenant Alan Knox.

WW2 Vehicle I-D: RARE KAMIKAZE TYPE 4 FOUND ON USMC BASE IN CALIFORNIA!

Cold War (and beyond) Vehicle I-D: SUOMALAISET SISU XA-203, XA-180M, 90M CROTALE & 6×6