FAV (Fast Attack Vehicle) & CAV (Combat Assault Vehicle)
Additional Information
The M151A2 Fast Attack Vehicles / Super Jeeps / Combat Assault Vehicles were small batch modifications. There is no official information on any of these "kits" available to date. All information provided is my observations from owning or looking at original modified vehicles or parts.
"F.A.V." Fast Attack Vehicle was a USMC naming
"C.A.V." Combat Assault Vehicle was a US Army naming
Some vehicles were modified at depots and some appear to have been modified by outside contractors.
The 75th Ranger Regiment was one of the know users of the CAV.
Dan Parmley Jr. ( I have in my possession 5 of the CAV kits, 2 complete FAVs, and 1 Fort Lewis Kit. These and the other owners is where the information below was derived from.)
Special thanks to the following for their input as owners of these vehicles - Charlie Brinker, Jeff Stinson, Jason Green and Joe Crabtree.
USMC FAV (Fast Attack Vehicle) Model 1 Version 1
First Version of the USMC FAV
Identified by the following:
Screwed together steel pipe roll bar system, Main gun mount sits flush with the 3 supporting posts, Support bars run from top of front roll bar to 1/4 up main gun mount, two baskets, one on each front fender, IR lights on fender and roll bar, TOW seat on left rear fender, Welded steel grill guard, chain limiters on front suspension, front and rear fender cut out for larger tires. dash mounted gun mount.
USMC FAV (Fast Attack Vehicle) Model 1 Version 2
Second Version of the USMC FAV
Identified by the following:
Welded together steel pipe roll bar system, Main gun mount has 1 foot riser off the 3 supporting posts, Support bars run from top of front roll bar to top of rear roll bar gun mount, two baskets, one on each front fender, IR lights on fender and roll bar, TOW elevated seat on left rear fender, Welded steel grill guard, chain limiters on front suspension?, front and rear fender cut out for larger tires. dash mounted gun mount
USMC FAV (Fast Attack Vehicle) Model 1 Version 3
Final Version of the USMC FAV
Identified by the following:
Welded together steel pipe roll bar system, Main gun mount had 1 foot riser off the 3 supporting posts, Support bars run from top of rear roll bar to floor in front of transmission cover, one basket, IR lights on roll bar, TOW seat on left rear fender (varied mounting on surviving examples), Welded steel grill guard, dash mounted gun mount
USMC FAV (Fast Attack Vehicle) Model 2 Version 1
Second Version of the USMC FAV
Identified by the following:
Screwed together steel pipe roll bar system, 5 point roll bar system with HMMWV gun ring assembly mounted in center of vehicle, short roll bars behind each seat, two baskets, one on each front fender, IR lights on fender, TOW seat on rear fenders, front and rear fender cut out for larger tires. Only appear to be used in operation KFOR (Kosovo).
US ARMY Fort Lewis Ranger FAV
Very limited production and information.
No original pictures exist. 4 "kits" from demilled vehicles are known. "restored" vehicles with the kit vary on placement of components. The only things known for sure is the roll bar / gun mount / LAW rocket holder was made by an outside contractor. It does have a dash mounted gun mount. other than these facts until original pictures are found we don't know exactly what these looked like.
US ARMY 75th Ranger CAV (Combat Assault Vehicle)
Model 1 Version 1 - Base Vehicle
Identified by the following:
Six point roll bar system with gun and "missile" launcher brackets (to include mounting for stinger ground to air launcher above driver), Front mounted spare tire on Steel radiator guard, Switches on dash for lights, glove box, dual gas cans & storage box on rear, Kevlar plate mounted to hood, storage boxes on both fenders with kevlar plate on the front sides, IR lights on front bumper, Spacers for rear springs, No front shocks,extra springs in front with chain limiters, Box for Carl Gustav launcher across back.
US ARMY 75th Ranger CAV (Combat Assault Vehicle)
Model 1 Version 1 - Radio Vehicle
Identified by the following:
Six point roll bar system with gun and AT4 launcher bracket, Front mounted spare tire on Steel radiator guard, Switches on dash for lights, glove box, dual gas cans & storage box on rear, Kevlar plate mounted to hood, storage boxes on both fenders with kevlar plate on the front sides, IR lights on front bumper, Spacers for rear springs, No front shocks,extra springs in front with chain limiters. Hard top and large radio sheft in middle of vehicle.
US ARMY 75th Ranger CAV (Combat Assault Vehicle)
Model 1 Version 1 - Heavy Weapons
Identified by the following:
Six point roll bar system with gun and "missile" launcher brackets (to include mounting for stinger ground to air launcher above driver) , Front mounted spare tire on Steel radiator guard, Switches on dash for lights, glove box, dual gas cans on rear fenders & storage boxes on rear, Kevlar plate mounted to hood, storage boxes on both fenders with Kevlar plate on the front sides, IR lights on front bumper, Spacers for rear springs, No front shocks,extra springs in front with chain limiters, Box for Carl Gustav launcher across back.
US ARMY 75th Ranger CAV (Combat Assault Vehicle)
Model 1 Version 2 Base Vehicle
Identified by the following:
Six point roll bar system with gun and "missile" launcher brackets (to include mounting for stinger ground to air launcher above driver) , Front mounted spare tire on Steel radiator guard, Starter button and quick jumper cable posts and much more switches on dash for lights, glove box, dual gas cans & storage box on rear, Kevlar plate mounted to hood, storage boxes on both fenders with kevlar plate on the front sides, IR lights replace composite lights up front, Spacers for rear springs, Front shocks towers are modified aftermarket shocks,Modified A arm ball joint mounts, with chain limiters, Box for Carl Gustav launcher across back.
Future
USMC FAV (Fast Attack Vehicle) Model 1 Version 1 - Photo Gallery
USMC FAV (Fast Attack Vehicle) Model 1 Version 2 - Photo Gallery
USMC FAV (Fast Attack Vehicle) Model 1 Version 3 - Photo Gallery
USMC FAV (Fast Attack Vehicle) Model 2 Version 1 - Photo Gallery
US ARMY FAV - Fort Lewis Ranger - Photo Gallery
