Post by otter on Mar 22, 2009 22:35:13 GMT -5
Trying a little something here...
This is the G.I.*Joe A.W.E. Striker (All Weather and Enviroment), and its real world counterpart, the Chenowith F.A.V. (Fast Attack Vehicle) or D.P.V. (Desert Patrol Vehicle).
This dune buggy like vehicle is mainly used by Navy SEALs and Marine Corps Force Recon units. It's easier to transport and a little more manuverable than a HMMWV (Humvee/Hummer). The FAV can fit in the back of CH-53 Super Stallion heavy lift helo, whereas the HMMWV needs to be slung under the helo. With an FAV, deployment is much faster as the helo can land, deploy the FAV, then take off, reducing its vulnerability. The HMMWV needs to be brought in slung underneath, putting the helo into a hover while a ground crew unhooks the vehicle. The ground crew may have had to come in from another helo that had to land and drop them off. This practice exposes two helos. This is not to say that this proceedure isn't used, it's just a bit more dangerous depending on the mission.
The AWE is pretty close in design to the FAV. The hood is a bit longer on the FAV and the front tires are a bit smaller than the rear (depending on what tires are used), where as the AWE's tires are the same size.
The biggest difference between the two is the third seat located above the engine and to the rear and top of the driver's area. While sitting in the upper seat, the Marine or SEAL can man an M-2 50 cal machine gun mounted on the roof. This seat can also be turned to face the back. There is a small pintle mount where an M-60 or M-249 machine gun can be mounted so as to shoot bad guys who may be in persuit.
In front of the passenger seat on the FAV, there is another pintle to mount a 50 cal, Mk-19 40mm grenade launcher, or M-60/M-240/M-249 machine guns.
The AWE striker has a camera mounted in front of the passenger seat, used to aim the top mounted gun.
The FAV will usually have a couple of M-136 AT-4 rocket launchers mounted on the roof that can be easily removed and used if need be.
Both vehicles have a rack of sorts along their rocker panels. For the AWE, this is place for other Joes to ride, on the FAV, other troops can be carried here, but usually they're used for storage or a couple of fuel bladders to extend the vehicle's range.
I've always loved the AWE Striker simply because it's a very practicle and real world vehicle. It is fast and manuverable, able to hold a few Joes and can keep up with VAMPs and other vehicles. In some cases having the ability to go where some can't go. The big gun on top is more than adequate to hold off a HISS or Stun.
The FAV is a blast to drive. Being an off-road enthusiest, this was a dream vehicle for me and a lot of fun to cruise the beaches of Camp Pendleton and the desert of Twenty-nine Palms in Californina.
The FAV is being phased out of service now and being replaced by a small vehicle made by Mecedes that affords the same vesatility and more.
This is the G.I.*Joe A.W.E. Striker (All Weather and Enviroment), and its real world counterpart, the Chenowith F.A.V. (Fast Attack Vehicle) or D.P.V. (Desert Patrol Vehicle).
This dune buggy like vehicle is mainly used by Navy SEALs and Marine Corps Force Recon units. It's easier to transport and a little more manuverable than a HMMWV (Humvee/Hummer). The FAV can fit in the back of CH-53 Super Stallion heavy lift helo, whereas the HMMWV needs to be slung under the helo. With an FAV, deployment is much faster as the helo can land, deploy the FAV, then take off, reducing its vulnerability. The HMMWV needs to be brought in slung underneath, putting the helo into a hover while a ground crew unhooks the vehicle. The ground crew may have had to come in from another helo that had to land and drop them off. This practice exposes two helos. This is not to say that this proceedure isn't used, it's just a bit more dangerous depending on the mission.
The AWE is pretty close in design to the FAV. The hood is a bit longer on the FAV and the front tires are a bit smaller than the rear (depending on what tires are used), where as the AWE's tires are the same size.
The biggest difference between the two is the third seat located above the engine and to the rear and top of the driver's area. While sitting in the upper seat, the Marine or SEAL can man an M-2 50 cal machine gun mounted on the roof. This seat can also be turned to face the back. There is a small pintle mount where an M-60 or M-249 machine gun can be mounted so as to shoot bad guys who may be in persuit.
In front of the passenger seat on the FAV, there is another pintle to mount a 50 cal, Mk-19 40mm grenade launcher, or M-60/M-240/M-249 machine guns.
The AWE striker has a camera mounted in front of the passenger seat, used to aim the top mounted gun.
The FAV will usually have a couple of M-136 AT-4 rocket launchers mounted on the roof that can be easily removed and used if need be.
Both vehicles have a rack of sorts along their rocker panels. For the AWE, this is place for other Joes to ride, on the FAV, other troops can be carried here, but usually they're used for storage or a couple of fuel bladders to extend the vehicle's range.
I've always loved the AWE Striker simply because it's a very practicle and real world vehicle. It is fast and manuverable, able to hold a few Joes and can keep up with VAMPs and other vehicles. In some cases having the ability to go where some can't go. The big gun on top is more than adequate to hold off a HISS or Stun.
The FAV is a blast to drive. Being an off-road enthusiest, this was a dream vehicle for me and a lot of fun to cruise the beaches of Camp Pendleton and the desert of Twenty-nine Palms in Californina.
The FAV is being phased out of service now and being replaced by a small vehicle made by Mecedes that affords the same vesatility and more.
