Last post: (5th paragraph) December 2003 Article
Stewart & Stevenson Tactical Vehicle Systems, LP (TVS), a manufacturer of medium tactical vehicles for the U.S. Army, announced that it has entered into an agreement with DaimlerChrysler, which gives TVS the exclusive right to market the Mercedes- Benz Military Gelandewagen (G-Wagen) series of vehicles to United States Government authorities, including all federal, state, and local government agencies.
The G-Wagen military series includes the Open Wagon, Van, Station Wagon, Light 4x4 Tactical Wheeled Vehicle, and a Chassis with Cab. Since 1979, more than 60,000 of these vehicles have been sold to military customers worldwide. The G-Wagen has been continuously upgraded with the latest in automotive off- road and on-road technology.
The G-Wagen provides superb mobility, reliability, and economy, both off- road and on-road. It optimally fulfills its intended mission as a vehicle for transporting personnel or loads at a maximum two metric tons, and for towing trailers or artillery.
Designed for air landings, the vehicle can be transported easily as an external load below a helicopter or as an internal load for aircraft, including the U.S. Marine Corps V-22 Osprey. It can also be air-dropped by parachute.
The G-Wagen is offered in several armored versions, with protection ranging from small arms to mine blast protection. It has performed successfully for German special forces in Afghanistan and U.S. Marine Corps Force Recon Units in the Afghanistan and Iraq conflicts. Powered by a modern turbocharged common rail diesel engine, the G-Wagen military series meets the latest requirements of modern armed forces with respect to fuel efficiency and exhaust emissions.
The G-Wagen series complements the existing FMTV product line made by TVS, which includes 15 active variants and weight capacities ranging between 2.5 and 11 tons. Planned FMTV models under development will extend the product range to 15 metric tons in an 8 X 8 configuration.
Another source: (
http://force-reconnaissance.biography.ms/)
Interim Fast Attack Vehicle (IFAV)
These are deployed and used by Force Recon. Force Recon used to operate a fleet of Chenowith Fast Attack Vehicles (FAV), popularized by the Navy SEALs as the 'black dune buggy.' However, this vehicle lacked cargo capacity and firepower, so Force Recon moved to a militarized Mercedes-Benz G-Class (Geländewagen) 290 GDT diesel 4x4, a much more traditional 'Jeep' type truck. The IFAV is considered "an alternative to walking," though it has numerous defensive weapons, including a Mk 19 automatic 40mm grenade launcher. This vehicle is manufactured by MAGNA STEYR (Austria) for Mercedes-Benz (Germany).