European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - April 26, 1986, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Saturday april 26, 1986 the stars and stripes Page 3 s8.s photo by Tony Nauroth staff sgt. Roy Winstead stands with his Crew in front of the new ammo Carrier left and the vehicle it replaces right. They like everything about Faasu but its name by Tony Nauroth Nuernberg Bureau Vilseck Germany the 2nd army Cav regt is the first unit in Europe to get the new ammunition resupply vehicle dubbed by the army As the Field artillery ammunition support vehicle or Faasu. One of the first things the troopers Are doing is fishing around for a new name. The vehicle turned Over to howitzer Btry 3rd so 2nd army Cav in Amberg is a hard shelled ammunition Supply and sup port vehicle with a built in storage and conveyor system that helps soldiers Hump  at 97 pounds per round for the army s Basic 155mm howitzer and 205 pounds per round for its 8-Inch gun it takes a lot of Soldier Power to Transfer rounds from its old Supply vehicle to the guns. Unlike the old Canvas topped ammo car Rier that All other Usa eur units Are using the new ammo Carrier is steel a Mored All. Around. Even while rounds Are being slipped along the conveyor Belt the soldiers Are protected from flying shrapnel with an overhead steel canopy and Side steel doors that surround them As they stand be tween Carrier and howitzer during ammo transfers. Sec. Peter Jennings Faasu Fielding no at the 7th army training come s combined arms training Center cites the vehicle s survivability and Soldier Protection systems As its two Best features. It also gets the ammo resupply Mission done quicker than the old Carrier he said. The vehicle is simple to operate. The Crew picked for the turnover ceremony received less than two hours training wednesday morning. Humping Joes moving the heavy ammo is hard work said pfc. Jesse Riley or. This is great but the real test will be when we get out in the Field to see what this bad boy will  staff sgt. Roy Winstead Section chief is pleased with the vehicle s design because it gives his soldiers greater Protection. It s about time they developers thought about the safety of my troops he said. The Interior of the Faasu contains a Grid of Shell size compartments that looks like a honeycomb. One Shell goes in each compartment and is retrieved using a Shell elevator that moves vertically and horizontally. The elevator transfers the Shell to the conveyor that feeds out the rear of the Faasu and into the rear of the howitzer. The need for muscle Power is greatly reduced which in turn reduces soldiers fatigue. Winstead said using the old human lift system his entire Crew of nine was needed to Load. Now we can do it faster and Only with two he said. Perhaps the greatest advantage of the Faasu is that it sits on the same Chassis used by the howitzers it supports. Jennings said this common Chassis and drive train eliminates a need for a whole new line of repair parts. The cavalry soldiers began their first Day of training thursday. But there s still the matter of its name. They Don t think the term Faasu will last Long in the ranks. It does t exactly trip lightly off the Tongue. Jennings tossed out two candidates that the troops might adopt. It s either the armoured Doghouse or the armoured running chef " he suggested explaining that the shape reminds him of a Doghouse but its collection of Side doors reminds him of a fast food Vendor s Van. S8.s photos by Tony Naurot sgt. Eugene Baker left and pvt. 2 Edward Bea runner watch 155mm round on Faasu conveyor. At right soldiers from 2nd army Cav regt Transfer rounds from Faasu to howitzer