European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - September 24, 1990, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Monday september 24, 1990 the stars and stripes in Page 3crisis in the Gulf the honeymoons Over Virginia army National guardsman Michael Colli gon and his Bride of three Days Melissa cuddle during their last few moments together As newlyweds before he departs Richmond on saturday for fort Bragg n.c., and then on to saudi Arabia. Colligon and 52 other members of the 986th air ambulance medical det will replace another air ambulance group already deployed to the persian  troops poised at sea await orders Dhahran saudi Arabia apr afloat in the arabian sea Well beyond the View of curious eyes on Shore the largest . Marine corps assault Force since Vietnam is awaiting orders. About 10,600 marines two thirds of a full division Are aboard 18 ships most capable of dispatching aircraft Landing Craft and heavy equipment directly onto a beachhead. But whether deployment orders Ever come depends on iraqi president Saddam Hussein whose forces in occupied Kuwait have grown threefold in the last two weeks . Military officials said. The amphibious assault Force drawn from Marine units based in the United states and Japan arrived gradually Over the last month and is now Complete . Officers reported. From their location in the Northern arabian sea the ships would need at least one Day to pass through the Strait of Hormuz to the coasts of Kuwait and Iraq. Combined with some 33,000 marines already in Eastern saudi Arabia the seaborne Force makes up the 1st Marine expeditionary Force. Two Marine divisions totalling about 35,000 men and several related units were deployed in Vietnam from 1965 to 1971. The marines Are aboard six different types of ships ranging from the 39,000-ton amphibious assault ship Nassau to seven 8,450-ton tank Landing ships or  vehicle May help . Outbox Iraq Dhahran saudi Arabia a its no Mercedes not even a Volkswagen but the american military is Happy to be importing a German vehicle that in the event of War could save More troops than it can carry. Sue of the German made chemical detection vehicles known As Fuchs a the German word for Fox a arrived in saudi Arabia on thursday to join two that had arrived earlier. Four More Fuchs were scheduled to arrive Friday and a total of 30 Are due to be deployed with american troops a compliments of Germany a within weeks. A these Are one of a kind the Only vehicles of their Type in the free world a said army pvt. Anthony Adamszyk a member of the 101st airborne div from fort Campbell by. The . Military is hoping it never has to use the borrowed vehicles but it is grateful for the German generosity. The Only . Chemical detection vehicles Are outdated and not As Mobile in the desert As the Fuchs. The Fuchs a giant Bolike vehicle with huge tires is ugly but efficient. It carries an inboard computer system that is connected to a probe that monitors the outside air for chemical agents. A mechanical Arm on Board also can scoop up Sand and soil and bottle it for inboard testing allowing the four Man Crew to stay inside the pressurized Cabin in Light uniforms and out of risk of exposure to deadly chemicals. If hostilities with Iraq erupted and president Saddam Husser unleashed his chemical Arsenal which includes Mustard Gas and nerve agents the Fuchs would be essential to determine whether desert areas Are Safe for troop movements. A it can detect and identify agents on the Battlefield a said sgt. Richard Smith who recently completed his training in the vehicle in sont Hofen West Germany. Smith said the vehicles would be used to Check Supply routes and potential Battle front areas before ground forces were deployed.  i j Isa soldiers from the 101st airborne div take a break beside the German made a a Fox chemical detection vehicle in saudi Arabia. It is so sensitive it can detect anything american positions a Well within Range you can imagine. There is nothing it cannot detect a he said. The first two Fuchs to arrive Are deployed with a heavy ground Force with Camps at several of the Forward most of iraqi missiles that can carry chemical warheads. Without the Fuchs the United states would have to rely on the my 13 armoured personnel Carrier for chemical recon Nai Sance. Its Crew has to Wear heavy protective suits so they can get out to collect samples. The my 13 tracked vehicle has a top Speed of 45 Mph the Fuchs can reach speeds in excess of 60 Mph