European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - February 14, 1991, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Thursday february 14, 1991 the stars and stripes a Page 7 a v.  v. War in the Gulf a. A a a. A a. A i a a. A it. A. A is amps photos John Millar marines with the 3rd Fleet service support group left Man Euver a Fox Abc reconnaissance vehicle at a German army training area near Kemp ten before heading to the Gulf. Lance Cpl. Robert Brantley right mans the operators station in the Back of a Fox. Ita a a. A a. A. A a a a. ,. A a 1.a. A a a a a. E a. A. A a. A. A a a. A a. A a a a a a a a a a a a. A v. A a a German sniffer helps . Troops outbox iraqis Fox vehicle characteristics Remote alarm Horn chemical agents alarm system for nerve agent ground probe radiation detection set and probe Abc sampling set radiation detection set and probe Crew four Driver commander Abc operator computer analysis operator length. 23.9 feet Width 9.8 feet height 8.0 feet weight combat loaded 18.7 tons with out few and ammo. 16.9 tons ground clearance 17.1 inches engine t 320 horsepower v8 diesel Max Road Speed 65 Mph a amps by John Millar Wurzburg Bureau Kempten Germany t Marine Lance Cpl. Robert Brantley was taking Fuu advantage of the open Sunroof  his new car despite a biting wind and the cutting cold. Several weeks ago the 19ryear-old Leatherneck was Riding with the windows Down in a place he Calls a a Japan a version of  a we were wearing shorts and to shirts a he said. But Brantley volunteered to Trade the Balmy breezes of Okinawa for the freezing Foothills of the bavarian Alps and the windows of his Toyota for the Hatch of an 18-ton armoured car the Fox. 1 Brantley,>20 other marines and five . Soldiers recently got the feel of the Fox at a German army training area near Kempten. The German government is donating 60 of the vehicles to help . Troops detect chemical and biological agents that might be used by the iraqis in the persian Gulf War. The Fox is a the most advanced Abc reconnaissance system in the entire world a said army maj. Jeffrey Adams a . Liaison officer to the German army a nuclear biological and chemical school in sont Hofen Germany. With its computerized mass spectrometer the Fox a has the capability to Analyse and Catalon every known chemical an biological agent As Well As some we done to know  Marine Lance Cpl. Jon Laymon said the foxes computer can detect everything from nerve agent to  Laymon who will Man a Fox computer station in saudi Arabia said the vehicle can also detect measure and Monitor radiation Levels outside. Troops running the Fox need never get out of the $2 million vehicle to do their jobs Adams said. An overpressure system works to keep contaminants out while filtering the air within. Reaching through a Long rubber Glove sealed to the inside of the vehicle Fox crewmen Bers can handle tools and material outside without fear of contamination. A a a. The Fox picks up its scents with the help of Small Detector wheels controlled from within. The wheels Roll along ground surfaces and swing up to the vehicles chemical and biological agent �?osniffer.�?�= a a Brantley who will operate the ground probes for his Crew said the sniffer or Detector heats the Small wheel so surface turning any agents on them to vapor. The vapor is Analysed and matched with Tho a of known agents in the foxes computer he said the agent Detec Tor will also pick up Vapours in the air. In the persian Gulf area Adams said the foxes Mission would involve a variety of reconnaissance work with Fox Crews venturing ahead of main forces to look for contaminants. Once any contamination is detected and identified the Crew will continue its chemical reconnaissance to determine it Haj exact size and location of the affected area Small flags can be dropped from the vehicle to Mark the entire area. Different flags carry International symbols warning troops of nuclear biological or chemical contamination a Speed is important for the commander so he can Analyse the Battlefield a said capt. Terry Hodges a .-army chemical school instructor who trained the serv ice members on . Reconnaissance tactics at the bavarian school. With the information provided by the Fox commanders can decide whether to go around or through a contaminated area Hodges said. If deciding to go through commanders will know what kind of Protection his troops will need and How Long  need it chemical detecting soldiers used to worry about keeping up with fast movers such As the Bradley fighting vehicle and Abrams tank while they at Best Rode in slow moving armoured personnel carriers Hodges said. The Fox with a top Speed of 65 Miles per hour or about 20 Miles per hour faster than the Abrams a is fast enough to keep up a he said. As if those weren to enough High tech features the Fox also has an inboard navigation system a right out of Star wars a Adams said. A Standard military maps of any area can be programmed into the foxes computers Adams said. Once the computer is programmed an actual map is placed under a screen next to the commanders seat. As the vehicle moves two lines that Cross at the vehicles exact position move along the screen As Well. A digital readout of the vehicles exact coordinates can be found at the foxes computer station. And for All its sophisticated systems the Fox is not without its creature comforts. Adams said an air conditioning system Lias been fitted into vehicles Given to . Troops to help combat the desert heat. A a in be heard stories of Guys driving Down the Road with their shirt sleeves Down a he said. A everybody else is suffering out there and Here these Guys Are in their  while some troops actually Call the Fox a Cadillac Adams said its More like a Dodge. A it rides like a Dodge Van with Captain s seats and All that stuff and it steers about like it too. Power steering Power brakes air conditioning a a in a used to Riding in vehicles that rattle the fillings right out of your head but this is smooth As  Laymor and the rest of his Crew graduated from Fox training feb. 1 to join the 1st Marine expeditionary Force in the persian Gulf area. These Days Brantley might find the air coming through his Sunroof a bit warmer if the top i opened at All