The Commander Series Forum

Hi,

I need some help -I try to field an US mechanized brigade (1985, Germany), and I don't know what type of vehicle did they use for FAO/FAC? For FAC, I planned to use HMMWVs..

I'm using the O8 1/600 range, so there are some limits for a choice..

For 1985 you could use M151 Jeep with trailer for FAC and a M901 TOW Launcher as a M981 FIST for FAO. Not sure these are available in 3mm but I use them in 6mm.

Cheers

Richard P

You could use a M981 FISTV which looks just like a M901 ITV, I think they came in around 1984, M577's may also be an option as I think they were used for both FAO's and FAC's?

Cheers
Richard N

Not all units had received the M981 by 1985, so you can also use an M113 for the FAO. The FAC would have been in a CUCV (Chevy Blazer painted camo) or in an M113 borrowed from one of the command elements. Our FAC usually rode around with the Bn S-3 (Operations Officer) in his 113. In Korea, I stuck the FAC in my company como M113 on several occasions. Depending on the division and the CG's preference, in some units, either one could also ride one of the tanks from a battalion HQ section. Granted, the fighting performance of that particular tank was reduced, but that is a worthwhile trade off for the survivability of your FAC. They also operated from OH-58s.

The M577 would not have been used for forward observation. It was a command post vehicle, essentially an office on tracks armored enough to protect against artillery fire. 1 of the 3 M577s at a Bn CP belonged to the supporting artillery and they were also used for the battery fire direction centers, but they were never used on the front line. They were too big and unwieldy for quick maneuvering.

Thanks for the fast answers
I decided to go with OH-58 for one FAC, and M151/HMMWVs (well, some light vehicles, they are the only available), and M901/M113 for the FAOs -btw do they use M2/M3 Bradleys also? Instead of M113?

Do you have any information about Marines FAO/FAC vehicles?

The FIST version of the Bradley is the M7, but fielding did not begin until 1995. Until then, they tried to keep up with their M981s.

All the Marine FAO/FACs I worked with were transported in LPCs (leather personnel carriers), unless we let them hitch a ride on our tanks.

Good stuff Cold Steel, that's exactly the kind of info I like to see. Ta!

Also, I love the LPC comment

Yeah, proper and fast answers, thanks!

I will use one strip of infantry for USMC, with a jeep or not..

Poor Marines, the life is so hard for them

When I commanded a company in Korea, we had a joint exercise with a USMC brigade scheduled. 3 weeks out, it was postponed, leaving a big hole in the training schedule. I took my company to the now-available training area anyway. We were in the field for a couple of days when my 1st Sergeant showed up with the scruffiest looking individual in what was left of a uniform I had ever seen. He was the platoon leader for a USMC recon platoon that was secretly parachuted into the area a month in advance for the exercise. One of the Marines was injured and the LT was looking for help. Wanting to surprise us, Pacific Fleet didn't tell 8th Army about them. The Marines had been hiding in the hills living off a weekly supply drop from the Navy. The Navy brass wanted to pull the same trick for the rescheduled exercise and couldn't figure out how to secretly get them out. Needless to say, we medevaced the casualty and sent a tank platoon to pick up the rest of the Marines while the 1st Sergeant got the field kitchen set up. Once we got some real food into them, we loaded them on the OUTSIDE of the tanks (they were all rather aromatic) and took them back to Camp Casey. After showers and new Army uniforms, we set up a temporary barracks in the motor pool. 3 days later, their extremely irate but grateful brigade commander showed up and they were flown to Guam. The brigade commander had been trying to get his men back since the exercise was cancelled, but had been stymied by the now embarrassed admirals. I received the best compliment of my career when the MC sergeant major started calling me "Skipper" instead of Captain when he saw how we took care of his men.

Never mind what state the blokes are in, we mustn't embarrass the brass! Good grief.