In the flickering shadows of burning oil wells and across the vast, featureless dunes of the Kuwaiti desert, a unique breed of war machine defined the rapid pace of Operation Desert Storm. This was the Chenowth Fast Attack Vehicle (FAV), later known as the Desert Patrol Vehicle (DPV). While the world watched the heavy armor of the M1 Abrams tanks roll across the sand, the USMC 1st Force Reconnaissance Company was operating on the bleeding edge of the front lines, utilizing these high-speed “sand rails” to outmaneuver the enemy.
Evolution of the “Combat Buggy”
The Chenowth FAV was born from the world of off-road racing. Designed by Chenowth Racing Products, the vehicle was essentially a light-weight, high-performance tubular steel frame mounted on a Volkswagen-based rear-engine powertrain.
Its philosophy was a radical departure from traditional military thinking: it had zero armor. Instead, its defense was its agility and a top speed exceeding 60 mph (96 km/h) on rugged terrain. For 1st Force Recon, the FAV provided a platform that could be air-transported by helicopter and deployed deep behind enemy lines for long-range surveillance and “hit and run” raids.
Firepower in the Sandbox
As seen in the provided image, these vehicles were far from defenseless. A typical FAV was a rolling arsenal, often bristling with:
M2 .50 Caliber Machine Gun or a Mk 19 40mm Grenade Launcher for the primary gunner.
M60 or M240 machine guns for the passenger/commander.
AT4 Anti-Tank rockets strapped to the side frames for emergency encounters with Iraqi armor.
The 1st Force Recon teams used this firepower to disrupt Iraqi logistics and provide real-time intelligence to the coalition command. Their ability to strike quickly and vanish into the desert haze made them a terrifying prospect for static enemy positions.
The Burning Horizon: Operation Desert Storm
The backdrop of the photo—the thick, black plumes of smoke—is the unmistakable signature of the Gulf War (August 1990 – February 1991). As Iraqi forces retreated, they ignited hundreds of oil wells, creating a surreal, apocalyptic landscape.
Navigating this “highway of death” and the surrounding wilderness required more than just a fast car; it required the elite training of the USMC Force Recon. These Marines operated in small teams, often far beyond the reach of immediate support, relying on their Chenowth vehicles to get them in and out of the “scrap” before the enemy could consolidate a response.
A Legacy of Special Operations
Though the FAV/DPV was eventually phased out in favor of more protected (but heavier) vehicles like the Humvee and later the GMV, its performance in the Gulf War remains legendary. It proved that in the vast openness of the desert, speed and visibility can sometimes be more effective than thick steel plates.
The image of 1st Force Recon in their Chenowths remains one of the most enduring symbols of the 1991 conflict—a testament to the audacity of the Marines who took a racing buggy into the heart of a modern war and came out victorious.
