Interim Fast Attack Vehicle


Image:USMC Fast Attack Vehicle.1.JPEG|thumb|right|upright=1.35|Marines race their Mercedes Interim Fast Attack Vehicle that is equipped with the Mk19 in support of Exercise Tandem Thrust 2003.
The Interim Fast Attack Vehicle is a reconnaissance vehicle deployed and used by the United States [Marine Corps Force Reconnaissance|United States Marine Force Recon] and Marine Expeditionary Units. Force Recon used to operate a fleet of Desert Patrol Vehicles, popularized by the Navy SEALs as the "black dune buggy." However, this vehicle lacked cargo capacity and firepower, so Force Recon moved to a militarized Mercedes-Benz G-Class, also known as a G-wagen, 290 GD Turbodiesel 4×4, a much more traditional "Jeep" type truck. The vehicle has only minimal armor, but numerous defensive weapons, including a Mk 19 automatic 40 mm grenade launcher. This vehicle is manufactured by Magna Steyr for Mercedes-Benz.
One of the important abilities of this vehicle, was that it was possible transport by air on USMC aircraft such as the CH-46 Sea Knight, CH-53 Super Stallion, and V-22 Osprey.
The IFAV has since been replaced by the Internally Transportable Light Strike Vehicle.

Overview

[Image:USMC Fast Attack Vehicle (IFAV).2.jpg|thumb|Marines load their Mercedes G IFAV (Interim Fast Attack Vehicle)]
The USMC Interim Fast Attack Vehicle is a modified version of the Mercedes-Benz Geländewagen 290. It replaces the modified M151A2 1/4 ton truck jeep used by the Marines as a FAV in the 1990s. The U.S. Marine Corps acquired 157 of the IFAVs distributed as follows: