Information Paper

The Fox NBC Reconnaissance Vehicle

Information Papers are reports of what we know today about military equipment and procedures used in the 1990-1991 Gulf War. This information paper is meant to provide the reader with a basic understanding of the Fox NBC Reconnaissance Vehicle. This particular information paper was first published on July 29, 1997. Since that time, additional information from other investigations involving Fox vehicles has improved our understanding of the Fox in the Gulf War. This revised information paper reflects that improved understanding. If you believe you have information that may change this information paper, please contact my office by calling:

1-800-497-6261

Dale A. Vesser
Acting Special Assistant for Gulf War Illnesses
Medical Readiness, and Military Deployments
Department of Defense

2000325-0000015 Ver. 2.0

Last Update: March 14, 2001

Many veterans of the Gulf War have expressed concern their unexplained illnesses may result from their experiences in that war. In response to veterans’ concerns, the Department of Defense established a task force in June 1995 to investigate incidents and circumstances relating to possible causes. The Office of the Special Assistant to the Deputy Secretary of Defense for Gulf War Illnesses assumed responsibility for these investigations on November 12, 1996, and has continued to investigate reports of chemical warfare agent incidents. Effective July 26, 2000, this office became the Office of the Special Assistant to the Secretary of Defense for Gulf War Illnesses, Medical Readiness, and Military Deployments, with continued responsibility for Gulf War issues.

To inform the public about the progress of its Gulf –War-related efforts, the Department of Defense publishes on the Internet and elsewhere accounts that may contribute to the discussion of possible causes of illnesses of Gulf War veterans, along with documentary evidence or personal testimony used in compiling the accounts. This information paper will aid in understanding incidents involving the Fox NBC Reconnaissance Vehicle.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

I.  SUMMARY

II.  BACKGROUND

III.  DESCRIPTION
A.   The Fox Vehicle
B.   Detection Equipment
C.  The MM-1 Mobile Mass Spectrometer
 
IV.  OPERATING PROCEDURES
A.   Start-Up
B.   Sampling Methods
1.  Air/Hi Method
2.  Wheel/Hi Method
3.  Surface/Lo Method
C.   The Initial Search for Chemical Warfare Agents
D.  Spectrum Analysis
E.  Confirmation of Agent Presence
F.  False Positives and Contaminants
G.  Minimizing Alarm Errors
H.  Fox MM-1 Tapes
 
V.  DESERT STORM EMPLOYMENT, OBSERVATIONS, AND LESSONS LEARNED
A.  Capabilities as Vapor Detector
B.  Observations from Desert Storm
C.  Lessons Learned

VI.  CONCLUSION

TAB A – Acronyms, Abbreviations, and Glossary

TAB B – Bibliography

TAB C – Fox Chemical Library and Parameter Settings

TAB D – Changes in this Reportce

End Notes


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