Hino 4000 kg Truck

     Notes: This is a medium 6x6 truck in use by Japanese forces.  It looks basically like a larger version of the TWD20, and variants include a dump truck, a water sprinkler (for putting down dust on roads), two wreckers, and a tractor truck. The engine is a 6-cylinder variant of a Ford diesel developing 180 horsepower, couple with a manual transmission or an automatic transmission. The Hino 4000 kg can actually haul 8 tons on roads, and tow 4 tons cross-country. The truck is all-steel with a three-man cab and a cargo body covered with steel bows and a canvas tilt; the Hino 4000 kg may have a canvas cab roof in the case of early production examples, or a steel roof in the case of late production vehicles. The windshield of canvas-roofed cabs can be folded forward onto the hood; the windshield of steel-roofed cabs theoretically could also be folded forwards (it’s the same windshield), but in fact the steel roof locks it in place.

Isuzu TSD45/55

     Notes: These vehicles were built for both commercial and military concerns.  The military models are largely flatbed or cargo bed versions, and some are equipped with a 2-ton-capacity crane; the versions with a crane are equipped with two outriggers which are extended from the truck before using the crane. The crane is powered by a PTO from the engine. The beds have tie-down/lock-down/chain-down points on the floor. They are otherwise conventional trucks, with a long hood, cab behind the engine, and a rear cargo bed with may be covered with a tarpaulin over bows. The sides do not drop, but they are removable, and the tailgate drops. The engine of both these vehicles is an Isuzu 6BD1 developing 160 horsepower, and coupled with a manual transmission with five forward and one reverse gear. The brakes are power assisted, but the steering is not.

     The TSD55 has a longer wheelbase, but is otherwise the same as the TSD45.

Isuzu TWD20

     Notes: This 6x6 medium truck actually predates the TSD45 and 55, being based on US World War 2 designs.  As a matter of fact, it could easily be at first glance mistaken for the World War 2 “Deuce,” and it has most of the same features. The TWD25 has the same design as the GMC 2.5-ton truck, including a long hood covering the engine, a cab behind the engine, and the rear cargo area.  The cab has a canvas roof and the windshield folds down over the hood.  The rear cargo area has a wooden floor and has wooden and steel bows to hold up a canvas tilt. The engine is a DA120 diesel developing 210 horsepower, coupled with a manual transmission with four forward and one reverse gear. The TWD20 can tow 2.5 tons cross country, and can haul 5 tons if the truck stays on roads. A 5-ton-capacity winch is mounted at the front.

     Variants include a heavy-duty air compressor carrier (used to inflate heavy assault rafts or power equipment such as pneumatic tools), a dump truck, a workshop van body, and a tanker truck.  At some point, some of these trucks were sold to Lebanon; in the 1982 Israeli invasion, they were captured fitted with Egyptian-made 122mm multiple rocket launchers. 

Isuzu Type 73 3500 kg Truck

     Notes: This is the one of the standard medium trucks in Japanese service.  They are generally called by Japanese troops the “three-and-a-half.” They are of cabover construction, and have a large number of variants, including cargo/troop carrier, van body, shelter carrier, tanker, crane, dump truck, wrecker, and long wheelbase version.  This truck also comes in civilian variants, and as Type 73s are upgraded, older Type 73s appear from time to time for resale to civilians.

     The basic version has drop sides and tailgate, and a canvas cover. It can haul 6 tons on roads, and tow 6 tons on roads. The engine of the original SKW 440 is an Isuzu 8PC1 diesel developing 210 horsepower.  The next generation SKW 464 is equipped with a more powerful 250-horsepower engine and has a modified cab which is less sloped and larger. The SKW 475 series has a totally new cab which is more ergonomic, a more powerful 286-horsepower engine, and an automatic transmission. The cabs in all cases are canvas-covered and the windshield may be folded down over the front of the vehicle and the tops of the doors folded down to the sides, depending on the tactical situation or the loading requirements. The rear cargo area on the standard versions can be covered with a tarpaulin over tubular steel bows.