- Mitsubishi Type 73 Light Truck
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Mitsubishi Type 73 Light Truck 
Manufacturer Mitsubishi Motors Also called 1/2 Ton Truck Production 1973 - Present Class Mini SUV Layout F4 Engine Water-cooled 4-cycle, 4-cylinder Diesel engine Transmission Manual transmission and Automatic transmission Length 4,140 mm (163.0 in) Width 1,765 mm (69.5 in) Height 1,970 mm (77.6 in) Curb weight 1,940 kg (4,277 lb) Related Jeep CJ-3B The Mitsubishi Type 73 Light Truck (73式小型トラック 73-shiki kogata torakku) is a series of light trucks that are used as mini SUVs in the JSDF. They have been under production by Mitsubishi Motors since 1973. In JSDF service, it is officially known as the 1/2 Ton Truck.[1][2]
Both Kyū and Shīn light truck vehicles can be outfitted with various weapon systems such as Kawasaki Type 64 anti-tank pods,[3] Kawasaki Type 79[4] and Kawasaki Type 87 anti-tank missile launchers,[5] Komatsu Type 60 recoilless rifles,[6] Sumitomo MINIMI LMGs[7] and Sumitomo M2 machine guns[7][8] to make them both a mobile anti-tank and anti-personnel vehicle.
Contents
History
First generation
Mitsubishi Type 73 Light Truck (Kyū) 
Manufacturer Mitsubishi Motors Also called Mitsubishi Type 73 Light Truck (旧)[9] Production 1973 - 1997 Predecessor None Successor Mitsubishi Type 73 Light Truck (Shin) Class Mini SUV Layout F4 Engine Water-cooled 4-cycle, 4-cylinder Diesel engine Transmission Manual transmission Length 3,750 mm (147.6 in) Width 1,650 mm (65.0 in) Height 1,950 mm (76.8 in) Curb weight 1,450 kg (3,197 lb) Related Jeep CJ-3B The first production of the Type 73, known as the Mitsubishi Type 73 Light Truck (Kyū) (73式小型トラック (旧) 73-shiki kogata torakku (kyū)) was based on the Jeep CJ-3Bs that Mitsubishi Motors had been producing under license from Willys. The first Type 73 Kyūs had been placed into production in 1973[10] with the chassis of the Jeep CJ-3B for basis before they made modifications based on it to create the Mitsubishi CJ-3B-J4 and the Mitsubishi CJ-3B-J4C before it was replaced again by producing the Mitsubishi CJ-5A-J54A.[11] Production continued on before it ended in 1997[10] after the Type 73 Light Truck Shins were placed in production by 1996.[12]
The Kyūs had been exported out of Japan, mostly declared as military surplus vehicles to the Philippines[8] and South Vietnam with the latter using it as one of the main jeeps of the ARVN next to the Willys M606 and M38A1s in the course of the Vietnam War.[13] They had been exported to New Zealand for civilian use.[8]
Second generation
Mitsubishi Type 73 Light Truck Shīn 
Manufacturer Mitsubishi Motors Also called Mitsubishi Type 73 Light Truck (新)[14]
1/2 Ton Truck[1]Production 1996 - Present Class Mini SUV Layout F4 Engine Water-cooled 4-cycle, 4-cylinder Diesel engine Transmission 4-speed automatic transmission Length 4,140 mm (163.0 in) Width 1,765 mm (69.5 in) Height 1,970 mm (77.6 in) Curb weight 1,940 kg (4,277 lb) Related Mitsubishi Pajero The Mitsubishi Type 73 Light Truck (Shin) (73式小型トラック (新) 73-shiki kogata torakku (shin)) began production in 1996 as Mitsubishi Motors began to slowly phase out the Type 73 Light Truck Kyūs from production and from selective service in the JSDF, using the frame of the Mitsubishi Pajero as a basis.[12]
The Type 73 Light Truck Shin can be mounted with various heavy machine guns and anti-tank missile launchers. But like its predecessor, the Shīn Light Trucks can mount the Sumitomo M2 machine guns and, for the first time, the Sumitomo MINIMI Light Machine Gun.
When Shin Light Trucks were deployed to Iraq as part of the JIRSG, the vehicles were made bulletproof[15] due to serious concern that Iraqi guerrillas would target their vehicles to potentially cause provocations despite the fact that JSDF units deployed to Iraq are not supposed to participate in any kind of combat operations due to the restrictions placed by Article 9 of the Japanese Constitution.
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Transmission sticks inside a Mitsubishi Type 73 Light Truck (Shin). On the left is the shifter for the automatic transmission, and on the right is the shifter for the transfer case (2WD L & H, 4WD L & H).
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Instrument panel
Variants
While there are no variants to either the Kyū and Shin Light Trucks, a small numbers were produced with small megaphones, roof-mounted single beacons and grille flashers.[16][17] The Light Trucks were painted in white as they were exclusively used by JSDF military police units.[16][17]
Users
Japan - Currently using the Shin Light Trucks. Kyū Light Trucks have been decommissioned from some frontline units, though many are still in service.[8]
Philippines - Had been used in the Armed Forces of the Philippines for a short time in the 1950s and 60s.[8]
South Vietnam - Main jeep used in the ARVN with Willys M606, Ford M151s and M38A1s.[13]
References
- ^ a b This JSDF name designation is used only for the Mitsubishi Type 73 Light Truck Shīn only.
- ^ "1/2t トラック" (in Japanese). http://tag.vis.ne.jp/jsdf/soubi/jgsdf/73kogata.html. Retrieved 2009-01-26.
- ^ "64式 対戦車誘導弾" (in Japanese). http://rightwing.sakura.ne.jp/equipment/jgsdf/firearms/type64mat/type64mat.html. Retrieved 2009-11-04.
- ^ "79式 対舟艇対戦車誘導弾" (in Japanese). http://rightwing.sakura.ne.jp/equipment/jgsdf/firearms/type79mat/t79mat.html. Retrieved 2009-11-04.
- ^ "87式 対戦車誘導弾" (in Japanese). http://rightwing.sakura.ne.jp/equipment/jgsdf/firearms/type87mat/t87mat.html. Retrieved 2009-11-04.
- ^ "60式 106mm無反動砲" (in Japanese). http://rightwing.sakura.ne.jp/equipment/jgsdf/firearms/type60-106mm-rcl/type60-106mm-rcl.html. Retrieved 2009-11-04.
- ^ a b "1/2tトラック（73式小型トラック／偵察用）" (in Japanese). http://rightwing.sakura.ne.jp/equipment/jgsdf/vehicle/type73truck-s/type73truck-s.html. Retrieved 2009-11-04.
- ^ a b c d e "Mitsubishi Military Jeep Photos". http://www.film.queensu.ca/Cj3b/World/JapanMilitary.html. Retrieved 2008-08-18.
- ^ The Kyū designation is given to differentiate Type 73 Light Trucks made from the 1970s to 1997 only.
- ^ a b "73式小型トラック（J23・J24型）" (in Japanese). http://rightwing.sakura.ne.jp/equipment/jgsdf/vehicle/type73track-so/t73track-so.html. Retrieved 2009-11-04.
- ^ "CJ3B-J4 Military Jeeps". http://www.film.queensu.ca/Cj3b/Military/MitsubishiJ4.html. Retrieved 2008-08-18.
- ^ a b "1/2tトラック（73式小型トラック・V16型）" (in Japanese). http://rightwing.sakura.ne.jp/equipment/jgsdf/vehicle/type73track-sn/t73truck-n.html. Retrieved 2009-11--04.
- ^ a b "CJ3B-J4 Military Jeeps in Vietnam". http://www.film.queensu.ca/Cj3b/Military/Vietnam.html. Retrieved 2008-08-18.
- ^ The Shīn designation is given to differentiate Type 73 Light Trucks made after 1997 to the present.
- ^ "平成17年度所管公益法人等との間で締結された随意契約の緊急点検結果等について（防衛省）" (in Japanese) (PDF). http://www.mod.go.jp/j/procurement/tekiseika/pdf/koueki/h17-mod-03.pdf. Retrieved 2010-01-10.
- ^ a b "73式 小型トラック（J23A・J25A型）警務隊用" (in Japanese). http://rightwing.sakura.ne.jp/equipment/jgsdf/vehicle/type73truck-somp/t73truck-somp.html. Retrieved 2009-11-04.
- ^ a b "1/2tトラック（73式小型トラック・V16型）警務用" (in Japanese). http://rightwing.sakura.ne.jp/equipment/jgsdf/vehicle/type73truck-snmp/t73truck-snmp.html. Retrieved 2009-11-04.
- Kenkyusha's New Japanese-English Dictionary, Kenkyusha Limited, Tokyo 1991, ISBN 4-7674-2015-6
External links
Categories:- Japan Self-Defense Forces
- Military Light Utility Vehicle
- Modern military equipment of Japan
- All wheel drive vehicles
- Mitsubishi Motors vehicles
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