| Author | Message | ||
     Jess Alvarez (Jester) Member Username: Jester Post Number: 236 Registered: 11-2002 |
Does anyone know what vehicles the Japanese military drives? I just saw that they were deployed to Iraq to help our fine soldiers, and their vehicles look interestingly like rovers. I could be wrong. What do you think? Jess  | ||
| Ray Gerber (Raygerber) Member Username: Raygerber Post Number: 233 Registered: 09-2002 |
Jess, Those are probably the Kohkidohsha 1,500kg 4x4's that the GSDF started integrating in approx 1992. They are similar to our HMMWV to a degree. I only say that b/c they look nothing like the other light vehicles associated with the GSDF which are the Type 73 4x4, J24A Mitsubishi, and various Toyota and Izuzu light vehicles that are really what I'd call "white" vehicles, i.e. civilian vehicles that have been painted green. That being said the angle makes it difficult to confirm my assessment and its possible that the Japanese out-sourced their vehicle requirements to any of the numerous international companies that can provide those kinds of vehicles-for a cost. My assessment is based off what you can glean from the panel shots on 2nd and 3rd vehicles from the rear, that closely resemble the body work of the HMMWV, not to mention the armored 1st and 4th (from the rear) are similar to our hardback HMMWVs as well. If anyone can shed some more light, I'd like to know as well. r- Ray | ||
| Jeff Mclaird (Granitedisco) Member Username: Granitedisco Post Number: 138 Registered: 08-2003 |
I saw a some footage on CNN? the other night and it looked as though there were a few D110's in the mix. Jeff | ||
| Ray Gerber (Raygerber) Member Username: Raygerber Post Number: 235 Registered: 09-2002 |
Jeff- In all likelihood the advance party that has been in Kuwait for awhile prepping for them to arrive had sourced vehicles in the area, thus it is quite possible they had D110's. There were quite a few Rovers mixed in with our forces on the road to Baghdad when the whole thing kicked off, some British and some just being used by the cats and dogs that had the resources to get their own transportation. Here's a shot from a better angle of what is likely the same type of vehicle as in the initial picture (not the armored care in the foreground):  You can see it does basically resemble a HMMWV, especially from the front. Considering the open source is reporting only about a dozen jeeps and other various vehicles, I think we can expect to see quite a bit of disparity in whatever else they scrounge to drive around in-like soldiers from any country would. Ray | ||
| Jeff Mclaird (Granitedisco) Member Username: Granitedisco Post Number: 139 Registered: 08-2003 |
Thanks Ray - yep it is very hummeresque. I'm surprised the company hasn't tried to export it to the US bearing in mind how popular the H1/H2 are becoming in the private sector. By the way any idea what that is in the foreground - a saracen ? | ||
| Jess Alvarez (Jester) Member Username: Jester Post Number: 237 Registered: 11-2002 |
One of the guys in the AZ LR club forwarded me this: The Toyota �Hummer like� vehicle is called a Megacruiser. http://www.megacruiser.com/ Very cool, it has 4 wheel steering, IFS, IRS, etc. Interesting vehicle used by the Japanese military. Just FYI Jess | ||
| Jeff Mclaird (Granitedisco) Member Username: Granitedisco Post Number: 140 Registered: 08-2003 |
Now if they can get the price points in the right place - and bring it to the US we'll see lots of these on the road - with lots of bling hanging off them no doubt  |
