How Good Are The Japanese Army’s Ambulance Trucks?

Modified Isuzu Medium Truck

As the War in Ukraine has proven once more, ground combat requires immediate medical evacuations to tend battlefield injuries. While the ideal method is airlifting the wounded to safe medical facilities in the rear, such swift evacuations are mostly difficult due to intense enemy fire or proximity to the frontlines.

Thus, many patients are usually transported by land to field hospitals first, before actually being treated in proper facilities. In such cases, ambulances are heavily utilized, whether they’re specialized armored vehicles or just ordinary trucks and vans.

A similar thing can be said for the Japanese Self-Defense Forces (JSDF) who operate ambulances in their respective units.

Among the types of ambulances employed in the JSDF, the 1.5-ton version is specifically designed for combat operations.

• General Overview 

It is essentially a modified version of the Isuzu Type 73 medium truck and serves as a field ambulance for frontline medical units. Unlike the standard Type 73 trucks, the ambulance variant is fully enclosed and equipped with emergency sirens, allowing it to navigate public roads in compliance with the existing law.

The rear section can accommodate up to five stretchers or, with the stretchers folded, provide seating for eight patients. It is also used for transporting medical supplies to the frontline, and is normally staffed by a medical personnel.

The ambulance is equipped with basic emergency kits, ventilators, AEDs, oxygen tanks, and medicine necessary to stabilize wounded soldiers.

JGSDF ambulance during training (photo: JGSDF)

Built for rugged terrain, the vehicle also comes with spare tires, extra fuel, while the new models produced after 2003 features better mobility. The latest variants have taken another step forward, being installed with automatic transmissions, reinforced tires, and air conditioning.

Lack Of Armored Ambulances

Despite being JSDF’s main military ambulances, the trucks all lack armor, leaving it fully exposed and vulnerable to any attacks.

Of course, intentionally attacking an ambulance with red cross markings is a violation of international law, specifically the Geneva Convention.

However, history has shown numerous cases of the red cross being ignored or subject to accidental strikes. Regardless of deliberate or mistaken, we have seen multiple incidents in Gaza or Ukraine just over the past few years.

Acknowledging these risks, armored ambulances like the M113 variants have proven invaluable in saving lives on the battlefield where “collateral damage” is a somewhat inevitable phenomenon.

In light of these lessons, Japan has finally initiated efforts to enhance the protection of its fully exposed field ambulances, starting with retrofitting armor to existing ambulances. Moreover, they are exploring the possibility of developing new armored ambulances to address the critical vulnerability.