Japan boosts Ukraine aid with versatile Morooka vehicles
Despite the distance, limited interests in Ukraine, and complicated export regulations, Japan has donated around a hundred vehicles of various types and a significant amount of humanitarian aid and protective equipment. Included in this group are Morooka PC-065B tracked vehicles. Let's introduce what they are.
In Ukraine, one of Japan's Morooka PC-065B tracked vehicles has been spotted. Although these unarmored vehicles are unmanned, they play a vital role because they can deliver up to three tons of cargo virtually anywhere due to their relatively small size and tracked traction.
The roads in Ukraine's frontline sector are closely monitored by drones, and off-road areas in autumn and spring turn into what one might call a giant swamp, known as rasputitsa, capable of immobilizing even tanks.
Meanwhile, logistics for the fighting soldiers must be delivered, and the consumption of, for example, ammunition by a single mortar howitzer can encompass hundreds of shells daily. Delivering such a volume is very difficult, making the lightweight Morooka PC-065B rover worth its weight in gold. Similarly, the transport of materials for constructing field fortifications is essential.
Morooka PC-065B - the Japanese rover that goes everywhere
The Morooka PC-065B multifunctional transport vehicles were introduced into service with the Japanese Self-Defense Forces in the 1990s. They can carry loads of up to three tons. Although unarmored, they weigh 5 tons (approximately 11,000 pounds) and are equipped with a crane capable of lifting 3 tons (about 6,600 pounds), significantly aiding in constructing field fortifications.
The vehicle's rubber tracks provide excellent traction. It is powered by a four-cylinder Komatsu S6D95L-1 diesel engine with a displacement of 4.9 liters (approximately 299 cubic inches). The vehicle can climb slopes at an angle of 30 degrees and overcome obstacles up to 3 feet high.
The Morooka PC-065B joins hundreds of similar vehicles in Ukraine. Similar examples include the M113AS4 delivered from Australia, the Swedish BV-206 or BVS-10, and the Norwegian NM199.
