CJ3B-J4 Military Jeeps

The slightly modified CJ-3B made by Willys and designated as the M606, was not the only CJ-3B-type Jeep used by the U.S. military. Through most of the 1960's, the U.S. Army deployed Jeeps manufactured by Mitsubishi in Japan, known as the CJ3B-J4 and CJ3B-J4C.

The picture above shows a CJ3B-J4C modified as an ambulance. It's a pretty ungainly-looking vehicle, with its extended-clearance top. And check out the rear view (below), with the doghouse added at the back, to enclose a stretcher. The J4C was a thoroughly military vehicle, however -- it had lifting shackles front and rear, and a 24V electrical system, unlike the M606 and the CJ3B-J4.

See also color photos of the J4C ambulance in the field, in High Hoods in Vietnam: A Soldier's View.

Ambulance Rear View

The rest of the photos on this page are taken from the Field Maintenance Manual for Truck, Utility, 1/4 ton, 4x4 Model CJ3B-J4, from U.S. Army Depot Command, Japan, August 1967. It superseded earlier technical manuals dated 1960 and 1961.

Mitsubishi started building military CJ-3B's as early as 1953, and the J4 version debuted in 1956. The J4C was added in 1958, and both were produced into the late 1960's, when they were replaced by the J54A, which had essentially the same body, but with a 2.7 L 4DR5 diesel engine.

The photos below show the basic CJ3B-J4, powered by the Mitsubishi JH4 version of the 2.2 L Hurricane engine, which had specs almost identical to the Willys version. There are a number of visible minor differences between this Jeep and the Willys, including headlight guards, towing hook at left front, dual rear-view mirrors, vented two-piece windshield, and tool indents below the passenger door. The J4, like the Willys, had a 12V electrical system.

See a photo of the J4 at the Aberdeen testing ground, taken during U.S. Army testing.

The J4 was of course also used by the Japanese Army. Jeep fans in Japan have produced a perfect reproduction of the CJ3B-J4 manual, similar to the Willys MB manual, and carried in all J4's in the Japanese Army. Contact Morihisa Ochi ( mutt@sage.ocn.ne.jp) for information.

Thanks to Mori for providing information for this page. -- Derek Redmond

Also on The CJ3B Page, see:

CJ3B-J4 Jeeps in J4 Magazine.
CJ3B-J4 Military Jeeps in Vietnam.
M606 Military Jeeps, the Willys military version.

See more Mitsubishi Jeeps on The CJ3B Page.

Last updated 10 February 1998 by Derek Redmond redmond@queensu.ca
http://www.film.queensu.ca/CJ3B/Military/MitsubishiJ4.html
All content not credited and previously copyright, is copyright Derek Redmond