(1) Field ambulances, designed for use with field units, which can cross
rough ground, climb steep grades, and operate across country when necessary. The
most common type is the truck, ambulance, 1-ton, 4 X 4 (figures 4-8 and 7-1). This
vehicle is designed to transport the sick and wounded and is the standard field
ambulance of medical units in divisions and in higher level units. It has a fully enclosed
body separated from the driver's compartment by a partition in which a small door is
mounted. Two rear doors provide access to the body of the vehicle for patient loading
and unloading. This patient compartment is equipped with a heater and a surgical light.
The capacity for patients is four litter patients or eight to 10 ambulatory patients; or two
litter patients and five ambulatory patients. The 1-ton field ambulance is replacing the
3/4-ton field ambulance that has been standard for many years and still appears on
some TOEs.
Figure 7-1. Truck, ambulance, 1-ton, 4X4.
(2) The field ambulance currently authorized for most combat battalion and
CS battalion medical platoons for patient evacuation to battalion aid stations in the
forward areas is the truck, ambulance, 1-ton, 6X6 (Gama Goat) (figure4-4). It has a
low silhouette and excellent cross country trafficability.
(3) The truck, ambulance, 1/4-ton (figure 4-7), is authorized for most
medical sections in headquarters having staff surgeons, in the engineer battalion
medical section, and in some other CS unit medical sections.
(4) Some medical elements of the mechanized and armored divisions use
full tracked carrier ambulances (figure 4-5) for cross country and forward evacuation of
patients. This lightweight armored vehicle is capable of amphibious operation on inland
lake and stream areas, or over rough terrain. The vehicle has the capacity for carrying
MD0002
7-4