Hover Cargo Truck

The Hover Cargo Truck was a transport vehicle used by the Earth Federation Forces during the One Year War. It served as a heavy-duty personnel and goods transport vehicle designed to operate in difficult terrain where conventional wheeled vehicles could not function effectively.

History

The Earth Federation Forces developed the Hover Cargo Truck as part of their efforts to support ground operations during the One Year War in UC 0079. The vehicle was designed to address the Federation’s need for a versatile transport platform capable of operating in challenging terrain conditions that would defeat conventional wheeled vehicles.

The Hover Cargo Truck was produced in large numbers and deployed extensively by the Earth Federation Ground Forces across Earth during the conflict. The vehicles saw particularly heavy use in South-East Asian and Australian backlines, where their terrain-crossing capabilities proved invaluable for supply operations.

The vehicle’s utility was demonstrated during various operations, including service with the Kojima Battalion in Southeast Asia. The Hover Cargo Truck’s ability to navigate difficult terrain made it an essential component of Federation supply operations in jungle and mountainous regions.

Design

The Hover Cargo Truck was designed as a dedicated heavy-duty transport vehicle optimised for cargo and personnel transport across challenging terrain. The vehicle’s primary innovation was its use of four hover engines for propulsion and ground movement, similar to those used by the M353A4 Bloodhound support vehicle.

The hover engines enabled the vehicle to navigate difficult terrains where conventional tyres and wheels could not operate effectively. This capability provided significant advantages in speed and manoeuvrability compared to vehicles using caterpillar treads, whilst maintaining the ability to traverse obstacles that would stop wheeled vehicles.

The vehicle featured a flatbed platform designed for loading troops and cargo in large capacity. The flatbed design allowed for flexible loading of various types of equipment and supplies, making the Hover Cargo Truck adaptable to different mission requirements.

The crew compartment accommodated one driver and one gunner in the main cabin. The vehicle’s design prioritised utility and cargo capacity over crew comfort, reflecting its role as a working transport vehicle.

Armaments

The Hover Cargo Truck was lightly armed with defensive weapons suitable for protecting against light opposition during transport operations.

Machine gun

A 12.7 mm machine gun served as the vehicle’s primary armament, mounted in a cupola located at the upper part of the cabin. The crew operated the weapon manually from a hatch, providing defensive capability against light aircraft and ground targets.

The machine gun was an optional fitting, as some variants used primarily for troop transport operated without the weapon. The Australian version of the Hover Cargo Truck typically operated without the 12.7 mm machine gun, focusing purely on transport operations.

Variants

The Hover Cargo Truck saw service in several different configurations depending on operational requirements.

Australian variant

The Australian version of the Hover Cargo Truck was used primarily for troop transport operations and typically operated without the 12.7 mm machine gun installation. This variant focused on maximising passenger capacity rather than defensive capability.

Zeon use

Near the end of the One Year War, the Hover Cargo Truck was also used by Earth-based Principality of Zeon units. This demonstrates the vehicle’s effectiveness and the practical nature of field expedient equipment use during wartime conditions.

Behind the scenes

Yamane Kimitoshi was the original mechanical designer of the Hover Cargo Truck.

Appearances

Mobile Suit Gundam: The 08th MS Team
Mobile Suit Gundam Side Story 0079: Rise From the Ashes

External links

Hover Cargo Truck on the Gundam Wiki
Hover Cargo Truck on MAHQ