# History Corner
The History Corner combines information from the original Toyota Wars issue with additional trivia and illustrations. It is a work in progress!
Updated 2021.12.29
# Military Equipment
# Military use of Toyota Land Cruisers
Toyota Land Cruiser J45 Pickup, 1960-2001
The original 1991 Toyota Wars magazine lists the following "Toyotas" used by Chad and Libya during the war:
- Chad
- Renault TRM 2000
- Renault TRM 4000
- Toyota Trucks
- Jeeps
- Libya
- Toyota Trucks
- Jeeps
- HD Mercedes 2432
The four-wheeled vehicles on this list — the Jeeps and Toyotas — were light enough that they would not set off minefields if driven at high enough speeds, yet rugged enough for off-road Sahara warfare.
While the above list specifies the models of the Renault and Mercedes transport trucks used, it does not specify that of the Toyotas. In the 1980s there were three major Toyota Land Cruiser lineups: the J40 Series (opens new window), the J60 Series (opens new window), and the J70 Series (opens new window). The principal difference between these lineups was that the J40 and J70 series were more rugged; the J60 was a more comfortable off-road vehicle. While the J40 Series was an older lineup produced since 1960, the J70 Series went into production beginning in 1984.
Of course, there were other Toyota trucks in circulation in the 1980s — such as the famous Hilux — but Land Cruisers are more desirable vehicles for desert warfare. Although all models of Land Cruiser and Hilux were popular for low-budget warfare in developing countries toward the end of the 20th century, it was the J79 and the long-wheelbase Land Cruisers J75 and J77 — the latter rebranded the J78 post-1999 — that were especially favored for both their ruggedness and their spacious interior. To this day, the J77/78 is referred to as the "Troop Carrier," or "Troopy." The J45 pickup and its successor the J79 are ideal for use as technicals. Unfortunately, these are often misidentified as Hilux.
The styling of the J70 series Land Cruisers has changed very little since the 1980s, especially compared to the evolution of the Prado, the Hilux, or the J60 series. This means that any J70 vehicle is instantly recognizable for its now-iconic look.
Land Cruiser J75/77 "Troop Carrier" hard top, 1990-1999 (first restyling)
Despite the Chadian military's gradual acquisition of heavier armored vehicles over the decades following the Toyota War, The J79 remained an indispensable piece of equipment for the Chadian military. In reporting on the Boko Haram insurgency of the 2010s, the J79 pickup can be spotted in nearly every photo of the Chadian military containing vehicles other than tanks. Most are post-2007 facelifted variants, the third restyling of the series since 1984.
- Military J79s on the Nigeria-Cameroun border in January 2015 (opens new window)
- Military J79s on the Nigeria Cameroun border, February 2015 (opens new window)
- Military J79s in Northern Nigera, March 2015 (opens new window)
- Military J79s returning from a mission in Nigeria, January 2020 (opens new window)
Toyota Land Cruiser J79 Pickup, 1999-2007 (second restyling)
Judging from sparse photos, Boko Haram may have had a larger percentage of Hilux pickups, rather than the more rugged Land Cruisers (see here (opens new window), here (opens new window), and here (opens new window)).
During the civil unrest in Libya following Gaddafi's overthrow in 2011, J79s show up frequently in news reporting as well (see here (opens new window), here (opens new window), and here (opens new window)).
Source: Jack Hurley (@loudribs) via Twitter (opens new window). The original satirical poster misidentified a J40 and three J70s as Hilux trucks. It also placed two post-2007 facelifted J79s earlier in the timeline than a pre-2007 model.
The front styling of a Land Cruiser J70 is the easiest clue for situating the vehicle within the history of the series. Not included in the timeline below is the Toyota Land Cruiser Prado. Although the Prado went into production in 1990 as part of the J70 lineup, it quickly became its own J90 series in 1996.
| 1984-1990 | Restyling 1990-1999 |
|---|---|
 |  |
| Second Restyling 1999-1007 | Third Restyling 2007-Present |
|---|---|
 |  |
When faced with the decision of what "Toyota" vehicle to depict on the landing page of this Handbook, the Land Cruiser J45, predecessor to the J79, was chosen. This would have been the primary rugged Toyota pickup available to the Chadian and Libyan armies during the earlier stages of the Toyota War, with the J70 entering production during Operation Manta in 1984.
While photos are difficult to obtain, the J75 almost certainly played a major role in general Idriss Déby's overthrow of Habré in December 1990, which is covered in the "Déby's Rebellion" scenario of the Toyota Wars game.
# Other Military Equipment
# France
French Equipment used during Opération Manta (1983) and Opération Épervier (1987).
# Aircraft
Strike/attack:
| Item | Manta | Épervier | Mission/type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mirage F-1C | 4 | 12 | escort |
| Jaguar A | 6 | 8 | air interdiction |
Transport and other support:
| Item | Manta | Épervier | Mission/type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mirage F-1CR | __ | 2 | reconnaissance |
| Breguet 1150 Atlantic | 2 | 2 | com.&contr., surveillance |
| Transall C-160NG | 2≤ | 2≤ | tactical support, refueling |
| C-135F | 2 | 2 | refueling |
| C-130H | __ | ? | tactical airlift |
Helicopters
| Item | Manta | Épervier | Mission/type |
|---|---|---|---|
| SA 34/342 Gazelles | 18 | 18 | ground and air attack |
| L-19 Mountaineer | 3 | __ | reconnaissance |
| SA 330 Puma | 12 | 5 | transport, search and rescue |
# Armored Vehicles (typical)
| Item | Manta | Épervier | Mission/type |
|---|---|---|---|
| GiAT AMX-10RC | 12 | 12 | wheeled light tanks |
| Panahard Lynx ERC-90 | 60(est) | 60 | armored fighting vehicles |
| Creusot-Loire/RVI VAB | several | some | transport, search and rescue |
| AML-PO | __ | some | AFV |
Panahard Lynx ERC-90
# Anti-Aircraft Artillery
| Item | Manta | Épervier |
|---|---|---|
| 20 mm guns | 1 battery | 1 battery |
| Thompson-CSF Crotale | 1 batter | 1 battery |
| Improved Hawk | 1 battery | 1 battery |
| AML-PO | __ | some |
Notes
- Armament included AS-30 laser-guided bombs, BAP-100 runway penetrating bombs, Zuni rockets, and Beluga anti-personnel bomblets.
- Armament included 20mm guns, "Hot" Euromissile anti-tank missiles, air-to-surface rockets, or GiAT M-621 21 mm cannon.
# Government
[Coming soon...]
Aérospatiale SA-330 Puma
# Rebels
[Coming soon...]
# Libya
[Coming soon...]
Soviet T-55
Sukhoi Su-17
# Command Structures
# Operation Manta Task force
August 1983 - November 1984
Source: Chad. The Toyota Wars.
OA: Armed Forces Operations Center (Paris)COMELEF: Commander of the French Elements (Manta)COMAIR: Air Force CommandCOMA: Navay CommandALAT Det.: Detachment from 5th Army Light Aviation, 11th DivisionC2,LG,Hq: Detachments for command and control, supply and a headquarters company, respectively.