Japanese Searchlight Truck

BETIO ISLAND, TARAWA ATOLL. This 98 cm. searchlight truck represents standard equipment that has also been taken on Saipan, Peleliu, Lae-New Guinea, and Little Kiska Island. Small size and ease of movement make this light practically impossible to detect. Power for operation of the light is supplied by a built-in generator run by the truck engine. On Little Kiska, the searchlight truck was dug in, camouflaged with nets, and gave the appearance of a small building; on Saipan trucks were housed in underground concrete garages.

Source: Japanese Electronics, Photographic Intelligence Report 1, Office of the Chief of Naval Operations, Navy Department, March 1945.