Abstract: A grapple for releasable attachment to a manipulator arm of a vehicle. The grapple unit comprises a central framework to which are pivotally mounted a pair of spaced, opposed gripping fingers to define a grasping region between the fingers. The fingers are movable to open and close the grasping region in order to grasp an object within the region. There is a joint assembly adapted to rotatably mount the central framework to the manipulator arm that includes a first planar bearing surface releasably connectable to the manipulator arm and a second planar bearing surface formed on the central framework and extending parallel to the first planar bearing surface. A sheet of low friction material is inserted between the parallel bearing surfaces to engage both surfaces. A shaft intersects the bearing surfaces to define an axis for rotation of the central framework with respect to the first planar bearing surface.