Humber Pig
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| Humber Pig | |
|---|---|
 Humber Pig in Parola Tank Museum |
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| Type | Armoured personnel carrier |
| Place of origin | United Kingdom |
| Production history | |
| Manufacturer | Humber |
| Number built | 1,700 |
| Variants | 2 |
| Specifications | |
| Weight | 7.5 t MK2, 6 t MK1 |
| Length | 4.93 m |
| Width | 2.04 m |
| Height | 2.12 m |
| Crew | 2 + 8 passengers |
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| Primary armament |
none |
| Secondary armament |
none |
| Engine | Rolls-Royce B60 6-cyl 4.2 litre petrol 120 hp |
| Power/weight | 17.1 hp/tonne |
| Suspension | Wheel 4x4 |
| Operational range |
400 km |
| Speed | 64 km/h |
The Humber Pig was a heavily-armoured truck used by the British Army from the 1950s until the 1990s. The Pig was also used by the Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) for a short period during the late 1960s and early 1970s. The RUC painted their Pigs Admiralty Grey, rather than NATO Green. It became particularly well-known from its presence on the streets of Northern Ireland during the worst of the Troubles.
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[edit] History
The original vehicles were built by adding an armoured body to a four wheel drive 1-ton Humber truck, and were originally designed as a stop-gap until fleets of purpose-built armoured vehicles were delivered. They were sold off or put aside to be scrapped. However, as the situation worsened in Northern Ireland the vehicles proved ideal for internal security duties and were brought back into use. They have served longer than their battlefield successors, the Alvis Saracen. Legend has it that the vehicle acquired its nickname because its bonnet (US: "hood") resembled a pig's snout and because its driving characteristics were somewhat unrefined. As the Troubles in Northern Ireland escalated during the 1960s and 1970s the Pigs were modified to create the Mark II vehicles. These modifications made the Pig one of the most aggressive looking military vehicles ever manufactured, and they remain an enduring symbol of the Troubles.
[edit] Variants
Production total: around 1,700
[edit] Mark 1
- In service as FV1609,FV1611 and FV1612
[edit] Mark 2
- In service as FV1611 and FV1612
- Extra armour for protection against armour piercing bullets and rocket propelled grenades, and carried "barricade removers" (heavy-duty bull bars) which enabled them to force their way through barricades erected in the streets.
[edit] Unusual named Pigs
All developed for use in Northern Ireland:
- Flying Pig: a normal vehicle with extending riot screens either side and the roof.
- Holy Pig: rooftop hatch surrounded by perspex screen (see Popemobile)
- Kremlin Pig: wire screening for protection against rocket propelled grenades (RPG-7)
- Squirt Pig: fitted with a water cannon beside the driver for riot control.
- Foaming Pig: fitted with a foam generator to kill the blast from bombs.
Some vehicles have been given the machine gun turret from the Shorland Internal Security Patrol Vehicle.
[edit] References
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
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