Humber Pig
Encyclopedia
The Humber Pig was a lightly-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, who painted their Pigs in Admiralty
Grey, rather than the standard Army Deep Bronze Green gloss (BS381c colour 224). From 1976 all army vehicles (except public duties vehicles and some specialist vehicles) were painted NATO green (BS381c colour 285) in a matt finish paint with IRR (Infra-red reflecting) properties. The Pig became particularly well-known from its presence on the streets of Northern Ireland
during the worst of the Troubles
.
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 contemporaries, the Alvis Saracen
, which were not considered suitable for use in an urban environment. Legend has it that the Pig acquired its nickname because its bonnet
resembled a pig's snout, it was difficult to maintain and because its driving characteristics were somewhat unrefined. As the Troubles in Northern Ireland escalated during the 1960s and 1970s the Pigs were modified with additional internal armour to create the Mark II vehicles. Further external modifications made the Pig one of the most aggressive looking military vehicles ever manufactured, and they remain an enduring symbol of the Troubles.
Production total: around 1,700
Mark 1
Mark 2
Humber Hornet
, a vehicle for carrying and launching the Malkara missile
was also developed from the basic vehicle.
Unusual, named Pigs
All developed for use in Northern Ireland:
Some vehicles have been given the machine gun turret from the Shorland Internal Security Patrol Vehicle.
Vehicle armour
Military vehicles are commonly armoured to withstand the impact of shrapnel, bullets, missiles, or shells, protecting the personnel inside from enemy fire. Such vehicles include tanks, aircraft, and ships....
truck used by the British Army
British Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
from the 1950s until the 1990s. The Pig was also used by the Royal Ulster Constabulary
Royal Ulster Constabulary
The Royal Ulster Constabulary was the name of the police force in Northern Ireland from 1922 to 2000. Following the awarding of the George Cross in 2000, it was subsequently known as the Royal Ulster Constabulary GC. It was founded on 1 June 1922 out of the Royal Irish Constabulary...
(RUC) for a short period during the late 1960s and early 1970s, who painted their Pigs in Admiralty
Admiralty
The Admiralty was formerly the authority in the Kingdom of England, and later in the United Kingdom, responsible for the command of the Royal Navy...
Grey, rather than the standard Army Deep Bronze Green gloss (BS381c colour 224). From 1976 all army vehicles (except public duties vehicles and some specialist vehicles) were painted NATO green (BS381c colour 285) in a matt finish paint with IRR (Infra-red reflecting) properties. The Pig became particularly well-known from its presence on the streets of Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
during the worst of the Troubles
The Troubles
The Troubles was a period of ethno-political conflict in Northern Ireland which spilled over at various times into England, the Republic of Ireland, and mainland Europe. The duration of the Troubles is conventionally dated from the late 1960s and considered by many to have ended with the Belfast...
.
History
The original vehicles were built by adding an armoured body to a four wheel driveFour Wheel Drive
The Four Wheel Drive Auto Company, more often known as Four Wheel Drive or just FWD, was founded in 1909 in Clintonville, Wisconsin, as the Badger Four-Wheel Drive Auto Company by Otto Zachow and William Besserdich.-History:...
1-ton Humber
Humber (car)
Humber is a dormant British automobile marque which could date its beginnings to Thomas Humber's bicycle company founded in 1868. Following their involvement in Humber through Hillman in 1928 the Rootes brothers acquired a controlling interest and joined the Humber board in 1932 making Humber part...
truck
Truck
A truck or lorry is a motor vehicle designed to transport cargo. Trucks vary greatly in size, power, and configuration, with the smallest being mechanically similar to an automobile...
, 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
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
the vehicles proved ideal for internal security duties and were brought back into use. They have served longer than their battlefield contemporaries, the Alvis Saracen
Alvis Saracen
The FV603 Saracen is a six-wheeled armoured personnel carrier built by Alvis and used by the British army. It became a recognisable vehicle as a result of its part in the policing of Northern Ireland.-History:...
, which were not considered suitable for use in an urban environment. Legend has it that the Pig acquired its nickname because its bonnet
Hood (vehicle)
The hood or bonnet is the hinged cover over the engine of motor vehicles that allows access to the engine compartment for maintenance and repair. In British terminology, hood refers to a fabric cover over the passenger compartment of the car...
resembled a pig's snout, it was difficult to maintain and because its driving characteristics were somewhat unrefined. As the Troubles in Northern Ireland escalated during the 1960s and 1970s the Pigs were modified with additional internal armour to create the Mark II vehicles. Further external modifications made the Pig one of the most aggressive looking military vehicles ever manufactured, and they remain an enduring symbol of the Troubles.
Variants
Mark 1
- In service as FV1609, FV1611 and FV1612
Mark 2
- In service as FV1611 and FV1612
- Extra armour for protection against armour piercing bullets and rocket propelled grenadeRocket propelled grenadeA rocket-propelled grenade is a shoulder-fired, anti-tank weapon system which fires rockets equipped with an explosive warhead. These warheads are affixed to a rocket motor and stabilized in flight with fins. Some types of RPG are reloadable while others are single-use. RPGs, with the exception of...
s, and carried "barricade removers" (heavy-duty bull bars) which enabled them to force their way through barricades erected in the streets.
Humber Hornet
Humber Hornet
The FV1620 Humber Hornet was a specialised air-deployable armoured fighting vehicle designed to carry the Malkara, an anti-tank guided missile developed by Australia and the United Kingdom.-History:...
, a vehicle for carrying and launching the Malkara missile
Malkara missile
The Malkara missile was one of the earliest anti-tank guided missiles . It was jointly developed by Australia and the United Kingdom between 1951 and 1954, and was in service from 1958 until gradually replaced by the Swingfire missile in the late 1960s...
was also developed from the basic vehicle.
Unusual, named Pigs
- Flying Pig: a normal vehicle with extending riot screens either side and the roof.
- Holy Pig: rooftop hatch surrounded by perspex screen (see PopemobilePopemobilePopemobile is an informal name for the specially designed motor vehicles used by the pope during outdoor public appearances without having to employ the antiquated and often impractical sedia gestatoria. The Popemobile was designed to allow the pope to be more visible when greeting large crowds...
) - Kremlin Pig: wire screening for protection against rocket propelled grenades (RPG-7RPG-7The RPG-7 is a widely-produced, portable, unguided, shoulder-launched, anti-tank rocket-propelled grenade launcher. Originally the RPG-7 and its predecessor, the RPG-2, were designed by the Soviet Union, and now manufactured by the Bazalt company...
) - 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.
- Felix Pig: modified for EOD (bomb disposalBomb disposalBomb disposal is the process by which hazardous explosive devices are rendered safe. Bomb disposal is an all encompassing term to describe the separate, but interrelated functions in the following fields:*Military:...
) duties.
Some vehicles have been given the machine gun turret from the Shorland Internal Security Patrol Vehicle.
See also
- Humber HornetHumber HornetThe FV1620 Humber Hornet was a specialised air-deployable armoured fighting vehicle designed to carry the Malkara, an anti-tank guided missile developed by Australia and the United Kingdom.-History:...
- Land Rover TangiLand Rover TangiThe Land Rover Tangi is the last in the line of a range of armoured vehicles, based on the Land Rover chassis used in policing during the Troubles in Northern Ireland. They have been used by the Royal Ulster Constabulary and, since its renaming, by the Police Service of Northern Ireland...
- List of armoured fighting vehicles