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| Humber Pig | |
|---|---|
| Name | Humber Pig |
| Origin | United Kingdom |
| Type | Armoured personnel carrier |
| Manufacturer | Humber (Rootes Group) |
| Production date | 1950s–1960s |
| Number | approx. 2,000 |
| Length | 4.57 m |
| Width | 2.06 m |
| Height | 2.36 m |
| Crew | 1+8 |
| Armament | Browning machine gun options |
| Engine | Rootes Group petrol, 4-cylinder |
| Suspension | leaf spring |
| Speed | 80 km/h |
Humber Pig The Humber Pig is a British armoured personnel carrier developed in the early Cold War era and extensively used by British Army units, Royal Ulster Constabulary, and other organisations in post‑World War II conflicts. Designed and produced by Humber (company) under the Rootes Group, the vehicle combined light armour with a simple truck-derived drivetrain for internal security, patrol, and convoy protection roles. Its service life spanned several decades, with notable deployment during The Troubles in Northern Ireland and use by colonial and NATO forces in overseas theaters.
Development began in the context of post‑1945 rearmament and the need to replace ad‑hoc armoured carriers used by British Army armoured car regiments and Royal Air Force Regiment units. Engineers at Humber (company) adapted components from commercial Rootes Group light trucks and lessons from vehicles such as the Universal Carrier and Austin Kestrel to create a multipurpose protected truck. The design philosophy emphasised simplicity, ease of maintenance, and adaptability for patrol, riot control, and troop transport within theaters like Germany (post-1945), Cyprus, and Aden Emergency.
The hull employed welded steel plate armour providing protection against small arms fire and shrapnel, influenced by experiences from Operation Musketeer and early Cold War counterinsurgency requirements. Crew layout mirrored conventional armoured personnel carriers of the era: a driver and commander frontally with troop seating in the rear compartment. Armour, layout, and weapon mount provisions allowed rapid conversion between roles used by units such as Royal Military Police detachments and Parachute Regiment support elements.
The Pig used a conventional front‑engine, rear‑wheel drive layout with a manual gearbox derived from Rootes Group civilian designs, chosen to ease logistics with British Army supply chains. The petrol 4‑cylinder engine produced modest horsepower suitable for road mobility and cross‑country patrols, matching expectations for vehicles fielded alongside Land Rover Series IIA and early Ferret (armoured car) reconnaissance platforms. Suspension was based on leaf springs and solid axles, providing robustness but limited ride comfort compared with contemporary tracked APCs like the FV432.
Protection comprised rolled and welded steel plates rated against pistol and rifle rounds common in internal security incidents, not heavy anti‑armour munitions seen in conventional battles such as Yom Kippur War. Armament options typically included pintle‑mounted machine guns such as the Browning (M2), allowing defensive fire and crowd control when combined with non‑lethal measures used by Royal Ulster Constabulary patrols. Crew capacity generally accommodated a driver, commander, and up to eight infantry or police personnel seated on bench seats with internal stowage for personal equipment and riot control gear.
Multiple subtypes and user modifications addressed varying operational demands. Factory and field conversions produced open‑top and roofed versions, ambulance layouts, radio command variants, and cash‑in‑transit security mounts inspired by experiences in Aden Emergency and colonial policing. Armoured roof plates, firing ports, and vision slits were adapted for urban patrols in Belfast and Derry during The Troubles, while some vehicles received additional turret shields and heavier pintle armaments following incidents involving Provisional Irish Republican Army attacks.
Specialist conversions fitted with wireless sets and map tables supported Royal Signals operations and coordination with British Army of the Rhine formations during NATO exercises. Police variants operated by the Royal Ulster Constabulary and civic organisations incorporated amber lighting, loudspeakers, and secure prisoner compartments, reflecting needs similar to those that drove modifications to other security vehicles used in Malayan Emergency and decolonisation contexts.
The Humber Pig entered service in the 1950s and saw extensive employment across British garrisons, colonial territories, and later in Northern Ireland from the late 1960s through the 1980s. It gained prominence during The Troubles where British Army units, Ulster Defence Regiment, and Royal Ulster Constabulary deployed Pigs for vehicle checkpoints, convoy escort, and riot control in urban areas such as Belfast and Derry. The vehicle’s protective qualities and ease of maintenance made it suitable for prolonged static and mobile operations, though it faced criticism when confronted with improvised explosive devices and heavier ambush weapons used by paramilitary groups.
Beyond Northern Ireland, the Pig served in overseas postings including Cyprus (1960-present), garrison duties in Germany (post-1945), and during decolonisation operations in British Honduras and Aden. NATO allies and Commonwealth forces evaluated and sometimes procured similar light armoured trucks for internal security needs, drawing comparisons with vehicles like the Samil 20 and early Mowag designs.
Primary operators included the British Army, Royal Ulster Constabulary, Ulster Defence Regiment, and units within the Royal Air Force. Secondary or limited users encompassed colonial police forces and allied units in Cyprus (1960-present) and other British Empire successor state postings. Some examples passed into private hands and security firms after military and police retirement, mirroring the post‑service trajectories of vehicles such as the Commer truck derivatives used in civilian roles.
Several Humber Pigs survive in military museums, private collections, and as static displays at regimental locations and heritage centres, alongside preserved vehicles like the Ferret (armoured car) and early Saracen APC. Restorations often address corrosion in the welded hulls and sourcing period‑correct Rootes Group engines and drivetrain components. Public exhibits recount roles in Northern Ireland and colonial deployments, frequently contextualised with artefacts from The Troubles and mid‑20th century British expeditionary forces. Preservation groups and museums in United Kingdom towns and military heritage sites maintain operational examples for static demonstrations and parades.
Category:Armoured personnel carriers of the United Kingdom