'Pigs' - Humber Armoured Personnel Carriers from NI

[Owen W]

Gentlemen, may I disturb you once more and invite brains with more remaining grey cells than mine to light my darkness again?

The Pigs that we used during the 1981 NI Tour were the Humber 1 Tons, but I cannot recall whether they were up-armoured to 6 tons or 8 tons. I do recall that the drive system and transmission were not upgraded in tandem with the enhanced protection and that the half shafts would break if not carefully husbanded by the RCT drivers.

Grateful if anyone could give me an authoritative word on whether they were 6 ton or 8 ton.

Many thanks, all.

Owen W

[ap1]

Hi Owen,

Now that is a question. I don't know the textbook answer, but I can recall that we lined the insides of the vehicles we used as "Statics" during the hungerstrike with sandbags, to counter the RPG threat. If you recall, Cpl Hartley RRF got hit side on with an RPG on Anderson Town Rd, the door armour provided little or no protection. Perhaps the upgrade came later?

[Owen W]

I recall being told that the beasts had been upgraded by one of my RCT drivers, and his boss, to explain the broken half shafts and need for RCT drivers....for whom a broken shaft was a chargeable offence.

Puzzling.

Thanks, mate.

[Rog Ball 01]

Afternoon Owen.

The original vehicle, built without the armour was known as the Humber 1 ton truck. When the armour was added, the weight of the vehicle, then know as the Mk 1, was 6 ton. When the vehicle was upgraded by adding extra armour and adding the role bars at the front, the weight of the new vehicle, known as the Mk 2, was 7.5 ton.

[tom33]

without power stearing....and with drum brakes..you could point and go fast but you could'nt go round corners or stop

[Owen W]

Now that's an authoritative reply to enlighten an ignoramus like myself. Excellent. Many thanks.

Owen

[Owen W]

......and those observations sum the beast up well and bring back memories of the RCT driver I tended to get struggling for all he was worth to keep the monster under control when in motion.

[ap1]

I must remind you of the incident at the front gate of Woodburn in 81. When they were doing upgrades to the front gate, they dug a massive hole. An RCT pig driver,, possibly with Des 54, drove out at dark O'Clock, fully battened down, promptly into the hole!!!!!!

[Owen W]

.........had forgotten! I think it was with Des. There were beasts when fully closed down. IF I recall correctly (never a certain bet!) the 'Piglets', armoured Rovers, arrived during the tour and we put one of those into someone's front garden through the wall because, rather like the grown up Pig, it would move pretty fast but could not then turn!