military vehicles in Northern Ireland

[fv1620]

That would be the FV1609 that the RUC were issued with.

Actually, no its an Army FV1611. Originally 13 BK 01 but modified for police service.

There were ten FV1609s issued to the RUC in late 1958. During 1960 they were all fitted with an armoured roof, loosely based on the FV1611. These pigs were in the sequence 2986 OI to 3001 OI.

In 1962 2986 OI was destroyed & replaced by this FV1611. Some modifications were made:
Windscreen visors with horizontal slits.
Strong wire mesh protection over windscreens.
Painted Light Admiralty Grey
Front & rear foglights

The characteristics that show it to be a FV1611 rather than a FV1609 are:
Rails on roof for canvas
Square not rounded headlight covers
Aerial base support is thicker
Fittings where wipers were fiited (on FV1609 they are inside)
Pistol ports are more substantial
Bridge plate

3071 EZ was fitted with an adjustable barricade ram & painted in Rustoleum Green. It always seemed to be the pig that was used in front line in preference to the other FV1609 based pigs of which some had barricade rams. Here it can be seen covered in paint & being petrol bombed.


A unique & interesting vehicle that then entered Army serice in 1971 with the registration 27 BT 91 and was struck off census again in 1980.