ARMOURED AND HEAVY VEHICLES OF THE RUC 1922-2001

The RUC was established out of the old Royal Irish Constabulary, as the police force for the newly created state of Northern Ireland following the partition of Ireland in 1922. From its origins it was never able to be a conventional police force as, in addition to its normal policing duties, it was tasked with protection of the Northern Ireland state from subversives, both internal and external, who wished to see its abolition by force of arms. This meant that the RUC had to assume a profile much different to that of police forces in other parts of the United Kingdom and adopt para-military trappings. An essential part of their equipment from the earliest days was the armoured vehicle.

This book is a pictorial history of the many and varied types of armoured, protected and special purpose vehicles employed by the RUC throughout its history. These vehicles were usually conversions or adoptions of vehicles and chassis originally designed for other purposes. One of the most interesting conversions, illustrated in the book, but one not which is not untypical, is that of an armoured car built on a Rolls Royce Silver Ghost chassis! Among the great variety of vehicles and marques featured are those made by Lancia, Crossley, Humber and latterly Land Rover. Vehicles cascaded to the RUC by the British Army are featured as are special purpose vehicles such as water cannon. This is a unique book. It will generate great local interest and be highly marketable to the vintage vehicle fraternity and the many Land Rover enthusiasts in the rest of the UK and beyond.