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During external operations the scouts
employed many modes and models of transportation, from helos to klepper kayaks
(used by Reconnaissance troop). One of the main ground mobility support vehicles
being used by the Scouts was the Ferrets.
It was decided for an upcoming mission
(Operation Mardon) that the Ferrets were to old and mechanically unreliable to
use on further external raids.
The Scouts
requested the South African manufactured Eland armored cars as a substitute to
the Ferrets. But South Africa refused permission on the grounds that if any were
captured it would severely embarrass their country.
Options being limited the Scout opted to
construct there own APC from plans acquired by the Motor Transport Officer of
the Selous Scouts, Captain Mally. He discovered some plans of a West German APC
built on a Unimog chassis and powered by a Mercedes engine.
Major
Reid-Daly gave his final approval to start the project, with that a hand full of
Scouts who were mechanically inclined and regular mechanics, worked day and
night in continuous shifts for three weeks, finishing the last of the home-made
APCs only days before the commence of operation Mardon, the PIGs maiden mission.
Each PIG was armed with a 20mm Hispano
cannon from old Vampires of the Rhodesian Air Force. The finished product turned
out to be far superior to the old British Ferret scout cars. The new vehicle was called the “PIG”, so
affectionately named after what they closely resemble.
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