The bulk of Mark 3 Shorlands were on Series III Land Rovers using a 2625 cc 6 cylinder petrol engine developing 91 bhp at 4100 rpm. The earlier marks of Shorland having been based on Series IIA Land Rovers had to have the headlights moved from the radiator area to the wings to comply with export lighting requirements. Besides the export market, the armour protection was compromised by accommodating the headlights into the radiator area and no doubt also reduced the efficiency of radiator cooling. This migration of headlights to the wings always gave a rather homemade appearance. However the early Mark 3 was still based on a Series IIA Land Rover, but as these were late Series IIA Land Rovers, they already had the headlights in the wings. The bulk of Mark 3 Shorlands were on Series III Land Rovers using a 2,625 cc 6-cylinder petrol engine developing 91 bhp at 4,100 rpm. But the Mark 2 was still in production, customers who wanted Shorlands for particularly arduous terrain were offered the Mark 3. Over 500 Mark 3 Shorlands have been sold.
meet at a rural VCP (Vehicle Check Point). The driver of the civilian Land Rover is being questioned by a member of the UDR (Ulster Defence Regiment) whilst a colleague looks on beside an Army Series 3 Land Rover. This also provides cover for a third colleague who is less obvious. The other side of the road is dominated by the Shorland, which was often used to provide an authoritative basis for such spot checks. Note the angle iron wire cutter welded to the turret, to deflect or cut wires strung across the road aimed at decapitating the gunner if he was to put his head out of the turret.
Courtesy of Álvaro Lemos – Lisbon, Portugal
The “GNR” (Guarda Nacional Republicana) intervention unit was equipped with Mark 3 Shorlands during the late 1970’s and 1980’s.
Some Shorlands had their turrets transplanted to Humber Pigs, I have seen about six Pigs with such an embellishment. Not only did this help the crew of a Pig have an improved observation point, but it downgraded the Shorland into a less aggressive looking vehicle.
Anti-Hijack Shorland
The Anti-Hijack Shorland was designed for use at airports and other high-risk areas. Armoured windscreens replaced the normal visors and the door flaps were replaced with armoured glass. The turret was fitted with a vision block and a mounting for an HK33 sniper’s rifle. Dutch Airport Police were known to have four such Shorlands (registration numbers: 19-56-ZB, 13-52-NB, 54-11-MB, 19-57-ZB). The anti-hijack version first appeared in books with the launch of the Mark 4 Shorland. The example in the photo is clearly a Mark 3 but is always captioned as Shorland SB 403 Anti-Hijack Vehicle. Presumably the SB 403 would only be made to special order, and the photo of an older model was used. This was not unusual as some of the earlier Shorland sales brochures show previous models.
Blowpipe Shorland
Having produced a Shorland capable of firing Vigilant anti-tank missiles, it was entirely logical to consider an anti-aircraft version. As it happened Shorts themselves were manufacturing Blowpipe; a short-range surface-to-air missile. Blowpipe was intended as a shoulder fired system and owed much to the success of the Seacat and Tigercat manufactured by Shorts.
