Throughout the protracted conflict in Northern Ireland (1960s-1998), the Provisional IRA developed a series of improvised mortars to attack British Army and Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) security bases.[1] The organisation also purchased both light and heavy machine guns in order to hamper the British Army supply of border bases by helicopter.[2] The IRA fitted vehicles, specially vans and trucks, with both types of weapons. Vans, trucks and tractors were modified to transport concealed improvised mortars to a launch area near the intended target and fire them,[1] while light and heavy trucks were employed as firing platforms mounting machine guns, particularly M60s and DShKs.[2] Improvised armoured vehicles and heavy equipment were also used to penetrate the perimeter of fortified security bases.[3][4][5][6] The IRA vehicles were often disguised as belonging to civilian companies[7] or even government agencies.[8]
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