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Explainer | New Hong Kong police anti-riot ‘Saber-toothed Tigers’ ready ahead of city’s 25th handover anniversary

  • Tests complete for the nine-tonne armoured vehicles, costing about US$300,000 each
  • The six heavy armoured vehicles latest in mainland purchases by city police after allegations of brutality during 2019 protests sparked US, Britain and EU bans

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An armoured vehicle set on fire by petrol bombs during clashes between riot police and protesting students at Hong Kong Polytechnic University in November 2019. Photo: Winson Wong
Liu Zhen
Hong Kong police will officially launch six new anti-riot armoured vehicles imported from mainland China – dubbed “Saber-toothed Tigers” – next month, just ahead of celebrations for the city’s 25th anniversary as a special administrative region of China.

What do anti-riot armoured vehicles do?

Anti-riot vehicles are specially designed for crowd control, with heavy armour to defend from basic attacks including light weapons. They are usually also armed with non-lethal weapons like tear gas or acoustic cannon to suppress and disperse crowds.

The vehicles may also be specifically fitted out for tasks such as personnel transport communication and commanding, climbing and assault, barricade clearance, and many more functions during a riot.

During the 2019 social unrest in Hong Kong, the city’s police force frequently deployed its anti-riot trucks to counter angry protesters. During the siege of Polytechnic University in November 2019, one of the police armoured vehicles caught on fire after being hit by petrol bombs thrown by demonstrators.

03:04

Petrol bombs and water cannons as Hong Kong descends into violence once again

Petrol bombs and water cannons as Hong Kong descends into violence once again

The six new “Saber-Toothed Tigers” were delivered to Hong Kong in May, and testing by the Electrical and Mechanical Services Department has been completed, according to Hong Kong police.

What is the “Sabre-toothed Tiger” like?

Already widely used by the armed police on the mainland, the vehicle is a modified version of the Ford-550 Super Duty truck, with special bulletproof materials on all sides, reinforced to minimise damage from bullets or explosions, and enough to defend against AK-47 and M16 rifle attacks, according to the manufacturer.

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Each vehicle has three gun ports on each side and a machine gun on the roof, and the armament includes smoke or tear gas grenade launchers, a long-range acoustic crowd dispersal device, searchlights, a speaker system, an electric winch and an infrared and night-vision camera system.

The “Saber-toothed Tigers” have a top speed of 130km/h, and can still go up to 80 km/h with all tyres out. WEIBO
The “Saber-toothed Tigers” have a top speed of 130km/h, and can still go up to 80 km/h with all tyres out. WEIBO

According to mainland authorities, each truck is fitted with a V10 engine and can reach a top speed of 130km/h (80mph). Even if all four tyres are punctured, it can still travel at a maximum speed of 80km/h. Five doors on three sides also enable fast mounting and dismounting of its 10 personnel on board.

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Each Saber-toothed Tiger costs about 2 million yuan (US$298,830), with dimensions of 6.7 by 2.36 by 3 metres, and weighing about nine tonnes.

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