Editing Green Goddess

{{other uses}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2017}}
{{Use British English|date=June 2017}}
{{more citations needed|date=March 2020}}
{{more footnotes needed|date=March 2020}}

{{Infobox automobile
|name              = Bedford RLHZ Self Propelled Pump
|image             = Green Goddess 1.jpg
|manufacturer      = [[Bedford Vehicles|Bedford]] ([[General Motors]])
|aka               = '''Green Goddess'''
|production  = 1953–1956
|assembly          = 
|predecessor       = 
|successor         = 
|class             = [[Commercial vehicle]], [[emergency vehicle|emergency services vehicle]], [[military vehicle]]
|body_style        = [[Fire engine]]
|layout            = [[longitudinal engine|Longitudinal]] [[Front-engine, rear-wheel-drive layout|front engine]],<br>[[rear-wheel drive]] (2×4), or<br>[[four-wheel drive]] (4×4)
|platform          = 
|engine            = {{cvt|4.9|L|cuin}} {{convert|110|bhp|kW|abbr=on|lk=in}} [[straight-six engine|I6]] [[petrol engine|petrol]]
|transmission      = 4-speed [[manual transmission|manual]]
|wheelbase         = 
|length            = 
|width             = 
|height            = 
|weight            = 
|related           = [[Bedford RL]]
|designer          = 
|sp                = uk
}}

The '''Green Goddess''' is the colloquial name for the '''RLHZ Self Propelled Pump''' manufactured by [[Bedford Vehicles]], a [[fire apparatus|fire engine]] used originally by the [[Auxiliary Fire Service]] (AFS), and latterly held in reserve by the [[Home Office]] until 2004, and available when required to deal with exceptional events, including being operated by the [[British Armed Forces]] during fire-fighters’ strikes (1977 and [[2002-2003 UK firefighter dispute|2002]]). These green-painted vehicles were built between 1953 and 1956 for the AFS. The design was based on a [[Bedford RL]] series British military truck.

==Auxiliary Fire Service==
The [[Auxiliary Fire Service]] was established as part of [[civil defence]] preparations after [[World War II]], and subsequent events such as the [[Soviet Union]] detonating an [[atomic bomb]] made their presence supporting civilians as part of Britain's civil defence an important role. It was thought that a [[nuclear attack]] on [[United Kingdom|Britain]] would cause a large number of fires, which would overwhelm the ordinary fire service, so a large stock of basic fire engines was ordered to form a reserve capacity. They were in continuous use by the AFS, until disbandment in 1968 by the [[Harold Wilson]] Government.

The Green Goddess machines were not primarily fire engines (AFS members referred to them as "appliances"); they are more correctly titled "self-propelled pumps", with some being [[two-wheel drive]] (4×2), and others in [[four-wheel drive]] (4×4) form. Their main role was to pump huge quantities of water from lakes, rivers, canals and other sources into cities hit by a nuclear attack. The machines could be used in a relay system over a number of miles, with Green Goddesses at regular intervals to boost the water pressure. Firefighting was a secondary role.

==Operational use==
[[File:Green Goddess PGW248 emerging from Wellington Barracks.jpg|thumb|A Green Goddess emerging from [[Wellington Barracks, London|Wellington Barracks]] in November 2002 during the [[2002-2003 UK firefighter dispute|2002–2003 industrial dispute]].]]
Prior to disbandment, the AFS used the Green Goddess extensively in support of the local fire services throughout the UK. They provided additional water delivery and firefighting capability at times when the regular fire brigades had a major incident to contain. The ability to relay large quantities of water over considerable distances was invaluable in some more remote locations, or where the incident required more water than local water systems could provide. Most UK boroughs had an Auxiliary Fire Service detachment housed alongside the regular brigade equipment.

After 1968, the vehicles were mothballed, but occasionally used by the Armed Forces to provide fire cover in a number of fire strikes, notably in 1977 and 2002 (see [[2002-2003 UK firefighter dispute]]). They were also deployed to pump water in floods and droughts. They were well maintained in storage, and regularly road tested. There was a less significant strike by firefighters in the [[Winter of Discontent]] (late 1978 and early 1979), where once again the Green Goddesses were drafted in to cover; it is largely forgotten by many as it occurred at a time when a significant percentage of public sector workers were on strike.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/3067563.stm | work=[[BBC News]] | first=Paul | last=Wilenius | title=Enemies within: Thatcher and the unions | date=5 March 2004}}</ref>

The role of Green Goddesses was superseded by new contingency arrangements. The [[Fire and Rescue Services Act 2004]] gave the government the power to instruct [[fire and rescue authority|fire and rescue authorities]] to make their own vehicles available in the event of future industrial action. New [[Incident Response Unit]]s introduced after the [[September 11, 2001 attacks]] offered high-power pumping ability among a range of other contingency functions.

==Use in Ireland==
35 units were bought by [[Civil Defence Ireland|Irish Auxiliary Fire Service]] and allocated to [[Counties of Ireland#Counties corporate|corporation]] and county council fire services. 25 were bought new in 1961–1964 and ten more ex-British Government vehicles were bought second hand in 1971.<ref>{{cite book|title=A Brief History of Civil Defence|page=58|author=Tim Essex-Lopresti|publisher=Civil Defence Association|year=2005|isbn=0955015308}}</ref> Two more ex-British units were purchased by Dublin Civil Defence in 2005.

==Use in Uruguay, South America==
One unit has been put into operation due to the forest fires of the Uruguayan southern summer 2023, and works daily on the east coast, specifically in the Volunteer Fire Department, in the José Ignacio Spa.
In 2008, the United Kingdom donated for second time, units to the National Directorate of Firefighters of Uruguay to fight Forest Fires.

==Disposal==
[[File:Green Goddess fire engine.JPG|thumb|upright|1956 Green Goddess preserved by the International Fire & Rescue Association in Dunfermline, Scotland]]
[[File:Green Goddess RXP733.jpg|thumb|Green Goddess Bedford RLHZ Self Propelled Pump at Montrose Air Station Heritage Centre]]
In March 2004, the British Government announced that it was conducting a test sale<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/lincolnshire/4266381.stm|work=BBC News|title=Green Goddesses reach end of road|date=15 February 2005|access-date=15 November 2012}}</ref> of forty of its remaining fleet of more than nine hundred vehicles, and that it was planning to dispose of the remainder. The sale of the fleet was completed, and most of the vehicles were sold to fire brigades in developing countries, mostly in Africa.<ref>{{cite news|title=All hands to the pump|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/7033602.stm|work=BBC News|first=Dan|last=Bell|date=8 October 2007|access-date=15 November 2012}}</ref> Some were donated to museums, including the prototype which was placed in the [[Museum of RAF Firefighting]]. Others are in the [[National Emergency Services Museum]], [https://www.facebook.com/milmussco/?locale=en_GB Military Museum Scotland], [[National Museum of Scotland]], [[Kent Firefighting Museum]], [[Leicester Fire Brigade Museum]], [[Yorkshire Air Museum]] and [[Montrose Air Station Heritage Centre]]. Some were purchased by vehicle restoration trusts and some are privately owned.

==Technical specifications==
[[File:Green Goddess pump.JPG|thumb|160px|upright|Green Goddess [[Coventry Climax]] Godiva fire pump]]
[[File:Green Goddess hose.JPG|thumb|160px|upright|Green Goddess hose]]
Unlike modern engines they have no radio, no cutting equipment, no power steering and only a single [[ladder]], and were relatively slow with a maximum speed of around {{convert|65|mph|km/h|round=5|abbr=on}}, a comfortable cruising speed of {{convert|45|mph|km/h|round=5|abbr=on}}, and they were sensitive on corners. But one advantage that some Green Goddesses enjoyed over most modern fire appliances was their four-wheel drive. Fuel consumption was between {{convert|8|and|10|mpgimp|L/100 km mpgus|0|abbr=on}}, depending on driving style and quantity of water carried. They also have less water capacity at {{convert|400|impgal|L|abbr=off}} in 4×2 form – {{convert|300|impgal|L|abbr=on}} on 4×4 versions – than a modern vehicle, and poorer stability due to a lack of baffle partitions in the water tank.

Some were later modified by the installation of flashing blue lamps and two-tone warning sirens, and alterations to the rear lamps, to bring them into line with then current practice on "regular" emergency appliances. Mechanically, they were designed to be robust and easy to maintain.

The Green Goddess carried a range of equipment from standard hose and branches, through a selection of nozzles to provide different flows and jet patterns, to Light Portable Pumps and Ceiling Arresters. They all carried a {{convert|33.5|ft|m}} extension [[ladder]], together with at least one scaling ladder. Some carried additional equipment, such as [[hook ladder]]s, radios, large [[bolt cutter]]s, etc.

===Pumps===
The Sigmund F.N.5 main pump has a capacity of {{convert|1000|impgal/min|L/min|abbr=on}} per minute ({{convert|900|impgal/min|L/min|abbr=on}} on 4×4 versions). Normal fire hoses could be used either from the main pump, which had four outlets, or from normal fire hydrants for which an assortment of connecting branches were carried. In addition, the machines carried a small [[Coventry Climax]] {{convert|350|impgal/min|L/min|abbr=on}} pump, with its own [[petrol engine]], which could also draw water from a river or other source, again feeding normal fire hoses, and which provided a separate and self-contained fire fighting capability. A {{convert|400|impgal|L|abbr=on}} water tank ({{convert|300|impgal|L|abbr=on|disp=or}} on 4×4) was installed, which fed small diameter hoses on each side of the vehicle to give an immediate "first aid" capacity to fight a fire while the main hoses were connected and brought into use. A [[stirrup pump]] was also carried, together with a full range of other suitable tools and equipment.

===Crew===
The vehicles were normally crewed by an officer in charge, who sat in the front passenger seat, a driver/pump operator, and four fire fighters seated on the crew bench.
In the mid 1960s, some Territorial artillery regiments were earmarked for a water pumping role, partly because the six man gun crew matched the numbers on the pump units. Training methods and rotation of roles were common factors in gunnery and water pumping.
Artillery regiments undertook a two-week course at Devizes in lieu of their normal annual gunnery training camp.

==See also==
* [[Operation Fresco]]
* [[Military aid to the civil power]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons category}}
*{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/2346157.stm|title=Is the Green Goddess up to it?|date=22 October 2002|work=[[BBC News]]|access-date=7 July 2018}}
*{{YouTube|id=Yo9WvwDroJc|title=Green Goddess TNT truckcare film PGW160}} - Film discussing how to maintain a Green Goddess fire engine dating from the period they were in British Service.

[[Category:Fire service vehicles]]
[[Category:Bedford vehicles]]
[[Category:Vehicles introduced in 1953]]