Author: Richard Davies, Curator

The years following the Second World War saw important and increasingly rapid developments in computer technology on both sides of the Atlantic.

Machines with evocative names like ENIAC, Leo and Pegasus were built, each of which “pushed the envelope” of what these early machines could actually do. However, the nature of the designs and the limitations of the components meant that each of these machines had drawbacks. Essentially, they generated considerable amounts of heat, were enormous and also enormously expensive. Only the very largest businesses and government departments could afford to buy them.

Glen Beck (background) and Betty Snyder (foreground) programming the ENIAC at Aberdeen Proving Ground, Philadelphia, showing the vast size of early computers, c 1947-1955. © US Army.

These limitations notwithstanding, the demand for business computers increased during the 1950s and 1960s as it was realised they could save time and money by automating certain routine tasks. This demand fuelled increasing investment in research and development, a process that led to machines growing more powerful at the same time as they became physically smaller. This phenomenon was described by Moore’s Law of 1965. Defined by Gordon Moore, one of the founders of the microchip manufacturer Intel, it stated that technological development allowed the number of transistors in a dense integrated circuit to double about every two years, thus increasing the speed at which the computer’s ‘brain’ was able to complete calculations.

Eventually another group of users, albeit on a much smaller scale, began to benefit from these changes. Known as the ‘Homebrew’ movement in the US, the decades of the 1970s and 1980s saw a small number of dedicated people writing software for compact, primitive machines like the Altair 8800 or even designing their own hardware. It was, of course, members of this community that launched the corporate behemoths of Apple and Microsoft with which we are all now so familiar.

Often considered to have kick started the microcomputer revolution, the Altair 8800 dates from 1974. The machine played a significant part in the development of modern information technology, as the BASIC programming language was written for it by a certain Bill Gates. Image credit: Nikki Brickett and RR Auction of Amherst, Massachusetts.

The same period in the UK saw the emergence of what became known as the ‘home market’. Legendary 8bit micros like the ZX81, ZX Spectrum, the Dragon 32 and the Commodore 64 were purposefully aimed at parents who were convinced to buy them for their children. Both the government and wider society assured them (rightly), that the future would be characterised by the ubiquity of information technology. Children were of course more interested in playing wonderful games like Chuckie Egg and Jetpac than worrying about learning to code, but were none the less grateful for the opportunity to participate in something that everyone knew was going to become very important (the author may have had personal experience of these circumstances).

The wonderful ZX Spectrum, an 8bit machine that gave many people their first experience of using a computer. It was probably responsible for an extremely high number of missed homework assignments. © Bill Bertram, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.5.

The Dragon 32 was made in Kenfig Hill, located between Port Talbot and Bridgend, from 1982-84. © Bill Bertram, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.5.

As computers aimed at both business and home users became smaller and cheaper, armed forces around the world began to think there may be uses for these machines beyond code-breaking or the calculation of ballistic trajectories. What they really needed however was something portable, rugged and powered by batteries.

It took until the very late 1970s for machines of this nature to arrive on the market. GRiD Systems Corporation was founded in 1979 and was based in (where else?), Silicon Valley. The computers they produced were innovative and included a number of ‘firsts’ – the first clamshell design, the first use of an electro-luminescent display in a portable and the first computer to include a fully-functioning telephone system and handset. They were so well designed and so perfect for use in extreme environments that one was taken into space on the STS-51-G mission of the Space Shuttle Discovery in June 1985.

At around the same time, British companies were also making some significant contributions to this field, and foremost amongst these was the firm of Husky of Foleshill, Coventry. The REME Museum has three examples of Husky computers in our permanent collection, something that allows us to discuss the contribution these machines made to the operation of specific parts of the British military.

Husky were originally known as DVW Microelectronics (the initials came from the founder, David Viewing). In 1981, they received a commission from Severn Trent Water to produce a rugged computer, suitable for an outdoor environment, that their engineers could use in the field. The Husky was born.

As can be seen from the image, the Husky was quite compact and therefore easy to transport; it even had a canvas carrying strip attached to the reverse. It had many similarities with the Sinclair ZX81 (also released in 1981). It employed a membrane keyboard (although the Husky’s keys were very slightly domed rather than flat), used the BASIC programming language and was powered by a Z80 chip (although in the Husky’s case, it was actually a low power clone). There were also a number of major differences. It had an integral LCD monochrome screen, a very small speaker, an RS232 serial port, another port for a bar code “wand reader”, two tripod mounts and far more useable memory (unless you bought the separate 16KB expansion pack, the ZX81 had only 1KB of memory).

Such was the Husky’s innovative design that it was featured on the BBC’s flagship science programme, ‘Tomorrow’s World’. This brought the machine to the attention of the British Armed Forces and they commissioned a military version of the Husky to be used as part of the Rapier missile project.

The Rapier missile system in action. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

The Rapier was a surface-to-air missile that entered service in 1971 and was used, with various developments and innovations, for the next fifty years. The only apparent difference between the civilian and military Husky was that the latter was green. Internet searches show that variations of this computer were still being produced in 1991.

A front view of the military DVW. The keyboard and screen (which has suffered some internal damage), can be clearly seen. 2015.8461.

The top of the computer. From left to right, the components are the RS232 port, the ‘light wand’ jack and the screw top for the battery compartment. 2015.8461.

The museum is fortunate in having two examples of the company’s next machine, the Hunter. Although the Husky was pretty tough, the Hunter took things to a different level. The exterior case was aluminium and waterproofing came as standard; it weighed over a kilo. There are various stories of the computer being dropped from a great height and continuing to work, or even being driven over by a military vehicle and surviving. The Husky company (they changed their name in about 1984) were well aware these were major selling points, and they made much of them in their advertising. For example, visitors to Husky’s headquarters were greeted with a tank of piranha fish swimming around an example of a working Hunter.

A frontal view of the Husky Hunter. E:00.0050.

The right-hand side of the Hunter computer. A tripod bush sits between the screw top for the battery compartment and the RS232. E:00.0050.

We know what role one of the museum’s Hunters played, as a small sticker affixed to it suggests it was a prototype and was used in the digital automotive system control unit (DASCU) of a Challenger armoured repair and recovery vehicle (CRARRV). Interestingly, the CRARRV in the museum’s collection is also a prototype as it does not have a power pack, so perhaps the two were used together.

The prototype Hunter used in the DASCU of a CRARRV. 1997.4090.

Civilian uses included taking survey data (information would be typed into the Hunter, and then downloaded to another system with a larger memory and more software via the RS232 when back in the office). Another example is known that was branded to a different company and used on the construction project of the Pont Tywysog Cymru, the second Severn crossing.

The images clearly show that all three of the Huskys have seen considerable use; moreover, none of them contain batteries so it is not known if they work. This raises an interesting question of museum ethics. If it is possible, should an object be restored to its former pristine, and working, state? The answer in most cases, and certainly in this one, is no.

One of the public-facing elements of a museum’s work is to tell stories relating to its subject using objects, documents and images in the collection as illustrations. A local history museum will display stories about the locality it represents, but in the case of the REME Museum, it means we focus on the Corps and its activities, past and present.

Much of the material that we have, particularly the three-dimensional objects, has seen action in the field. Those experiences are often represented in the object’s physical appearance, something that certainly applies to the Huskys. Cleaning these machines before display would remove part of their story: they look they way they do precisely because they were used on active service. They are authentic. Attempting to get them working again would possibly damage the units, and not really add anything to an exhibition as they could not be used even if they did function.

We are comfortable leaving them as they are, as doing so is part of the story they can tell us, a story that illustrates the enduring ingenuity of the Corps as well as its ability to embrace new technologies.

We would love to hear from any members of the corps, past or present, who used a Husky or who can offer additional information. Please contact us.

Published in The Craftsman, April 2025.