Referring to FIG. 2, at least one segment, 22b, includes at least one (preferably two) short stroke hydraulic cylinders 32, each containing a piston 34 for driving a jaw 36 radially inward against the pipe P. The jaw 36, which is mounted in a slot 38 for free movement only in the radial direction, is preferably made of a soft material, such as aluminum, so that it will not scratch through pipe coa