NationMaster - Encyclopedia: Irish Army

The Irish Army (Irish: Arm na hÉireann) is the main branch of the Irish Defence Forces^[1] (Óglaigh na hÉireann). It was first formed in 1922 after the implementation of the Anglo-Irish Treaty and the subsequent foundation of the Irish Free State. It was originally formed from the pro-Treaty elements of the Irish Republican Army (IRA), and its first task was to defend the new Free State from the anti-Treaty IRA during the Irish Civil War. Image File history File links Download high resolution version (693x689, 245 KB) Summary Official Irish Defence Forces Badge (Public Domain) Licensing Permission is granted to copy, distribute and/or modify this document under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License, Version 1. ... The Army Reserve (Irish: CÃºltaca an Airm), formerly known as An FÃ³rsa Cosanta ÃitiÃºil (FCÃ), is the reserve force of the Irish Army. ... This is a list of some of the equipment in use by the modern Irish Army. ... Enlisted Ranks Category: ... The introduction to this article provides insufficient context for those unfamiliar with the subject matter. ... The Irish Defence Forces encompass the army, navy, air force and reserve forces of the Republic of Ireland. ... Signature page of the Anglo-Irish Treaty The Anglo-Irish Treaty, officially called the Articles of Agreement for a Treaty Between Great Britain and Ireland, was a treaty between the Government of the United Kingdom and representatives of the extra-judicial Irish Republic that concluded the Irish War of Independence. ... This article is about the prior state. ... This article is about the historical army of the Irish Republic (1919â€“1922) which fought in the Irish War of Independence 1919â€“21, and the Irish Civil War 1922â€“23. ... Following the signing of the Anglo-Irish Treaty on 6 December 1921, the Irish Republican Army in the 26 counties that were to become the Irish Free State split between supporters and opponents of the Treaty. ... The Irish Civil War (June 28, 1922 â€“ May 24, 1923) was a conflict between supporters and opponents of the Anglo-Irish Treaty of December 6, 1921, which established the Irish Free State, precursor of todays Republic of Ireland. ...

Roles of the Irish Army

The roles of the Irish Army as decided by the Irish Government are: Image File history File links Arw_heli1. ... Image File history File links Arw_heli1. ... The Irish Army Ranger Wing (or SciathÃ¡n FiannÃ³glach na hAirm in Irish) is the special forces unit of the Irish Defence Forces. ...

Flag of An Garda SÃochÃ¡na Garda SÃochÃ¡na na hÃ‰ireann (pronounced ; Irish for Peace Guard of Ireland, often rendered[1] as The Guardians of the Peace of Ireland) is the police force of the Republic of Ireland. ... UN and U.N. redirect here. ...

History

The beginning of the Irish Army

The Irish Army was set up in January 1922 as the official Army of the new Irish Free State government under Michael Collins. This article is about the prior state. ... Michael John (Mick) Collins (Irish: ; 16 October 1890 â€“ 22 August 1922) was an Irish revolutionary leader, Minister for Finance in the Irish Republic, Director of Intelligence for the IRA, and member of the Irish delegation during the Anglo-Irish Treaty negotiations, both as Chairman of the Provisional Government and Commander...

Initially it was expected that the Irish Republican Army - a guerrilla force that had fought the British in the Irish War of Independence (1919-21) - would fulfil this function. However, the bulk of the IRA were opposed to the Treaty that set up the Free State, believing that it compromised the Irish Republic which had been unilaterally declared in 1919. As a result, the new Free State authorities had to form a new force to put down Republican resistance in the Irish Civil War (1922-23). This article is about the historical army of the Irish Republic (1919â€“1922) which fought in the Irish War of Independence 1919â€“21, and the Irish Civil War 1922â€“23. ... â€œGuerrillaâ€ redirects here. ... Combatants Irish Republic United Kingdom Commanders Michael Collins Richard Mulcahy Cathal Brugha Important local IRA leaders Henry Hugh Tudor Strength Irish Republican Army c. ... The Irish Civil War (June 28, 1922 â€“ May 24, 1923) was a conflict between supporters and opponents of the Anglo-Irish Treaty of December 6, 1921, which established the Irish Free State, precursor of todays Republic of Ireland. ...

The Civil War Period

In the early weeks of the Irish Civil War, the newly formed Irish Army, or "National Army", as it was called, was composed of pro-Treaty IRA units, especially the "Dublin Guard", whose members had personal ties to Michael Collins. The Irish Civil War (June 28, 1922 â€“ May 24, 1923) was a conflict between supporters and opponents of the Anglo-Irish Treaty of December 6, 1921, which established the Irish Free State, precursor of todays Republic of Ireland. ... The Dublin Guard was a unit of the Irish Republican Army, in the Irish War of Independence and then of the Irish Army during the Irish Civil War 1922-23. ...

Its size was estimated at about 7000 men. However, the Free State soon recruited far more troops, the army's size mushrooming to 55,000 men and 3500 officers by the end of the Civil War in May 1923. Many of its recruits were war-hardened Irishmen who had served in the former regiments of the 10th (Irish) Division and 16th (Irish) Division of the New British Army in the First World War. Six Irish regiments territorially associated with the new state, included The Royal Dublin Fusiliers, the Royal Munster Fusiliers and the Connaught Rangers were all disbanded in July 1922 under the terms of the Treaty. Indeed, the Free State recruited experienced soldiers from wherever it could. Two of its senior generals in the Civil War had served in the United States Army - John T. Prout and "Ginger" O'Connell. (Redirected from 10th (Irish) Division) The 10th (Irish) Division, was one of the Kitcheners Army divisions raised from Irish volunteers by Lord Kitchener in 1914 It fought at Gallipoli, Salonika and Palestine during the First World War. ... (Redirected from 16th (Irish) Division) The British 16th (Irish) Division was a New Army division formed in Ireland in September 1914 as part of the K2 Army Group. ... WWI recruitment poster for Kitcheners Army. ... Ypres, 1917, in the vicinity of the Battle of Passchendaele. ... Official name The Royal Dublin Fusiliers Colonel-in-Chief HRH Prince Arthur, Duke of Connaught and Strathearn (1908) Nicknames The Blue Caps The Dubs The Lambs The Old Toughs Motto Anniversaries Marches Slow: The British Grenadiers Saint Patricks Day Unnofficial: The Dublin Fusiliers Alliances Description Line Infantry regiment Creation... The Royal Munster Fusiliers consisted of two regular service and two reserve battalions prior to World War I. Subsequently it had a total of 11 raised battalions. ... The Connaught Rangers (the Devils Own) was a regiment of the British Army, raised in 1793 from the men of Connacht by John Thomas de Burgh, 13th Earl of Clanricard. ... The United States Army is the largest and oldest branch of the armed forces of the United States. ...

The British government supplied the new army with uniforms, small arms, ammunition, artillery and armoured units, which enabled it to bring the Civil War to a relatively speedy conclusion. Dublin was taken from Anti Treaty IRA units (or "Irregulars") after a week and a half of street fighting in July 1922. The Irregulars were also dislodged from Limerick and Waterford in that month and Cork and county Kerry were secured after seaborne landings in August. The remainder of the war was a counter-insurgency campaign against Anti-Treaty guerrillas. Irish Army units, especially the Dublin Guard, were implicated in a series of atrocities against captured Anti-Treaty fighters. The National Army suffered about 800 fatalities in the Civil War, including its commander in chief, Michael Collins. Collins was succeeded by Richard Mulcahy. The United Kingdom is a unitary state and a democratic constitutional monarchy. ... For other uses, see Dublin (disambiguation). ... Following the signing of the Anglo-Irish Treaty on 6 December 1921, the Irish Republican Army in the 26 counties that were to become the Irish Free State split between supporters and opponents of the Treaty. ... The Irish Civil War 1922-23, began with a week of street fighting in Dublin the Irish capital from June 28 1922 to July 5. ... For other uses, see Limerick (disambiguation). ... WGS-84 (GPS) Coordinates: , Irish Grid Reference S604123 Statistics Province: Munster County: Area: 41. ... This article is about the city in the Republic of Ireland. ... Statistics Province: Munster County Town: Tralee Code: KY Area: 4,746 kmÂ² Population (2006) 139,616 Website: www. ... At the beginning of the Irish Civil War in June 1922, the newly created Irish Free State government held only the capital city of Dublin. ... Counter-insurgency is the combating of insurgency, by the government (or allies) of the territory in which the insurgency takes place. ... The Dublin Guard was a unit of the Irish Republican Army, in the Irish War of Independence and then of the Irish Army during the Irish Civil War 1922-23. ... Memorial to the Republican soldiers murdered by Free State forces at Ballyseedy, County Kerry. ... Michael John (Mick) Collins (Irish: ; 16 October 1890 â€“ 22 August 1922) was an Irish revolutionary leader, Minister for Finance in the Irish Republic, Director of Intelligence for the IRA, and member of the Irish delegation during the Anglo-Irish Treaty negotiations, both as Chairman of the Provisional Government and Commander... Richard Mulcahy General Richard James Mulcahy (10 May 1886 â€“ 16 December 1971) was an Irish politician, leader of Fine Gael and Cabinet Minister. ...

After the Civil War

Following the Irish Civil War, the Irish Army had grown too big for a peacetime role and was too expensive for the new Irish state to maintain. In addition, many of the civil war recruits were badly trained and undisciplined -making them unsuitable material for a full time professional army. Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... The Irish Civil War (June 28, 1922 â€“ May 24, 1923) was a conflict between supporters and opponents of the Anglo-Irish Treaty of December 6, 1921, which established the Irish Free State, precursor of todays Republic of Ireland. ...

Richard Mulcahy, the new Irish Defence Minister, had to reduce the army to about 20,000 men in the immediate post Civil War period. This nearly provoked a mutiny among Irish Army officers in 1923-24, particularly among former IRA officers, who perceived that former British Army officers were treated better than them. The "mutiny" petered out however and the Irish Army has never since challenged the civil power in Ireland. Richard Mulcahy General Richard James Mulcahy (10 May 1886 â€“ 16 December 1971) was an Irish politician, leader of Fine Gael and Cabinet Minister. ... Mutiny is the act of conspiring to disobey an order that a group of similarly-situated individuals (typically members of the military; or the crew of any ship, even if they are civilians) are legally obliged to obey. ... The British Army is the land armed forces branch of the British Armed Forces. ...

The Emergency Period

Ireland remained neutral for the Second World War, which was referred to as "The Emergency" by the Irish government. Mushroom cloud from the nuclear explosion over Nagasaki rising 18 km into the air. ... The Emergency was an official euphemism used by the Irish Government (of the State now known as the Republic of Ireland) during the 1940s to refer to its position during World War II. The State was officially neutral during World War II and in government media, direct references to the...

However despite the Irish neutral stance the Irish Army was greatly expanded during the war. In fact the Irish Army grew from about 10,000 men up to about 40,000 by the end of the war (with more recruited to reserve forces). By early 1941, this comprised an all-volunteer force of two infantry divisions and two independent brigade, as well as coastal artillery and garrison units. This expansion was enforced in order to ward off potential invasions from either the Allied or Axis powers (Both of whom had actually drawn up contingency plans to invade Ireland). This article is about the independent states that comprised the Axis powers. ...

In 1939, the remnants of the IRA stole a large quantity of the Irish Army's reserve ammunition from its dump at the Magazine Fort in Dublin's Phoenix Park. While this was seen as an embarrassment for the Irish Army, most of it was recovered. Outer wall of the (now disused) Magazine Fort, Dublin. ... Phoenix Park (in Irish, PÃ¡irc an Fhionn-Uisce) is a large park located 3 km to the north west of Dublin city centre in Ireland. ...

Moreover, as the War went on, more and newer equipment was purchased from Britain and the United States. For the duration of the war, Ireland, while formally neutral, tacitly supported the Allies in several ways. German military personnel were interned in the Curragh along with the belligerent powers' servicemen, whereas Allied airmen and sailors who crashed in Ireland were very often repatriated, usually by secretly moving them across the border to Northern Ireland. The Curragh Camp is an army base and military college located in The Curragh, County Kildare, Ireland. ... Northern Ireland (Irish: , Ulster Scots: Norlin Airlann) is a constituent country of the United Kingdom lying in the northeast of the island of Ireland, covering 5,459 square miles (14,139 kmÂ², about a sixth of the islands total area). ...

G2, the Irish Army's intelligence section, played a vital role in the detection and arrest of German spies, such as Hermann Görtz. From 1942 G2 was headed by Colonel Dan Bryan. Please wikify (format) this article or section as suggested in the Guide to layout and the Manual of Style. ... Hermann GÃ¶rtz (1890-1947) was a German spy in Britain and Ireland before and during World War II. Hermann GÃ¶rtz (also Goertz in English) arrived to Britain in August 29 1935 with a secretary Marianne Emig. ... Colonel Dan Bryan (1900-1985) was an officer in the Irish Army and head of G2 (the Irish Armys intelligence section) during World War II, known in neutral Ireland as The Emergency. Daniel Bryan (more often known as Dan) was born in Dunbell, Gowran, County Kilkenny in 1900. ...

United Nations Missions

Since joining the United Nations in 1955, the Irish Army has been deployed on many peacekeeping missions. A total of 86 Irish soldiers have died in the service of the United Nations since 1960.The first of these missions took place in 1958, when a small number of observers were sent to Lebanon. UN and U.N. redirect here. ... It has been suggested that this article be split into multiple articles accessible from a disambiguation page. ...

Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... Combatants Congo ONUC Cuba Belgium Katanga South Kasai CIA Commanders Patrice Lumumba Pierre Mulele Laurent-DÃ©sirÃ© Kabila Johnson Aguiyi-Ironsi Che Guevara Moise Tshombe Joseph Mobutu Mike Hoare Charles Laurent Albert Kalonji Early history Migration & states Colonization Stanley (1867â€“1885) Congo Free State Leopold II (1885â€“1908) Belgian Congo...

Congo

The first major overseas deployment came in 1960, when Irish troops were sent to the Congo as part of the UN force ONUC. The Belgian Congo became an independent Republic on 30 June 1960. Twelve days later, the Congolese government requested military assistance from the United Nations to maintain its territorial integrity. On the 28th July 1960 Lt-Col. Murt Buckley led the men of the 32nd Irish Battalion to the newly independent central African country. This was the most costly enterprise for the Irish Army since the Irish Civil War, as 26 Irish soldiers lost their lives (9 died in one action, the Niemba ambush). One of the largest engagements Irish troops were involved in was the Siege of Jadotville, in which a small party of 150 Irish soldiers was attacked by a much larger force of Katangese troops. The Irish fought back ferociously until their ammunition ran out, they took no casualties and inflicted heavy ones on their attackers. A total of 6,000 Irishmen served in the Congo from 1960 until 1964. The Niemba Ambush commemoration is hosted by the Irish Veterans Organisation the Organisation of National Ex-Servicemen & Women (ONET) in Cathal Brugha Barracks, Dublin, on the nearest Saturday to the actual date of the ambush in the Congo. This article needs to be cleaned up to conform to a higher standard of quality. ... The Irish Civil War (June 28, 1922 â€“ May 24, 1923) was a conflict between supporters and opponents of the Anglo-Irish Treaty of December 6, 1921, which established the Irish Free State, precursor of todays Republic of Ireland. ... Niemba is a town in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Katanga Province. ... Combatants Irish United Nations troops serving in ONUC Katangese fighters loyal to Moise Tshombe and mercenary troops Commanders Commandant Quinlan ? Strength 150 4000 Casualties 5 wounded 55 killed, c250 wounded In 1961, during the United Nations intervention in the Katanga conflict in the Congo, central Africa, a company of Irish... Country Democratic Republic of the Congo Capital Lubumbashi Largest city Lubumbashi National language Swahili, Tshiluba Land areaÂ¹ 496 871 kmÂ² Governor MoÃ¯se Katumbi Chapwe Population Density 4 125 000 (est. ... President Mary McAleese, Patron of ONET The Organisation of National Ex-Servicemen & Women (Irish: Ã“glaigh NÃ¡isiÃºnta Na hÃ‰ireann Teoranta) is a support organisation for ex-service personnel of the Irish Defence Services. ... Cathal Brugha Barracks is an Irish Army barracks in Rathmines, Dublin. ...

Cyprus and the Sinai

Starting in 1964, Irish troops have served as UN peacekeepers in Cyprus (UNFICYP). Over 9,000 Irish personnel have served there to date, without suffering casualties. The United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP) was established in 1964 to prevent a recurrence of fighting between the Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots. ...

In 1973, an infantry group and some logistical troops were pulled out of Cyprus at short notice to serve in the Sinai desert between Egypt and Israel as part of the UN force that supervised the ceasefire that ended the Yom Kippur War. Sinai Peninsula, Gulf of Suez (west), Gulf of Aqaba (east) from Space Shuttle STS-40 The Sinai Peninsula (in Arabic, Shibh Jazirat Sina) is a triangle-shaped peninsula lying between the Mediterranean Sea (to the north) and Red Sea (to the south). ... Combatants Israel Egypt, Syria, Iraq Commanders Moshe Dayan, David Elazar, Ariel Sharon, Shmuel Gonen, Benjamin Peled, Israel Tal, Rehavam Zeevi, Aharon Yariv, Yitzhak Hofi, Rafael Eitan, Abraham Adan, Yanush Ben Gal Saad El Shazly, Ahmad Ismail Ali, Hosni Mubarak, Mohammed Aly Fahmy, Anwar Sadat, Abdel Ghani el-Gammasy, Abdul Munim...

From 1976 to 1981, UNFICYP was commanded by an Irish officer, Major-General James Quinn. James J. Quinn (1918-1982) was a Major General in the Irish Army, and recipient of the Distinguished Service Medal as Force Commander for UNFICYP forces. ...

Lebanon

From 1978 to 2001, a battalion of Irish troops was deployed in southern Lebanon, as part of the UN mandate force UNIFIL. The Irish battalion consisted of 580 personnel which were rotated every six months, plus almost 100 others in UNIFIL headquarters and the Force Mobile Reserve. In all, 30,000 Irish soldiers served in Lebanon over 23 years. Symbol of the Austrian 14th Armoured Battalion in NATO military graphic symbols This article is about the military unit. ... UNIFIL (United Nations Interim Forces In Lebanon) was created in 1978 by the United Nations to confirm Israeli withdrawal from Lebanon, restore the international peace and security, and help the Lebanese Government restore its effective authority in the area. ...

The Irish troops in Lebanon were initially intended to supervise the withdrawal of the Israeli Defence Forces from the area after an invasion in 1978 and to prevent fighting between the Palestine Liberation Organization forces and those of Israel. Another Israeli invasion in 1982 forced the PLO out of southern Lebanon, and occupied the area. The following 18 years, up until 2000 saw prolonged guerrilla warfare between Israeli forces, their allies in the South Lebanon Army and Hezbollah. The Irish battalion, caught in the middle of the conflict, lost 47 soldiers killed and more wounded in the mission. Their role consisted of manning checkpoints and observations posts and mounting patrols. In addition to peacekeeping the Irish also provided humanitarian aid to the local population -for example aiding the orphanage at Tibnin. From 25 April 1995 to 9 May 1996, Brigadier General P. Redmond served as Deputy Force Commander of UNIFIL - a period that coincided with the Israeli Operation Grapes of Wrath offensive in 1996. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) (Hebrew: צבא ההגנה לישראל Tsva Ha-Haganah Le-Yisrael ([Army] Force [for] the Defense of Israel), often abbreviated צהל Tsahal, alternative English spelling Tzahal, is the name of Israels armed forces... Operation Litani was the official name of the Israel Defense Forces 1978 invasion of Lebanon up to the Litani river. ... The Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) (Arabic: ; or Munazzamat al-Tahrir al-Filastiniyyah) is a multi-party confederation and is the organization regarded since 1974 as the sole legitimate representative of the Palestinian people. ... Combatants Israel South Lebanon Army LF (nominally neutral) PLO Syria Amal (switched sides) LCP Commanders Menachem Begin (Prime Minister) Ariel Sharon, (Ministry of Defence) Rafael Eitan, (CoS) Yasser Arafat Strength Israel: 76,000 troops 800 tanks 1,500 APCs 634 aircraft Syria: 22,000 troops 352 tanks 300 APCs 450... Combatants Hezbollah Israel South Lebanon Army Casualties 1283 1200 Israeli soldiers During the 1982-2000 South Lebanon conflict Hezbollah waged a guerrilla campaign against Israeli forces occupying Southern Lebanon. ... The South Lebanon Army (SLA), also South Lebanese Army, (Arabic: ; transliterated: Jaysh LubnÄn al-JanÅ«bi. ... For other uses, see Hezbollah (disambiguation). ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... Combatants Israel, South Lebanon Army Hezbollah Casualties 3 killed. ...

Most of the Irish force was withdrawn from the area in 2001, following the Israeli evacuation of their forces the previous year. However 11 Irish troops remained there as observers. They were present during the 2006 Israeli-Lebanese war. After this conflict UNIFIL was reinforced and a mechanised infantry company of 165 Irish troops was deployed to southern Lebanon as of October 2006. Their role there is to protect a Finnish engineering unit. Combatants Hezbollah Amal LCP Israel Commanders Hassan Nasrallah (Secretary General of Hezbollah) Imad Mughniyeh (Commander of Hezbollahs armed wing)[5] Dan Halutz (CoS) Moshe Kaplinsky[12] Udi Adam (Regional) Strength 600-1,000 active fighters 3,000-10,000 reservists[6] 30,000 ground troops (plus IAF & ISC)[13...

As of 31.st of October the 1.st Finn-Irish Battalion is to cease operations and be stood down from duty after having completed their mandate with UNIFIL.

Iran/Iraq border

From August 1988 until May 1991, Irish soldiers were deployed, under the UN force UNIIMOG, on the border between Iraq and Iran to supervise the withdrawal of both side's troops back to within their respective borders after the end of the Iran-Iraq War. The total strength of the mission was 400, of which the Irish provided 177. The mission came to an end in 1991, when Iran and Iraq completed the withdrawal of their troops. A small number of Irish observers have also been stationed in Kuwait since April 1991 as part of UNIKOM. The United Nations Iran-Iraq Military Observer Group, or UNIIMOG, was a United Nations commission created during the Iran-Iraq war. ... Combatants Iran Patriotic Union of Kurdistan Iraq Peoples Mujahedin of Iran Commanders Ruhollah Khomeini Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani Ali Shamkhani Mostafa Chamran â€ Saddam Hussein Ali Hassan al-Majid Strength 305,000 soldiers 500,000 Pasdaran and Basij militia 900 tanks 1,000 armored vehicles 3,000 artillery pieces 470 aircraft... UNIKOM, the United Nations Iraq-Kuwait Observation Mission, was established on April 9, 1991 following the Gulf War by Security Council resolution 689 (1991) and fully deployed by early May. ...

The 1990s

Since the 1990s UN missions have proliferated for Irish troops. In 1993, 100 troops forming a transport company were deployed in Somalia, as part of UNOSOM II peace-enforcing mission. In December 2001, 221 Irish soldiers were sent to Eritrea as part of UNMEE, and were tasked with the defence of the UN headquarters there. Since 1996 a military police unit and some other troops have been stationed in Bosnia as part of SFOR (1995-2005) and EUFOR (December 2005 to present). From 1999 until the present Irish troops have been stationed in Kosovo as part of KFOR. Currently there are 208 Irish soldiers, part of an infantry group, there. Operation Restore Hope was an American military operation with the support of the United Nations which was formed to deliver humanitarian aid and restore order to the African nation of Somalia which was suffering from a severe famine, general anarchy, and domination by a number of warlords following the collapse... The UNMEE (United Nations Mission To Ethiopia and Eritrea) was originally formed to monitor a ceasefire in the border war that began in 1998 between Ethiopia and Eritrea. ... The Singapore Armed Forces Military Police Command providing security coverage at the Padang in Singapore during the National Day Parade in 2000. ... This article is about the country of Bosnia and Herzegovina. ... Members of the Dutch, French, German and U.S. military watch as an Italian honour guard hoists the new Stabilisation Force flag during the Stabilisation Force (SFOR) activation ceremony in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, on the 20 of December 1996 Pocket badge of the SFOR The Stabilisation Force (SFOR) was... EUFOR former Commander General David Leakey Soldier of the EUFOR participating in operation Spring Lift, as part of Althea The EUFOR or European Union Force is an international military force under the supervision of the European Council. ... For other uses, see Kosovo (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see KFOR (disambiguation). ...

East Timor

Also in 1999, Irish troops were sent to East Timor as part of the UNAMET observer group. Later in the year, a larger number of Irish transport and logistical troops were sent as part of INTERFET peacekeeping force. The Irish Army Rangers (the Army's special forces unit) were deployed in East Timor alongside the Australian SAS as part of UNTAET in 2000. This marked the second time that the Irish Army's elite force were officially deployed operationally outside of the state, the first being to Somalia in 1993. A total of 44 Irish soldiers remain in East Timor at present. The United Nations Mission in East Timor (UNAMET) was established by Security Council resolution 1246 on 11 June 1999 for a period up to 31 August 1999. ... INTERFET (standing for INTERnational Force East Timor) was a multinational peacekeeping taskforce, mandated by the United Nations to address the humanitarian and security crisis which took place in East Timor from 1999-2000 until the arrival of United Nations peacekeepers. ... The Irish Army Ranger Wing (or SciathÃ¡n FiannÃ³glach na hAirm in Irish) is the special forces unit of the Irish Defence Forces. ... For other uses, see Special forces (disambiguation). ... An SASR beret. ... The UN Transitional Administration in East Timor provided an interim civil administration and a peacekeeping mission in the territory of East Timor. ...

Liberia

After November 2003, Irish troops were stationed in Liberia as part of UNMIL. The Liberian mission was the largest Irish overseas deployment since Lebanon and consisted of a single composite battalion. The UN force, UNMIL, was 15,000 strong and was charged with stabilising the country after the Liberian Civil War. The Irish troops were based in Camp Clara, near Monrovia and were tasked with acting as the Force Commander's "Quick Reaction Force" (QRF) in the Monrovia area. This means the securing of key locations, conducting searches for illegally held weapons, patrolling and manning checkpoints on the main roads and providing security to civilians under threat of violence. The Irish deployment to Liberia was due to end in November 2006. However, at that time the deployment was extended for a further 6 months to May 2007 ^[2]. Image File history File links Arw4. ... Image File history File links Arw4. ... This page is a candidate for speedy deletion. ... Charles Taylor, a leader of the NPFL and later President of Liberia. ... Monrovia in the 1800s. ...

Border duties and aid to the civil power 1969-present

At home, the Army has been occasionally deployed as a back up to the Gardaí (Irish Police) along the border with Northern Ireland during the conflict in the north known as the Troubles (1969-1998). In the early 1970s, it was suggested that the Irish Army might cross the Border to protect the nationalist community within Northern Ireland. However this was never acted upon, although units were moved to the Border in 1969-70, in readiness for such a step. In addition, a captain in the army, James Kelly was sent to buy arms for Republican paramilitaries for the defence of nationalist areas in the North. When this emerged in public, it caused a scandal known as the Arms crisis. Kelly, however always maintained that he was only acting under orders from senior politicians. Flag of An Garda SÃochÃ¡na Garda SÃochÃ¡na na hÃ‰ireann (pronounced ; Irish for Peace Guard of Ireland, often rendered[1] as The Guardians of the Peace of Ireland) is the police force of the Republic of Ireland. ... Northern Ireland (Irish: , Ulster Scots: Norlin Airlann) is a constituent country of the United Kingdom lying in the northeast of the island of Ireland, covering 5,459 square miles (14,139 kmÂ², about a sixth of the islands total area). ... The Troubles is a term used to describe two periods of violence in Ireland during the twentieth century. ... Irish nationalism refers to political movements that desire greater autonomy or the independence of Ireland from Great Britain. ... Northern Ireland (Irish: , Ulster Scots: Norlin Airlann) is a constituent country of the United Kingdom lying in the northeast of the island of Ireland, covering 5,459 square miles (14,139 kmÂ², about a sixth of the islands total area). ... James Kelly (October 16, 1929 - July 16, 2003) was a former Irish Army officer cleared (along with Irish government ministers) of attempting to import arms for the IRA in the Arms Trial in 1970. ... The Arms Crisis was a political scandal in the Republic of Ireland, in which two government ministers from the Fianna FÃ¡il political party were accused of attempting to illegally import Â£100,000 worth of weapons for the Provisional Irish Republican Army. ...

The Army's most consistent role has been to try and impede the movement of Provisional IRA members across the border during its armed campaign. One Irish Army soldier was killed during the Troubles by the PIRA. This happened on December 16, 1983, when the PIRA kidnapped a supermarket executive named Don Tidey. He was traced to Ballinamore in County Leitrim and in the subsequent shootout, a trainee Garda and an Irish Army soldier were killed. Recently, in 2006, the Army has been used to back up the Gardaí in arresting and seizing the assets of smugglers along the border, many of whom have links with Republican paramilitaries. The Provisional Irish Republican Army (PIRA) is a paramilitary group which aimed, through the use of violence, to achieve three goals: (i) British withdrawal from Ireland, (ii) the political unification of Ireland through the merger of Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland , and (iii) the creation of an all... From 1969 until 1997, the Provisional Irish Republican Armyconducted an armed campaign in Northern Ireland aimed at overthrowing British rule there and creating a united Ireland. ... Ballinamore (BÃ©al an Atha Moir) is a small town in County Leitrim Lying 15 miles with the border of Northern Ireland. ... Statistics Province: Connacht County Town: Carrick-on-Shannon Code: LM Area: 1,588 kmÂ² Population (2006) 28,837 Website: www. ...

A by product of the troubles has been the assignment of Irish soldiers to so called "cash in transit" patrols. Large shipments of cash within the republic are provided with armed military escorts. The purpose is not a police function per se e.g. to prevent theft by criminal elements but is specifically to pre-empt paramilitaries from obtaining funds for more weapons.

Current Deployments

Irish Army Officers are currently serving in Liberia, Kosovo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Sudan, Israel, Lebanon, Syria, Western Sahara, Congo, Croatia, Montenegro, Afghanistan and the Ivory Coast.

Training

All enlisted members of the Permanent Defence Forces (PDF)^[3] undergo 16 weeks of basic training, after which they become a Private 2 Star. They then undergo a further 8 weeks of advanced training with their corps, after which they are upgraded to Private 3 Star, Trooper or Gunner depending on their respective Corps.

Composition

The regular army of Ireland has 8,500 personnel^[4] (plus a reserve army of 13,000), and consists of a single division sized element made up of three infantry brigades, each responsible for a geographical area of the country: Infantry of the Royal Irish Rifles during the Battle of the Somme in World War I Infantry or footmen are very highly disciplined and trained soldiers who fight primarily with small arms(rifles), but are trained to use everything from their bare hands to missle systems in order to neutralize...

The 3rd Infantry Battalion is a unit of the Irish Army infantry corps. ... Look up Logistics in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 571 Ã— 599 pixel Image in higher resolution (1109 Ã— 1164 pixel, file size: 145 KB, MIME type: image/png) The structure of the Irish Army; made by myself noclador File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 571 Ã— 599 pixel Image in higher resolution (1109 Ã— 1164 pixel, file size: 145 KB, MIME type: image/png) The structure of the Irish Army; made by myself noclador File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old...

Defence Forces Training Centre

In addition to the three brigades in the Irish Army, there is also the Defence Forces Training Centre (DFTC). This element is responsible for providing professional training to the Irish Army through three separate colleges:

There are also several units located at the DFTC that are not part of the brigade structure:

The Irish Army Ranger Wing (or SciathÃ¡n FiannÃ³glach na hAirm in Irish) is the special forces unit of the Irish Defence Forces. ...

Army Corps

Image File history File linksMetadata Irish_Scorpion_Tank. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Irish_Scorpion_Tank. ...

Infantry Corps

The Infantry corps represent the largest component and are the operational troops of the Irish Army. The Irish Army Infantry Corps is the largest component of the Irish Army. ...

Artillery Corps

The Artillery Corps provides fire support as required by infantry or armoured elements. The Corps was founded in 1924 and today consists of two main branches: Field Artillery and Air Defence. Between them, the two branches of the Corps provide several vital services; For other uses, see Artillery (disambiguation). ... Union Army gun squad at drill, c. ...

Each brigade has a single regular field artillery regiment, supported by a reserve field artillery regiment, while the army's single air defence regiment is based at the Defence Force Training Centre, with batteries stationed around the country.

Cavalry Corps

The Cavalry Corps is the army's armoured formation. Cavalry Corps FV101 Scorpion The Cavalry Corps (Irish an Cor Marcra) is the armoured formation of the Irish Army. ...

Engineer Corps

The Engineer Corps (or An Cór Innealtoiri in Irish) is the combat engineering unit of the Irish Defence Forces. The Engineer Corps is responsible for all military engineering matters within the Defence Forces. Engineering originated as a military function, and in today's army an Engineer has a most demanding role. Image File history File linksMetadata Size of this preview: 800 Ã— 600 pixelsFull resolution (1024 Ã— 768 pixel, file size: 237 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Size of this preview: 800 Ã— 600 pixelsFull resolution (1024 Ã— 768 pixel, file size: 237 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... The Engineer Corps (or An Corps Innealtoiri in Irish) is the combat engineering unit of the Irish Defence Forces. ... Combat engineers place satchel charges and detonating cord, preparatory to blowing up a railway bridge during the Korean War, 30 July 1950 Combat engineering is the practice of using the knowledge, tools and techniques of engineering in combat. ... The Irish Defence Forces encompass the army, navy, air force and reserve forces of the Republic of Ireland. ... A military engineer is primarily responsible for the design and construction of offensive, defensive and logistical structures for warfare. ...

Ordnance Corps

The responsibility for the procurement and maintenance of all ordnance equipment is vested in the Ordnance Corps and encompasses a spectrum of equipment ranging from anti-aircraft missiles and naval armament to the uniforms worn by military personnel. The corps is also responsible for the procurement of food and provision of commercial catering services. These tasks are of a technical nature and the corps personnel are appropriately qualified and with the expertise to afford technical evaluation of complete weapon systems, it also includes embracing weapons, ammunition, fire control instruments and night vision equipment. The Ordnance Corps provide the only Explosive Ordnance Disposal service within the state, in support of the Garda Siochana. The Corps must keep abreast of current developments in international terrorist devices and the equipment needed to counteract these devices. Courses are conducted for its own personnel and for students from the military and police of many other nations. Ordnance Corps personnel continue to serve in overseas missions and are an essential component of missions involving troops.

Transport Corps

The Transport Corps is responsible for the procurement, management and maintenance of all soft skinned vehicles, and the maintenance of all armoured vehicles within the Defence Forces. It is also responsible for the driver training, testing, certification, maintenance of driving standards and provision of vehicle fuels, oils and lubricants. The Transport Corps provides heavy lift capability for the Defence Forces.

Medical Corps

The Army Medical Corps has the responsibility of maintaining health and preventing disease in the Defence Forces and providing treatment of its sick and wounded. While these functions are of prime importance in time of war they also continue in peacetime. The Corps provides Dental as well as medical care for all personnel. The service provided includes surgery, physiotherapy and nursing. Their personnel have served in all the major UN missions providing medical and dental support. They also fill an important role in the provision of humanitarian assistance to the local civilian population giving medical aid in circumstances in which local medical services are unlikely to function adequately. Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (3425x2238, 578 KB) Hi-res image of an ARW operator with AW-50 anti material weapon I, the creator of this work, hereby release it into the public domain. ... Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (3425x2238, 578 KB) Hi-res image of an ARW operator with AW-50 anti material weapon I, the creator of this work, hereby release it into the public domain. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... An anti-materiel rifle is a rifle that is designed for use against military equipment (MatÃ©riel) rather than against other combatants (anti-personnel). Generally speaking, they are large-caliber rifles chambered for a powerful cartridge. ...

Military Police Corps

The Military Police (Irish: Poilini Airm) are responsible for the prevention and investigation of offences, the enforcement of discipline and the general policing of the Defence Forces. In wartime, additional tasks include the provision of a traffic control organisation to allow rapid movement of military formations to their mission areas. Other wartime rules include control of prisoners of war and refugees. Traditionally, the Military Police have also had a considerable involvement at state and ceremonial occasions. In recent years the Military Police have been deployed in many UN missions (e.g. Iran /Iraq) and later in the former Yugoslavia (SFOR). They enjoy a very close working relationship with An Garda Síochána at national and local levels. The Gardaí assist in providing specialist police training to the Military Police in the field of crime investigation. Also known as the PAs in Irish Army slang (Poilini Airm). The PÃ³ilÃnÃ Airm (English: Army Police) is the corps of the Irish Army responsible for the provision of policing service personnel and providing a military police presence to forces while on exercise and deployment. ...

Communications

The CIS corps is a support corps responsible for installing, maintaining and operating telecommunications equipment and information systems. The Communication and Information Services Corps (formerly referred to the Army Corps of Signals) is one of the combat support corps of the Irish Defence Forces. ...

Rank Structure

The rank structure of the Irish Army is organised along standard military rank and command structures. These consist of the following ranks:

Other Ranks

The introduction to this article provides insufficient context for those unfamiliar with the subject matter. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Easter_Parade_Officer. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Easter_Parade_Officer. ...

Commissioned Ranks

Note: As there are only Infantry Brigades the number of senior officers in the Irish Army is small. Enlisted Ranks Category: ...

Weapons

The Irish Army has historically purchased and used weapons and equipment from other western countries, mainly from European nations and especially from Britain. Generally all equipment is of NATO standard design, Ireland usually doesn't produce its own armaments and has a very limited arms industry (almost non-existent). Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Carl Gustav anti-tank weapon in action With the Irish Army. ... This is a list of some of the modern weapons of the Irish Army. ... For other uses, see Europe (disambiguation). ... This article is about the military alliance. ...

In the beginning the Army used the British Lee-Enfield Rifle, which would be the mainstay for many decades after independence. In the 1960s some modernisation came with the introduction of the Belgian-made FN FAL 7.62 mm assault rifle. Lee-Enfield No4 Mk1 with bayonet, scabbard attached The Lee-Enfield was the British armys standard bolt action, magazine-fed, repeating rifle from 1895 until 1956. ... The Fusil Automatique Leger, or Light Automatic Rifle (LAR). ...

Currently the standard weapon for an Irish Army soldier is the Austrian made Steyr AUG 5.56 mm assault rifle (also used in the other branches of the Defence force). The Steyr began to replace the older FAL in 1988, although some of the Reserve forces continued to use the FAL until 2002. The AUG is an Austrian 5. ...

Other weapons in use by the Irish Army are the FN MAG, known as the General Purpose Machine Gun (GPMG), the FGM-148 Javelin Anti-tank guided missile (replacing the MILAN). The FN MAG (or MAG-58) is a machine gun manufactured by Fabrique Nationale (FN), Belgium. ... A soldier practices with the Javelin on a firing range. ... Type Anti-tank Nationality Joint France/Germany Era Cold War, modern Launch platform Individual, Vehicle Target Vehicle, Fortification History Builder MBDA, Bharat Dynamics (under license) Date of design 70s Production period since 1972 Service duration since 1972 Operators 41 countries Variants MILAN 1, MILAN 2, MILAN 2T, MILAN 3, MILAN...

Vehicles

The Irish Army has historically preferred Light vehicles to the heavy Armour types used by other European nations, and this preference continues today. The most recent purchase was of a large number of the Swiss made Mowag Piranha Armoured fighting vehicles which have become the Army's primary vehicle in the Mechanised infantry role. These are equipped with 12.7 mm HMGs, but recently the army has ordered an additional number of Piranhas with a mix of weapons systems, made up of Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace remote weapon station with a 12.7 mm heavy machinegun-equipped vehicles and Oto Melara 30 mm cannon equipped vehicles. Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (841x562, 86 KB) Summary Irish Army Mowag Piranha in Easter Military Parade in Dublin, 2006. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (841x562, 86 KB) Summary Irish Army Mowag Piranha in Easter Military Parade in Dublin, 2006. ... Chilean Mowag Piranha 8X8. ... An armoured fighting vehicle (AFV) is a military vehicle, protected by armour and armed with weapons. ... This is a partial list of the modern vehicles of the Irish Army. ... Chilean Mowag Piranha 8X8. ... The M2 machine gun with a tripod weighs 58 kg (128 lb). ... Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace (KDA), one of two operating companies of Kongsberg Gruppen (KOG), is a supplier of defence and space related systems and products, mainly anti-ship missiles, military communications, and command and weapons control systems for naval vessels and air-defence applications. ... Oto Melara is a Italian defence company with factories in Brescia and La Spezia. ...

The Irish Army's only tank type is the British-made FV101 Scorpion light tank, with a 76.2 mm main gun. Other vehicles include the Panhard AML (with 90 mm gun). The FV101 Scorpion is a British light tank, part of the Combat Vehicle Reconnaissance (Tracked) or, CVR(T) family. ... United Nations Panhard AML. The Panhard AML( called the AML 245 by Panhard) 60/90 is a light armoured car with permanent 4x4 drive which gives it exceptional mobility. ...

Contents

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