Irish Army
Army | |
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An tArm (Irish) | |
Major General Anthony McKenna | |
Insignia | |
Flag |
The Irish Army (Irish: an tArm) is the land component of the Defence Forces of Ireland.[5] The Irish Army has an active establishment of 7,520, and a reserve establishment of 3,869. Like other components of the Defence Forces, the Irish Army has struggled to maintain strength and as of April 2023[update] has only 6,322 active personnel, and 1,382 reserve personnel.[1] The Irish Army is organised into two brigades.[6][7]
As well as maintaining its primary roles of defending the State and internal security within the State, since 1958 the Army has had a continuous presence in
Roles of the Army
The roles of the Army are:
- To defend the Irish state against armed aggression.
- To give aid to the civil power (ATCP). This means that the Army assists, when requested, the Garda Síochána, who have primary responsibility for law and order in Ireland.
- To participate in multinational peace support, crisis management and humanitarian relief operations in support of the EUFOR(UN-sanctioned peacekeeping missions only).
- To carry out other duties which may be assigned to them from time to time. For example, assistance on the occasion of natural disasters, assistance in connection with the maintenance of essential services, etc.
History
Beginning of the Army
The Defence Forces, including the Army, trace their origins to the
The Provisional Government was set up on 16 January 1922 to assume power in the new Irish Free State. On 31 January 1922, a former IRA unit (the Dublin Guard) assumed its new role as the first unit of the new National Army and took over Beggars Bush Barracks, the first British barracks to be handed to the new Irish Free State. The National Army's first Commander-in-Chief, Michael Collins, envisaged the new Army being built around the pre-existing IRA, but over half of this organisation rejected the compromises required [citation needed] by the Anglo-Irish Treaty which established the Irish Free State, and favoured upholding the revolutionary Irish Republic which had been established in 1919.
As such, from January 1922 until late June and the outbreak of the Irish Civil War, there existed two antagonistic armed forces: the National Army, built from a nucleus of pro-Treaty IRA units, and armed and paid by the Provisional Government; and the anti-Treaty IRA who refused to accept the legitimacy of the new state. Both forces continued to use the Irish-language title Óglaigh na hÉireann, which had previously been used by both the original IRA and its predecessor, the Irish Volunteers of the mid-1910s. In July 1922, Dáil Éireann authorised raising a force of 35,000 men; by May 1923 this had grown to 58,000. The National Army lacked the expertise necessary to train a force of that size, such that approximately one-fifth of its officers and half of its soldiers were Irish ex-servicemen of the British Army, who brought considerable experience to it.[8]
Civil War period
The Irish Civil War broke out on 28 June 1922. The pro-Treaty
In the early weeks of the Civil War, the newly formed National Army was mainly composed of pro-Treaty IRA units, especially the
The British government had supplied the National Army with small arms and ammunition as they departed from Ireland as well as a few armoured cars. They later supplied artillery which enabled it to bring the Civil War to a relatively speedy conclusion. The Four Courts and O'Connell Street were taken from anti-Treaty IRA units during the Battle of Dublin in July 1922. The anti-Treaty IRA were also dislodged from Limerick and Waterford in that month and Cork and County Kerry were secured in a decisive seaborne offensive in August.
The remainder of the war was a
The National Army suffered about 800 fatalities in the Civil War, including its commander-in-chief, Michael Collins. Collins was succeeded by Richard Mulcahy.
In April 1923, the anti-Treaty IRA called a ceasefire, and in May it ordered its fighters to "dump arms", effectively ending the war.
National Army
With the end of the Civil War, the National 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. The
Richard Mulcahy, the new Irish defence minister, proposed to reduce the army from 55,000 to 18,000 men in the immediate post-Civil War period.[11] This provoked mutiny among National Army officers in 1923–24, particularly among former IRA officers who considered that former British Army officers were being treated better than they were.[12]
On 3 August 1923, the new State passed the Defence Forces (Temporary Provisions) Act, putting the existing armed forces on a legal footing.[13] This Act raised "an armed force to be called Óglaigh na hÉireann (hereinafter referred to as the Forces) consisting of such number of officers, non-commissioned officers, and men as may from time to time be provided by the Oireachtas."[14][15][16] The date of the establishment of the Defence Forces was 1 October 1924.[15] The term "National Army" fell into disuse.
The Army had a new establishment, organisation, rank markings, headdress and orders of dress.
The Emergency
Ireland remained neutral during the
Despite the Irish stance of neutrality, the Army was greatly expanded during the war (with more recruited to
In the Christmas Raid of 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.
For the duration of the war, Ireland, while formally neutral, tacitly supported the Allies in several ways. For example, the
Peacekeeping missions
Since Ireland joined the United Nations in 1955, the Army has been deployed on many peacekeeping missions. The first of these took place in 1958 when a small number of observers were sent to Lebanon. A total of 86 Irish soldiers have died in the service of the United Nations since 1960 (see List of Irish military casualties overseas).[27]
Congo
The first major overseas deployment came in 1960, when Irish troops were sent to the
Nine died in a single incident called the "
One of the largest ONUC engagements in which Irish troops were involved was the Siege of Jadotville. During this action, a small party of 155 Irish soldiers ("A" Company, 35th Battalion) was attacked by a larger force of almost 4,000 Katangese troops, as well as French, Belgian and Rhodesian mercenaries, and supported by a trainer jet (a Fouga CM.170 Magister), equipped for ground attack. The Irish soldiers repeatedly repelled the attackers, and knocked out enemy artillery and mortar positions using 60mm mortars.[28] An attempt was made by 500 Irish and Swedish Army soldiers to break through to the besieged company, but the attempt failed. A Company's commanding officer Commandant Patrick Quinlan, eventually surrendered his forces. A small number of Irish soldiers were wounded, but none killed. It is estimated, however, that up to 300 of A Company's attackers were killed, including 30 white mercenaries, and that up to 1,000 were wounded.[28]
A total of 6,000 Irishmen served in the Congo from 1960 until 1964.
Cyprus and the Sinai
Starting in 1964, Irish troops have served as UN peacekeepers in
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.
From 1976 to 1981, UNFICYP was commanded by an Irish officer, Major-General James Quinn.
Lebanon
From 1978 to 2001, a
The Irish troops in Lebanon were initially intended to supervise the withdrawal of the
In April 1980, three Irish soldiers were killed in an
Another
Most Irish troops were withdrawn from Lebanon 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 Lebanon War. After this conflict, UNIFIL was reinforced and a mechanised infantry company of 165 Irish troops was deployed to southern Lebanon. Their role was to provide perimeter protection for a Finnish Army engineering unit. After 12 months, the 1st Finnish/Irish Battalion ceased operations and was stood down from duty after having completed its mandate with UNIFIL. A number of Irish personnel remained in service at UNIFIL HQ in Southern Lebanon.[31]
Irish battalions returned to Lebanon in 2011 – initially with roughly 480 troops deployed in the region.[31] This was reduced to approximately 330 troops in May 2013,[32] and further to 180 troops in November 2013.[33][34] As of May 2016, there were 194 Irish soldiers deployed to UNIFIL serving alongside Finnish Armed Forces as part of a joint Battalion which is currently under Finnish command. Ireland takes over command of the Battalion from Finland in November 2016 at which time an additional Company of some 150 personnel will be deployed to UNIFIL bringing Ireland's contribution to this mission to 340 personnel.[35]
In November 2022, 333 Irish soldiers deployed to southern Lebanon as part of UNIFIL's 121st Infantry Battalion. On 14 December 2022, one Irish peacekeeper was killed and seven others were injured in a "serious incident" involving small arms fire.[36]
Iran and Iraq
From August 1988 until May 1991, Irish soldiers were deployed under the UN force
Somalia and Eritrea
In 1993, 100 troops forming a transport company were deployed in
Bosnia and Kosovo
In 1997 an
East Timor
In July 1999, Irish officers were sent to
Liberia
After November 2003, Irish troops were stationed in
- 90th Infantry Battalion (4th Western Brigade) – Nov 2003-May 2004
- 91st Infantry Battalion (2nd Eastern Brigade) – May 2004-Nov 2004
- 92nd Infantry Battalion (1st Southern Brigade) – Nov 2004-May 2005
- 93rd Infantry Battalion (4th Western Brigade) – May 2005-Nov 2005
- 94th Infantry Battalion (2nd Eastern Brigade) – Nov 2005-May 2006
- 95th Infantry Battalion (1st Southern Brigade) – May 2006-Nov 2006
- 96th Infantry Battalion (4th Western Brigade) – Nov 2006-May 2007
Chad
In August 2007, the
- 97th Infantry Battalion – June 2008-Oct 2008
- 98th Infantry Battalion – Oct 2008-Jan 2009
- 99th Infantry Battalion – Jan 2009-May 2009
- 100th Infantry Battalion – May 2009-Oct 2009
- 101st Infantry Battalion – Oct 2009-Jan 2010
- 102nd Infantry Battalion – Jan 2010-May 2010[48]
Syria
In 2013 the United Nations asked Ireland to send peacekeepers as part of the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) in the Golan region of Syria, to try to contain the Syrian civil war from spreading into Israel. The 43 Infantry Group, consisting of 115 personnel, deployed into Syria in September 2013. The group is tasked primarily to serve as the Force Mobile Reserve within the UNDOF Area of Responsibility.[49] The Irish peacekeepers were attacked by Syrian rebels on 29 November 2013. The Irish convoy came under small arms fire and a Mowag APC later struck a land mine, damaging the vehicle, when driving out of the attack. The Irish returned fire with 12.7mm (.50 calibre) heavy machine guns mounted on their vehicles before the rebels retreated.[50]
The Irish were involved in a combat mission in August 2014 after 44
Duties
Border duties
At home, the Army was deployed to aid the
Aid to the civil power
The Army's largest aid to the civil power role is its cash-in-transit escorts, with over 2000 missions carried out every year. All large shipments of cash within the State have been provided with armed military escorts since 1978. The Army provides 24-hour armed security at the maximum security Portlaoise Prison and armed escorts for the Prison Service transporting Ireland's most dangerous criminals. The Central Bank of Ireland had the Government put in place contingency plans to provide armed Defence Force security for major Irish banks over public order fears if a cash shortage was triggered at the height of the 2008/2009 financial crisis.[57]
Current overseas deployments
As of 1 December 2015, 493 Defence Force personnel are serving in 12 different missions throughout the world including Lebanon (
Training
All enlisted members of the Army undergo 29 weeks of training in order to become a fully trained infantry soldier. The first 17 weeks is recruit training, after which they become a 2 Star Private. They then undergo a further 12 weeks of advanced training, after which they pass-out as a 3 Star Private, Trooper or Gunner depending on their respective Corps. During this continuous 29 weeks of training, they are required to live in barracks. The Army recruits both men and women.[60]
Recruit training includes foot drill, arms drill, field-craft, medical, radio operation, rifle marksmanship, unarmed combat, counter-IED, tactical and daily physical training (PT). During this stage of training, they are also given weapons training on the Steyr Rifle, General Purpose Machine Gun and grenade.
On completion of recruit training, soldiers become 2 Star Privates and immediately begin 3 Star training. This includes more advanced training of everything covered by recruit training plus riot training, navigation,
Throughout their service, soldiers must complete Trained Soldier Specialist Training courses to advance their skills and for promotion.
Organisation
The Army has an establishment of 7,520 active and 3,869 reserve[1] personnel organised into two brigades.[6] Prior to 2012, the army was divided into three brigades, organised to be responsible for a geographical area of the State: Southern, Eastern and Western.[7] Following budgetary decisions in 2011,[61] the army was reorganised in late 2012 into a two brigades structure.[6][62] The training element of the army, the Defence Forces Training Centre, operates independently of the brigade structure.
- Irish Army
- Collins Barracks in Cork
- 2nd Brigade, at Cathal Brugha Barracks in Dublin
- Curragh
- Army Ranger Wing, at Curragh Camp in Curragh
- Army Reserve
Army Corps
Infantry Corps
The Infantry Corps represent the largest component and are the operational troops of the Army. They must be prepared for tactical deployment in any location at short notice. In wartime this means that they will be among the frontline troops in the defence of the Irish state. In peacetime, they can be seen daily performing operational duties in aid to the civil power such as providing escorts to cash, prisoner or explosive shipments, patrols of vital state installations and border patrols, including checkpoints.
Artillery Corps
The
- Fire support of Infantry or Armoured troops.
- Ground to low-level air defence.
- Light field battery support to Irish overseas battalion.
- Aid to the civil power duties.
Each brigade has a single artillery regiment.[citation needed]
Cavalry Corps
The Cavalry Corps is the army's armoured reconnaissance formation.
Engineer Corps
The Engineer Corps is the
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,[clarification needed] ammunition, fire control instruments and night vision equipment. The Ordnance Corps provides improvised explosive device disposal within the state, in support of the Garda Síochána. Courses are conducted for its own personnel and for students from the military and police of other nations. Ordnance Corps personnel continue to serve in overseas missions and are an essential component of missions involving troops.[63]
Transport Corps
The Transport Corps is responsible for procurement, management and maintenance of soft-skinned vehicles, and maintenance of armoured vehicles. It is also responsible for the driving standards, training and certification, as well as providing vehicle fuels and lubricants, and certain logistics – such as heavy lift capabilities.
Medical Corps
The Medical Corps is responsible for promoting health and treating sick or wounded personnel, and has provided medical and dental support in all the Army's main UN missions.[64] As with similar branches in other militaries, they also sometimes provide humanitarian assistance to local civilian populations – by giving medical aid where local health services are not functioning adequately.[64]
Military Police Corps
The Military Police (Irish: Póilíní Airm, hence the nickname "PAs") 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 had involvement at State and ceremonial occasions. In recent years the Military Police have been deployed in UN missions (such as Iran and Iraq) and later in the former Yugoslavia (SFOR). The Gardaí assist in providing specialist police training to the Military Police in the field of crime investigation.
Communications & IT Corps
The Communications and Information Services (CIS) Corps is a support corps responsible for installing, maintaining and operating telecommunications equipment and information systems.
Rank structure
The rank structure of the Irish Army is organised along standard military rank and command structures. These consist of the following ranks:
- Officers
Rank group | General / flag officers | Senior officers | Junior officers | Officer cadet | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Irish Army[65][66] |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Lieutenant-general | Major-general | Brigadier-general | Colonel | Lieutenant-colonel | Commandant | Captain
|
Lieutenant | Second-Lieutenant | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Lefteanant-ghinearál | Maor-ghinearál | Briogáidire-ghinearál | Cornal | Lefteanant-chornal | Ceannfort | Captaen | Lefteanant | Dara-lefteanant | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Combat[67] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Abbreviation | Lt Gen | Maj Gen | Brig Gen | Col | Lt Col | Comdt | Capt | Lt | 2nd Lt | Cdt | Cdt |
- Other ranks
Rank group | Senior NCOs | Junior NCOs | Enlisted | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Irish Army[65][66] |
No insignia | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Sergeant major | Regimental Quartermaster Sergeant
|
Company sergeant | Company quartermaster sergeant | Sergeant | Corporal | Private, 3 star | Private, 2 star | Recruit
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Maor-Sáirsint Cathlán/Reisimint[a] | Ceathrúsháirsint Cathlán/Reisimint[a] | Sáirsint Complacht[b] | Ceathrúsháirsint Complacht[b] | Sáirsint | Ceannaire | Saighdiúr Singil, 3 Réalta | Saighdiúr Singil, 2 Réalta | Earcach | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Combat[68] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Abbreviation | BSM/RSM | BQMS/RQMS | CS/BS/SS | CQ/BQ/SQ | Sgt | Cpl | Pte/Gnr/Tpr 3* | Pte 2* | Rec |
Equipment
Weapons
The Army has historically purchased and used weapons and equipment from other western countries, mainly from Western European nations.[citation needed] Ireland has a very limited arms industry and rarely produces its own armaments.[citation needed]
From its establishment the Army used the British-made Lee–Enfield .303 rifle, which would be the mainstay for many decades. In the 1960s some modernisation came with the introduction of the Belgian-made FN FAL 7.62 mm battle rifle. Since 1989 the service rifle for the Army is the Austrian-made Steyr AUG 5.56 mm assault rifle (used by all branches of the Defence Forces).[69][70]
Other weapons in use by the Army include the
Vehicles
The Army has purchased 80 Swiss made
.See also
- Modern Irish Army uniform
- Armoured fighting vehicles of the Irish Army
- Irish Defence Forces cap badge
- Defence Forces (Ireland)
- Reserve Defence Forces
- Irish Army deafness claims
- General Michael Joe Costello
- Colonel Daniel Bryan
- RACO– representative association for Commissioned Officers
- PDFORRA– representative association for Permanent Enlistees
- RDFRA– representative association for Reserve Enlistees
Notes
References
- ^ a b c d "Defence Forces Strength (Dáil Éireann Debate – Tuesday, 13 June 2023)". Dáil Éireann Hansard. 13 June 2023. Retrieved 25 August 2023.
The established strength and current strength of the Defence Forces as at 30 April 2023 is [..] Army 7,520 .. 6,322 [..] Air Corps 886 .. 711 [..] Naval Service 1,094 .. 764 [..] Army Reserve 3,869 .. 1,382 [..] Naval Service Reserve 200 .. 77 [..] First Line Reserve N/A .. 275
- ^ "General Staff > Brigade Commanders > GOC 1 Brigade". Defence Forces Ireland. Retrieved 5 June 2016.
- ^ "General Staff > Brigade Commanders > GOC 2 Brigade". Defence Forces Ireland. Retrieved 12 July 2015.
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- ^ The Defence Forces are made up of the Permanent Defence Forces – the standing branches – and the Reserve Defence Forces. The Army is part of the PDF.
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- ISBN 978-1-84603-270-7
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- ^ "Father and son among troops in latest Lebanon deployment". BreakingNews.ie. 7 November 2013. Retrieved 3 December 2013.
- ^ a b "Defence Forces Deployment: 17 May 2016: Written answers (KildareStreet.com)". kildarestreet.com. Retrieved 10 October 2016.
- ^ "'A tragic event': Irish soldier dies after convoy comes under attack in Lebanon". The Irish Times. Retrieved 15 December 2022.
- ^ "Defence Forces – Past overseas missions – United Nations Iraq-Kuwait Observation Mission". Irish Defence Forces. Retrieved 23 December 2014.
- ^ a b "UNAMET, INTERFET, UNMISET". Defence Forces. Retrieved 20 November 2016.
- ^ "Department of Defence – Press Release Cabinet approval for continued deployment of troops serving in Liberia". Department of Defence.
- ^ Tom Brady (8 January 2004). "Crack troops rescue hostages from gunmen in daring raid". Irish Independent. Retrieved 13 April 2009.
- ^ "Defence Forces – Past overseas missions – United Nations Military in Liberia". Retrieved 23 December 2014.
- ^ "Christmas peace makers". Irish Independent. 22 December 2008.
- ^ Press release (20 November 2007). "Minister for Defence, Willie O'Dea secures Cabinet approval for Chad mission". Department of Defence. Archived from the original on 16 July 2011. Retrieved 4 July 2010.
- ^ "EU Military Operation in Eastern Chad and North Eastern Central African Republic (EUFOR Tchad/RCA)" (PDF). consilium.europa.eu. March 2009. p. 1. Retrieved 1 July 2010.
- ^ "50 Irish troops arrive in Chad". RTÉ News. 21 February 2008. Archived from the original on 13 March 2008.
- ^ Phelan, Shane (20 November 2008). "New peace mission on cards". Irish Independent.
- ^ "Irish troops begin return from Chad". Retrieved 23 December 2014.
- ^ "Irish troops returning from Chad". Independent.ie. Retrieved 23 December 2014.
- ^ "Department of Defence – Speeches". Defence.ie. Retrieved 20 June 2015.
- ^ "Irish troops fired on by Syrian rebel units". irishtimes.com. Retrieved 30 November 2013.
- ^ "Irish troops evacuate Filipino peacekeepers in Syria". Irishtimes.com. 30 August 2014. Retrieved 20 June 2015.
- ^ Conor Lally (15 June 2015). "Irish troops prove their mettle on hostile Syrian front line". Irishtimes.com. Retrieved 20 June 2015.
- ^ Jim Cusack and John Drennan. "Foreign Affairs Minister: 'I don't want Irish troops sucked into Syrian civil war'". Independent.ie. Retrieved 20 June 2015.
- ^ Lally, Conor. "Irish troops complete move back to Syrian side of Golan Heights". The Irish Times.
- ^ "History Ireland". History Ireland. Retrieved 20 June 2015.
- ^ Ireland: Being and Belonging page 131
- ^ "Get army ready to protect banks: Central Bank's warning to Taoiseach during crisis". Irish Independent. 28 November 2014.
- ^ a b "Defence Forces Deployment (Dáil Éireann Debate – Written Answers Nos. 515) – 9 June 2015 – Minister for Defence (Deputy Simon Coveney)". Dáil Éireann. 9 June 2015. Retrieved 11 June 2015.
- ^ a b "Dáil Éireann – 17/Dec/2015 Written Answers Nos. 297-309".
- ^ "Training | Recruits | Army | Careers | Defence Forces". military.ie. Retrieved 10 October 2016.
- ^ Paul O'Brien (12 July 2012). "Move to 'save' Western Brigade". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 13 December 2012.
- ^ "Re-Organisation of Defence Forces – Department of Defence press release". 17 July 2012.
- ^ "Ordnance | Army Corps | Organisation | Army | Defence Forces". Military.ie. Retrieved 20 June 2015.
- ^ a b "Medical | Army Corps | Organisation | Army | Defence Forces". Military.ie. Retrieved 20 June 2015.
- ^ a b "Army Rank Markings". military.ie. Defence Forces (Ireland). Archived from the original on 25 April 2016. Retrieved 26 May 2021.
- ^ a b "Irish Military Insignia". irishmilitaryinsignia.com. Archived from the original on 14 August 2007.
- ^ Perkins 2007, Rank Markings (Slider) – Officers.
- ^ Perkins 2007, Rank Markings (Slider) – Enlisted Personnel.
- ^ "Platoon Weapons – Defense Forces". military.ie. Retrieved 25 March 2019.
- ^ "Army Weapons – Steyr". military.ie. Archived from the original on 26 November 2010. Retrieved 25 March 2019.
- ^ ISBN 978-0-7106-2869-5.
- ^ "Army Weapons – M203 Grenade Launcher". military.ie. Archived from the original on 26 November 2010. Retrieved 25 March 2019.
- ^ "Army Weapons – Heavy Machine Gun (HMG)". military.ie. Archived from the original on 26 November 2010. Retrieved 25 March 2019.
- ^ "Company Weapons – Defense Forces". military.ie. Retrieved 25 March 2019.
- ^ "Army Weapons – AI96 Sniper Rifle". military.ie. Archived from the original on 26 November 2010. Retrieved 25 March 2019.
- ^ "Army Weapons – AT4 Short Range Anti-Armour weapon (SRAAW)". military.ie. Archived from the original on 26 November 2010. Retrieved 25 March 2019.
- ^ "Army Weapons – Javelin". military.ie. Archived from the original on 26 November 2010. Retrieved 25 March 2019.
- ^ "Army Weapons – 105mm Howitzer". military.ie. Archived from the original on 26 November 2010. Retrieved 25 March 2019.
- ^ "Irish Army Conducts Successful Live Firings of RBS 70 and RBS 70 NG". Saab Group. 25 September 2017. Retrieved 25 March 2019.
- ^ "Army Weapons – RBS 70". military.ie. Archived from the original on 26 November 2010. Retrieved 25 March 2019.
- ^ Don Lavery (1 May 2013). "Veteran armoured car fleet retired". Independent.ie. Retrieved 8 May 2013.
Sources
- Perkins, James G. (29 September 2007). "Insignia Collection". Irish Military Insignia. Archived from the original on 13 September 2007. Retrieved 12 April 2019.
External links
- Official website – the Irish Army