What was the most prevalent IRA rifle?

harmoniums

Everyone here in the states thinks it was the AR180.
Most pictures, videos seem to show them with FALs AKs and standard M16/AR15s.
Did they actually use the AR180 at all?

Avgas

Hi Harmoniums,

Yep it seems they did...there is a book out at the moment here in Ireland by senior ex-IRA man "Whitey" Bradley...I forget the title...its not bad in giving an insight into PIRA..(.whatever one thinks of them..leaving that aside)...

he says the "Armalite"...was a great tactical boost because it had a folding stock..women "volunteers" could even use it (lower recoil?).....mentions they were sourced in the states and smuggled over on the QE2 to England first!....

They also had a fair few old .303s....some FN FALs were actually stolen BA SLRs......at least he says that....

But they used anything and pistols were v.much their thing...also mentions his fondness for the a Mauser 9x21mm semi-automatic pistol "peter the painter" which he used...and was passed around.....

Also mentions that PIRA never really were any good at marskmanship and had few 'snipe' people...notwithstanding the guy who used the .5 piece towards the end in S. Armagh area of ops.

But that is only one recent source.....

R.Dub.Fusilier

harmoniums wrote: »

Everyone here in the states thinks it was the AR180.
Most pictures, videos seem to show them with FALs AKs and standard M16/AR15s.
Did they actually use the AR180 at all?

i read in one of ed maloneys books that the IRA got a load of Armalites from the USA and that Gerry Adams held back on handing them out , so to speak, until he got out of prison as a present to the volunteers.

SlabMurphy

Avgas wrote: »

Hi Harmoniums,

Yep it seems they did...there is a book out at the moment here in Ireland by senior ex-IRA man "Whitey" Bradley...I forget the title...its not bad in giving an insight into PIRA..(.whatever one thinks of them..leaving that aside)...

he says the "Armalite"...was a great tactical boost because it had a folding stock..women "volunteers" could even use it (lower recoil?).....mentions they were sourced in the states and smuggled over on the QE2 to England first!....

They also had a fair few old .303s....some FN FALs were actually stolen BA SLRs......at least he says that....

But they used anything and pistols were v.much their thing...also mentions his fondness for the a Mauser 9x21mm semi-automatic pistol "peter the painter" which he used...and was passed around.....

Also mentions that PIRA never really were any good at marskmanship and had few 'snipe' people...notwithstanding the guy who used the .5 piece towards the end in S. Armagh area of ops.

But that is only one recent source.....

If you read Tim Pat Coogans The IRA which is even acknowledged as the best book written about them even by the IRA itself, in one chapter he states how the IRA used just about every firearm they coulkd get their hands on at the start of the troubles. From shotguns to hunting rifles, WW2 Lee Enfeilds, even the old Thompson machine gun. Far from the British inspired black propaganda that the IRA instignated the troubles, they were totally unprepared for the unionist pogroms in August 1969 with young people writing on the walls of the Falls Rd. etc IRA - I Ran Away.

As reagards the Armalite, surprisingly a friend of mine from Belfast who was in the Provos told me they did indeed prefer the M16. Mainly because it was much easier to assemble/disassemble to hide or smuggle to an operation. Well that's what he said. But he said from the mid 80's on with contacts in the middle east and eastern Europe, they were getting easy supplies of AK47's and hand guns. AK47's good weapon he reckoned, but they preferred the M16.

I wouldn't be surprised if they were using old " Peter the Painter's " for the reasons mentioned above. I remember this friend of mine telling me, ( and to be honest laughing at), how their was an old Thompson in his area that he reckoned " took out more f**king Brits and Organies than any modern weapon. "

" Should have been a museum piece " he chuckled and it may well be in the Republican museum in Belfast. He reckoned that they only stoped using the old Thompson as they found it hard to get ammo for it. Indeed, you could contact the Belfast Republican museum for more info if you want. See http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055882795

SlabMurphy

Avgas wrote: »

Also mentions that PIRA never really were any good at marskmanship and had few 'snipe' people...notwithstanding the guy who used the .5 piece towards the end in S. Armagh area of ops.

But that is only one recent source.....

Well when you say snipers I guessing you mean shooting from quite a distance, a half a mile or whatever. Probably didn't use long distance sniping as they just had your normal assault rifle, M16, AK47 etc most of the time. But your right they did use long distance snipers in South Armagh and the border counties ( I remember reading when they shot a British soldier on patrol from county Leitrim across Lough Melvin, at least half a mile, in Fermanagh ).

What type of snipers rifle is this in this video of them ?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ep1WEqWPNNs&feature=related

R.Dub.Fusilier wrote: »

i read in one of ed maloneys books that the IRA got a load of Armalites from the USA and that Gerry Adams held back on handing them out , so to speak, until he got out of prison as a present to the volunteers.

I'm not trying to make a case for Adams, but I won't believe a WORD Maloney writes about him, sometimes he gets it right ( and on the law of averages he'd have to ) but most of the stuff he writes is conspiracy stuff. He's little more than a joke like Paul Williams.

Manic Moran

What type of snipers rifle is this in this video of them ?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ep1WE...eature=related

I have absolutely no idea. It looks like nothing I can find, (and yes, I've looked up every Barrett model as well). Also had a hunt around the WWII anti-tank rifles, it's not one of those either.

My best guess is that it's a homebuilt, maybe based off a Russian 12.7. I'll ask around, maybe the lads on ArfCom can identify it.

NTM

SlabMurphy

Manic Moran wrote: »

I have absolutely no idea. It looks like nothing I can find, (and yes, I've looked up every Barrett model as well). Also had a hunt around the WWII anti-tank rifles, it's not one of those either.

My best guess is that it's a homebuilt, maybe based off a Russian 12.7. I'll ask around, maybe the lads on ArfCom can identify it.

NTM

Well if Manic Moran doesn't know then nobody knows - and I mean that seriously. The guy just about knows every weapon/battle/general etc since Cain and Abel !!!

( Glad this thread hasn't descended into an IRA eat babies thread, like it or not, the IRA 1969 on, have a hell of a story to tell. Maybe if the " IRA eat baby's " brigade would wind their neck in some of it could be told - whether you agree with them or not )

iceage

SlabMurphy wrote: »

What type of snipers rifle is this in this video of them ?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ep1WEqWPNNs&feature=related
QUOTE]

Iver Johnson AMAC .50 Cal. Not sure about the ammo said sniper was using..awful lot of smoke, some dodgy reload probably.

Manic Moran

I'm impressed. AMAC 1500

Well if Manic Moran doesn't know then nobody knows - and I mean that seriously. The guy just about knows every weapon/battle/general etc since Cain and Abel !!!

Not so much small arms. Vehicles, on the other hand...

NTM

Wolfe Tone

Interesting topic. Maybe a topic on the weapons of the IRA would be a goer? Always found it interesting.


Anyway in sheer numbers I think the AK47 was the most prevalent. Gadaffi gave hundreds of them to the PIRA.

DublinWriter

MUSSOLINI wrote: »

Gadaffi gave hundreds of them to the PIRA.

He also gave them a handful of SAMs which where subsequently ruined due to dampness in underground storage locations.

The provos made extensive use of the Barrett M82 sniper rifle in Armagh, using it typically take out targets at a 1/2 mile range over hilly terrain.

Wolfe Tone

DublinWriter wrote: »

He also gave them a handful of SAMs which where subsequently ruined due to dampness in underground storage locations.

The provos made extensive use of the Barrett M82 sniper rifle in Armagh, using it typically take out targets at a 1/2 mile range over hilly terrain.

He gave them tons of Semtex too didnt he?

Heres a list from wiki: Some serious kit.

* 9mm Browning, Taurus, Glock and Beretta handguns
* AK-47 Kalashnikov assault rifles
* MP5 SMGs
* RPG-7 anti-tank rocket launcher
* Soviet made DShK heavy machine guns (HMGs)
* FN MAG machine guns
* U.S. military flamethrowers
* Semtex plastic explosive
* Strela 2 man portable SAMs
* The Casamara took on ten tonnes of weapons in September 1985 off the Maltese island of Gozo. These weapons were landed off the Clogga Strand near Arklow later that month. The shipment contained five hundred crates of AK-47s, pistols, hand grenades, ammunition and seven RPG-7s.
* The vessel Dushkas left Maltese waters on 6 October 1985 carrying HMGs. These weapons were also landed in Clogga Strand.
* In July 1986, there was a shipment of fourteen tonnes, including, according to the authorities, two SAM-7s.
* In October 1986, another shipment of eighty tonnes which included one tonne of Semtex, reportedly ten SAM-7 missiles, more RPG-7s, AK-47s and hundreds of thousands of rounds of ammunition arrived aboard the vessel Villa.[18]

Subsequent Garda Síochána (Irish police) arms finds in 1988 included several hundred AK-47s, Russian DSHK HMGs, FN MAG machine guns and Semtex.[19] The author Ed Moloney claims that the Eksund shipment also contained military mortars and 106 millimetre cannon, an assertion never confirmed by the Irish authorities.[20] It is also estimated that Gaddafi gave the IRA the equivalent of £2 million along with the 1980s shipments.[19]

cushtac

DublinWriter wrote: »

The provos made extensive use of the Barrett M82 sniper rifle in Armagh, using it typically take out targets at a 1/2 mile range over hilly terrain.

Most of the shots fired from the Barrett were fired from within 300m, there was no great IRA marksman making long range shots.

johngalway

iceage wrote: »

Iver Johnson AMAC .50 Cal. Not sure about the ammo said sniper was using..awful lot of smoke, some dodgy reload probably.

My €€€ is on that's dust risen by the muzzle break and not smoke, or at least not completely smoke. Someone forgot to tell him to wet the area of ground effected.

johngalway

DublinWriter wrote: »

He also gave them a handful of SAMs which where subsequently ruined due to dampness in underground storage locations.

That's something I've always wondered about, why no SAM (to my very limited knowledge) was used against British air units. Even if they only had a handful of them surely it would have been a PR coup to their minds. I do believe attempts were made to shoot down helicopters with large calibre rifles alright.

Wolfe Tone

johngalway wrote: »

That's something I've always wondered about, why no SAM (to my very limited knowledge) was used against British air units. Even if they only had a handful of them surely it would have been a PR coup to their minds. I do believe attempts were made to shoot down helicopters with large calibre rifles alright.

They shot a couple down with a heavy machine gun.

johngalway

MUSSOLINI wrote: »

They shot a couple down with a heavy machine gun.

How come they never used a SAM though? Were they kaput from word go, or what I wonder. Must go look up about the machine gun downings.

Wolfe Tone

No idea. Presume they would be hard to use, doubt they had enough to practise with!

Maybe they planned to use the explosives in the rockets for bombs?

Wolfe Tone

Here is video of an attack with a machine gun. Anyone have any idea what type it is?

Manic Moran

johngalway wrote: »

How come they never used a SAM though?

I don't know that they didn't. They may not have successfully used a SAM, but they may have triedand missed.

NTM

Johnnyglann

Carlos Hathcock USMC Gunnery Sgt during vietnam, shot and killed a VC at 2500yrds with a M1-.50 cal crew served, with an adapted scope (Redman. 93 confirmed kills and probably over 300 all told . This man led the way in competition and tactical shooting. This may not relate exactly to this forum but anyone holding a rifle with any intent should read up on this Marine/Rifleman.
Semper Fi.

johngalway

Just watched that video after Googling.

My opinion would be that bombs were ten a penny, but SAMs would bring an entire new dimension to things. Denying BA the use of the roads is one thing, active use of SAMs would have given a lot of pause for thought.

But, as MM says, perhaps they did and had no success.

Manic Moran

Anyone have any idea what type it is?

If that was a muzzle brake sticking out beyond the skip, it looked very much like a DshK.

NTM

Wolfe Tone

Manic Moran wrote: »

If that was a muzzle brake sticking out beyond the skip, it looked very much like a DshK.

NTM

I know next to nothing about guns, would that be powerful enough to take down a chopper?

Somthing like this?


That looks like it could do some serious damage. May even be the very one, source doesn't say where that photo is from.

Taken from here(ewww The Sun!)

Manic Moran

MUSSOLINI wrote: »

I know next to nothing about guns, would that be powerful enough to take down a chopper?

Easily. Its primary designed use was as an anti-aircraft weapon.

NTM

danbohan

johngalway wrote: »

How come they never used a SAM though? Were they kaput from word go, or what I wonder. Must go look up about the machine gun downings.

they were used near the border in fermanagh on one occasion at least but missed , helecopters in border areas usally operated in pairs or sometimes more for protection from possible attacks

Wolfe Tone

I wonder if they ever used it against personnel or vehicles... Would do serious damage to a car.

One of the things I find fascinating about the IRA are the home made weapons they used, especially the morters, ones like this, the "Barrack busters"

Barrack buster is the colloquial name given to several improvised mortars, developed in the 1990s by the engineering group of the Provisional Irish Republican Army (IRA).
The first barrack buster - known to the British security forces as the Mark 15 mortar - consisted of a one metre long metal propane cylinder with a diameter of 36 cm that contained around 70 kg of home-made explosives and with a range between 75 and 275 m. The cylinder is an adaptation of a commercial 'Kosangas' gas cylinder for heating and cooking gas used in rural areas in Ireland.[1]

Source(Wiki)





IRA’s Mark 15 Barrack Buster mortar on display by members of the organisation in a propaganda video from 1994.
Source

danbohan

MUSSOLINI wrote: »

I wonder if they ever used it against personnel or vehicles... Would do serious damage to a car.

One of the things I find fascinating about the IRA are the home made weapons they used, especially the morters, ones like this, the "Barrack busters"


Source(Wiki)





IRA’s Mark 15 Barrack Buster mortar on display by members of the organisation in a propaganda video from 1994.
Source

they were developed long before 1990s , i was pretty near to a british army post attacked with them in 1982, , i was in a car half a mile from the base yet could feel the blast effect on the car so they were pretty powerfull if inaccurate

Jonah42

I heard that the IRA never secured the proper guidance systems required to operate the SAM's.

Wolfe Tone

danbohan wrote: »

they were developed long before 1990s , i was pretty near to a british army post attacked with them in 1982, , i was in a car half a mile from the base yet could feel the blast effect on the car so they were pretty powerfull if inaccurate

I wonder if the IRA "invented" them? Do guerrilla fighters elsewhere use them? I heard they do in Columbia... IRA sent people over to train them apparently.

chem

MUSSOLINI wrote: »

I wonder if they ever used it against personnel or vehicles... Would do serious damage to a car.

One of the things I find fascinating about the IRA are the home made weapons they used, especially the morters, ones like this, the "Barrack busters"


Source(Wiki)





IRA’s Mark 15 Barrack Buster mortar on display by members of the organisation in a propaganda video from 1994.
Source

I think this man was behind alot of the home made stuff:

http://www.obrien.ie/Book631.cfm

Got talking to a man who knows him Said he designed alot of the home made items used during the troubles. Never read the book yet. Was give the chance to meet the man out of interest, but declined. Might buy a copy of the book and get it signed by him.

Wolfe Tone

chem wrote: »

I think this man was behind alot of the home made stuff:

http://www.obrien.ie/Book631.cfm

Got talking to a man who knows him Said he designed alot of the home made items used during the troubles. Never read the book yet. Was give the chance to meet the man out of interest, but declined. Might buy a copy of the book and get it signed by him.

That sounds like a fascinating read. Might get it myself.

um7y1h83ge06nx

chem wrote: »

I think this man was behind alot of the home made stuff:

http://www.obrien.ie/Book631.cfm

Got talking to a man who knows him Said he designed alot of the home made items used during the troubles. Never read the book yet. Was give the chance to meet the man out of interest, but declined. Might buy a copy of the book and get it signed by him.

Interesting, think I'll grab that.

It's cheaper here btw with free delivery, Book Depository is excellent:

http://www.bookdepository.co.uk/book/9780862789091/Enemy-of-the-Empire?b=-3&t=-20#Fulldescription-20

This is an extremely interesting thread and hasn't descended into farce, pretty educational.

Wolfe Tone

This is an extremely interesting thread and hasn't descended into farce, pretty educational.

+1

This is interesting:

IRA WEAPONRY
1,000 rifles
2 tonnes of Semtex
20-30 heavy machine guns
7 Surface-to-air missiles (unused)
7 flame throwers
1,200 detonators
11 rocket-propelled grenade launchers
90 hand guns
100+ grenades
Source: Security estimates/Jane's Intelligence Review

Taken from BBC article


The only incident of using a flamethrower I know of is the attack on the Derryard checkpoint.... Using a makeshift armoured truck. Was Mr T a volunteer?

The attack on Derryard checkpoint was a large guerrilla assault carried out on 13 December 1989 by a Provisional Irish Republican Army (IRA) unit against a British Army permanent vehicle checkpoint manned by soldiers of the King's Own Scottish Borderers (KOSB). It occurred near the Northern Ireland–Republic of Ireland border at Derryard (near Rosslea), County Fermanagh. The IRA team withdrew after the rapid reaction of a British Army patrol. A large van bomb left by the attackers also failed to detonate. The action left two British Army soldiers dead and one badly wounded.

The assault would involve the use of two 12.7mm DShK machine guns, 11 AK-47s, different kinds of grenades, and a flamethrower. The bulk of the flying column would be driven to the checkpoint on a makeshift armoured truck.[3] To assure widespread destruction, the column decided to detonate a van bomb after the initial surprise assault. The chosen target, a vehicle checkpoint at Derryard, near Rosslea, was manned by 8 soldiers of the 1st Battalion of the King's Own Scottish Borderers regiment and a member of the RUC.[1]

After launching a number of grenades (either RPGs or home made devices),[1] the IRA volunteers managed to break into the compound using the armour-plated lorry, supported by automatic fire and the flamethrower’s stream of fire. In the process they killed two soldiers, Pte James Houston and L/Cpl Michael Patterson.

Wiki

Klunk001

I believe it was the projectile part of one of these that successfully if not deliberately took the tail rotor of a RAF Puma on its way out of Newtownhamilton in the 90's.

chem

Haven Crooked Spaciousness wrote: »

Interesting, think I'll grab that.

It's cheaper here btw with free delivery, Book Depository is excellent:

http://www.bookdepository.co.uk/book/9780862789091/Enemy-of-the-Empire?b=-3&t=-20#Fulldescription-20

This is an extremely interesting thread and hasn't descended into farce, pretty educational.

Cheers for the link Super! Just ordered two copies from the site Looking forward to getting them now! Will get them both signed and one will be an Xmas present for a friend.

On another note. A friend of mine has an original RUC booklet from around the 80s-90s. It has all the main weapons used by both sides of the conflect pictured and details of the weapons. If I remember right, it even gives the est by the UK government of how many of each weapon each side has/had. Ill try get a lend of it and post figures etc.

kowloon

Is it just me or does that improvised mortar look a little thin walled for its bore? I assume the range is fairly short on them.

LostinBlanch

Jonah42 wrote: »

I heard that the IRA never secured the proper guidance systems required to operate the SAM's.

They nearly built their own anti aircraft missiles from scratch. The FBI arrested an Irish American aviation engineer who had built a prototype (or was close to finishing one) in the late 80's. They caught him buying guidance systems I think. They were surprised at how advanced the missile was.


I don't know if it was the same fella mentioned in the book but you never know.

kevinhalvey

*no names to be mentioned*

a friend of mine who works in the prison service was chatting x IRA member who was telling him that they managed to get there hands on a barret 50 cal they got in prep for a assasination at the time they wanted one because they wanted too take the shot from a decent distance but it never went ahead apparently they spent over 30,000 pound to get it into ireland under the radars from the black market . it was never fired once and is now apparently hidden somewhere on the border what part was never said for obvious reasons :rolleyes:

wouldnt mind digging that up one day

Wolfe Tone

johngalway wrote: »

Just watched that video after Googling.

My opinion would be that bombs were ten a penny, but SAMs would bring an entire new dimension to things. Denying BA the use of the roads is one thing, active use of SAMs would have given a lot of pause for thought.

But, as MM says, perhaps they did and had no success.

Read something along the lines of that they wanted to keep their Libya arms a secret, including the SAMs and the book also mentioned that if the Brits knew they had SAMs they could work out countermeasures, which they did, hence why they missed.


Dunno if thats accurate or not though.


EDIT: Was going to start a thread "Weapons of the troubles" but perhaps a mod could change the title or something?

goldie fish

Wolfe Tone wrote: »

I know next to nothing about guns, would that be powerful enough to take down a chopper?

Somthing like this?


That looks like it could do some serious damage. May even be the very one, source doesn't say where that photo is from.

Taken from here(ewww The Sun!)

The photo is taken in the place where the Gardai store the captured weapons.

Wolfe Tone

goldie fish wrote: »

The photo is taken in the place where the Gardai store the captured weapons.

Ah, I had assumed it was the republican museum in Belfast.

Rawhead

I have to say I have always had some admiration for the mortar units of the PIRA. I'm not making any political statement and it pisses me of that I even have to say that, but it was impressive what they pulled off.

The one incident that I remember most is the time they landed the mortars in the back garden of 10 Downing Street. To manage a feat like that in a city that is the most videoed in the world and in an area that would be one of the most heavily policed in the world was impressive.

Whatever your view on the PIRA and mine isn't great to be honest, you cannot take away from their obvious skill. They were the best terrorist army in the world in my opinion.

goldie fish

Rawhead wrote: »

I have to say I have always had some admiration for the mortar units of the PIRA. I'm not making any political statement and it pisses me of that I even have to say that, but it was impressive what they pulled off.

The one incident that I remember most is the time they landed the mortars in the back garden of 10 Downing Street. To manage a feat like that in a city that is the most videoed in the world and in an area that would be one of the most heavily policed in the world was impressive.

Whatever your view on the PIRA and mine isn't great to be honest, you cannot take away from their obvious skill. They were the best terrorist army in the world in my opinion.

The security that exists now did not exist then. CCTV is a recent invention. The IRA did a lot to improve the security of the UK, and probably prevented the 7/7 bombings being much worse.

RMD

Wolfe Tone wrote: »

I wonder if the IRA "invented" them? Do guerrilla fighters elsewhere use them? I heard they do in Columbia... IRA sent people over to train them apparently.

They didn't "invent" them but they certainly made good use of them. Mortars and improvised rockets have been used for decades, simply get a piece of tubing, a solid base and create a charge + round with the correct diameter to fit the tube, mortar built in essence.

The PIRA's mortars were used to devastating effect in a few cases but their biggest problem was accuracy, trying to hit a police station could easily change to killing innocent civilians so their use was limited to a certain extent. A testament to their accuracy is the statistic I saw from 1973-78; the IRA launced 71 mortar attacks, none of which were successful in killing security force members. Up to 83 there was only 2 succesful attacks but of course there was the Newry attack of 85 which killed 9 RUC members.

Rawhead wrote: »

The one incident that I remember most is the time they landed the mortars in the back garden of 10 Downing Street. To manage a feat like that in a city that is the most videoed in the world and in an area that would be one of the most heavily policed in the world was impressive.

Whatever your view on the PIRA and mine isn't great to be honest, you cannot take away from their obvious skill. They were the best terrorist army in the world in my opinion.

At the time it wasn't heavily videoed or monitored like it is now but it still certainly was an impressive feat. If that mortar was to land on 10 Downing instead of the backyard it would have caused massive damage and probably have taken out the War cabinet, I'm not entirely sure if 10 Downing was a reinforced structure at the time.

I'm in complete agreement with you, I don't support or condone the PIRA but it has to be said, they are the most successful terrorist organization in a first world country to date. Many of their techniques, methods and operations have been copied worldwide since. Obviously Mountjoy isn't much of a challenge, but they were the first successful group to break an inmate from prison via a helicopter and many have tried to copy such event since.

Rawhead

goldie fish wrote: »

The security that exists now did not exist then. CCTV is a recent invention. The IRA did a lot to improve the security of the UK, and probably prevented the 7/7 bombings being much worse.

Not to be pedantic but this particular event happened in 1991, CCTV has been around since the 70's if not earlier. The PIRA are responsible for a lot of the modern security measures and techniques. ANPR was developed to flag suspect cars, sadly it now spots my tax disc is out of date.

The Brighton bombing was another case that shows how advanced they were, I believe that the bomb they planted under the toilet that nearly got Maggie as she was dropping a log was planted 2 months prior and only missed her by 10 minutes.

PatsytheNazi

Wolfe Tone wrote: »

I know next to nothing about guns, would that be powerful enough to take down a chopper?

Somthing like this?


That looks like it could do some serious damage. May even be the very one, source doesn't say where that photo is from.

Taken from here(ewww The Sun!)

:eek: Holy jumping Mexican beans batman !!!!!

RMD

PatsytheNazi wrote: »

:eek: Holy jumping Mexican beans batman !!!!!

Certainly was a proper piece of kit. Primary use was anti-air but it could also rip apart a poorly armored vehicle or take out an infantry group very quickly. AFAIK they only used it anti-infantry a handful of times and it's prime role was as anti-air, think their only success though was shooting down a Lynx in 1990.

goldie fish

Why is this thread in "military"?

The PIRA were a criminal organisation, not a military force.

Wolfe Tone

goldie fish wrote: »

Why is this thread in "military"?

The PIRA were a criminal organisation, not a military force.

:rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes:

johngalway

goldie fish wrote: »

Why is this thread in "military"?

The PIRA were a criminal organisation, not a military force.

You might suggest a criminal forum then :rolleyes: