Interesting articles

sparky42

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121407551#Comment_121407551

Or at least water cannons, little scumbags.

roadmaster

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121407675#Comment_121407675

Never mind water cannons the its the PC9s time to shine

mupper2

Looks like Law & order will stop being the issue no one wants to talk about now...who'll want to be called enabler of what we're watching tonight

sparky42

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121408300#Comment_121408300

Sadly I force a whole lot of screaming about “unvetted migrants” and little about thugs kicking off and looting shops long after the incident.

roadmaster

It took AGS several hours to get reinforcements to Dublin last night. With the current staffing issues on the Defence Forces I wonder how long it would take to get troops from the country to Dublin.

This quote from Berry will be used by the Defence Forces I would say to try keep Cathal Brugha away from the LDA

Thankfully, the Cathal Brugha Barracks are still open, you could station troops there if need be," he added.

https://www.leinsterleader.ie/news/home/1356986/utterly-unacceptable-kildare-representatives-condemn-violent-scenes-in-dublin-last-night.html

Larbre34

Absolutely 100% correct.

Besides, there was absolutely zero prospect of that happening on Thursday night, because, if it HAD happened, it would have amounted to Harris admitting that he had lost control, and his resignation would have been handed to him.

So really he was protecting McEntee as well as himself.

As it is, I think they will both have to resign before the month is out. I'm afraid those photo opportunities taken in the summer (after the American tourist assault) and their assurances that all was safe and well, will be the rock they perish on.

Larbre34

Doesn't matter. If it comes to a head on their watch - and in the post Covid era it really has - then they carry the can.

Even accepting your argument, there have been Fine Gael Justice Ministers for the last 12 years, so its on their watch corporately speaking.

roadmaster

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121485683#Comment_121485683

I woulsnt mind but he left out the fact that the Fouga Fleet carried Exocet missiles

jonnybigwallet

It's a bit alarming that they are able to encroach close to the national only naval base and only oil refinery.

thomil

Not really that unusual, just google what the US Navy did during the Cold War as part of Operation Holystone, effectively parking one or more of their SSNs right outside the entrance to Kola Bay. The Russians weren't above returning the favour either, as the collision of the USS James Madison and a Soviet submarine in or near the Clyde in 1974, or the disabling of another soviet sub of the coast of South Carolina in 1983 show. Neither were neutral countries off-limits, as the 1982 Harsflärden Incident in Sweden show. And all of those countries had, and still have, significantly more effective ASW capabilities than Ireland.

What IS worrying is that this time, the incident occurred off the coast of a neutral country that poses no real threat to Russia. Sweden, even when it was still neutral in the 1980s, was seen as a real threat by the soviets on account of their strategic position controlling the entrance to the Baltic and a rather robust military posture that was aimed squarely at the USSR. Ireland has none of that and while the article above might include the odd flight of fancy, Ireland's continued inability and unwillingness to address its anemic defense policy is a real problem in my eyes.

roadmaster

CNN report on the Irish Troops on patrol

https://edition.cnn.com/videos/world/2023/12/12/exp-lebanon-border-ivan-watson-pkg-121210aseg1-cnni-world.cnn

Larbre34

Seems to be quite the uptick in piracy around the Arabian peninsula of late.

If only we had the spare capacity to send a ship, or MSA to join Operation Atalanta. It would provide invaluable experience to the crew and to the operational management capability of the naval service.

sparky42

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121494714#Comment_121494714

Given its escalated to Burkes and FREMMs intercepting hostile missiles, I think anything we have might be more a liability than a help.

jonnybigwallet

Indeed....The NS needs a decent frigate or corvette with ASW AAW kit on board and a citadel etc if they want to come out to play with the big boys who have a proper navy not a coast guard.

roadmaster

The Germans have made a small H145m order

https://breakingdefense.com/2023/12/germany-airbus-agree-h145m-light-attack-helicopter-mega-order/

jonnybigwallet

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121495773#Comment_121495773

A few of them would come in handy to increase the lethality of our feeble defence forces.

Grassy Knoll

confirming the BLOCK 4 ruin is being rebuilt at Haulbowline. Nice pic of the P71s

Grassy Knoll

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121502059#Comment_121502059

https://www.echolive.ie/corknews/arid-41290981.html

roadmaster

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121503287#Comment_121503287

On the plus listening to the cllr they interviewed it looks like they got advice on what it takes to run a museum ship

sparky42

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121504433#Comment_121504433

And they listened to it. I might also point out that such concerns were raised by many posters here, maybe we should get a bit of commission?🤣

Larbre34

I don't know about you Sparky, but I was on the Commission!

Larbre34

https://apnews.com/article/attacks-red-sea-navy-mission-missiles-286d51bfd65e741e839e185f0f4a455b

The US is to lead a multinational Naval task force to keep the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden open for commercial traffic.

The force will counter missile strikes coming from rebel Houthi forces in Yemen.

Operation Prosperity Guardian will bring together assets from the US, Canada, UK, France, Italy, Norway, the Netherlands, Spain, Bahrain and the Seychelles Republic. Command and control will be from the US Navy HQ, Middle East, at Bahrain.

roadmaster

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121512715#Comment_121512715

Should a irish ship be going near anywear like north africa without air defence or a air search radar fitted?

Larbre34

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121512800#Comment_121512800

We already have, on a few occasions.

But I wasn't posting the Red Sea mission as a suggestion, just as a development of interest in western naval operations.

That is very much a job for full-fat destroyers and frigates, maybe an Amphibious Warfare Ship or a Carrier, if the option to counter-strike Houthi ground positions is taken.

The Seychelles are only involved for geographical legitimacy, in reality their ships and military aircraft are less capable than ours.

roadmaster

We have entered a wierd place in time when the UK Defemce Journal is quoting Sinn Fein on Irish Defence Matters.

https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/sinn-fein-say-irish-reliance-on-british-forces-embarrassing/

roadmaster

Well this is a different way of going about recruitment

https://www.irishexaminer.com/business/economy/arid-41292574.html

Larbre34

It all helps.

But, the Government and the Defence establishment will have to get much more serious and far more creative about the quality of the career they are offering.

Happy Christmas to all my fellow Military Forum regulars.

roadmaster

Looks like the rangers will have some fun in the new year

https://www.etenders.gov.ie/epps/cft/prepareViewCfTWS.do?resourceId=2859607

mupper2

https://www.irishtimes.com/politics/2023/12/31/naval-service-needs-investment-if-ireland-is-to-patrol-atlantic-like-the-russians-says-eamon-ryan/

jonnybigwallet

I can't read this. Can anybody post the text please? Thanks

blindsider

Naval Service needs investment if Ireland is to patrol Atlantic like the Russians, says Eamon Ryan

Green Party leader says State’s internet connectivity will be ‘less at risk’ if there were more undersea cable connections with continental Europe and possibly even Japan

Eamon Ryan said the Naval Service to be expanded in order to protect Ireland's underwater infrastructure

Cormac McQuinn

The Naval Service needs investment and the ability to patrol the Atlantic like Russia does, Green Party leader Eamon Ryan has said.

In a round-table interview with reporters, Mr Ryan said there was no specific threat to underwater infrastructure nor does he have any evidence that Russia is interested in Ireland’s energy plans but he added: “They do patrol the Atlantic and we have to be able to patrol equally well.”

He was responding to a question about the security of fibre-optic cables and future offshore renewable energy i the wake of Russian naval activity off the south coast of Ireland.

The Minister for the Environment and Communications said that in general the security of internet connections will be “less at risk, if whatever warship wants to cut one” if there were backup connections to other European countries and possibly even as far away as Japan through the Arctic.

“That sounds a bit ‘science fiction-y’ or a bit mad, but that’s actually within reach,” he said.

[MOD] Snipped article after the first few paragraphs. We could do without copyright violation problems.[/MOD

jonnybigwallet

Thanks for posting Blind...

roadmaster

AGS have tender out for helicopter maintance. In the tender it notes that a H145 will be joining the 2 EC 145s in 2025.

Manic Moran

Where did they come up with the 11,500 figure from anyway? I would presume that the Army is going to be restructured away from the 1970s type conventional combat light infantry brigade structure to something more suited for whatever the Government thinks the Army should be doing. And that restructuring is probably going to result in a different required headcount, likely of different job description ratios

roadmaster

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121559667#Comment_121559667

In regards to the Army they have already made appointments of senior advisors with backgrounds in military to the Army Force Design office. These people will set the the roles, formations unit sizes and base locations in the next 6 months

roadmaster

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121560038#Comment_121560038

Apperently the older boys in green are in for some shock for the new layout of the army. Its going to be designed for purpose. One of teh questions is do we need a cavalry corps and if so for what? When was the last time they deployed as cavalry overseas and the same goes for other support corps. I know your joking about naval infantry but as you say we are an island nation. It will be interesting to see if the curragh fights back.

The other major interferance is political with elections coming up. I dont think some of you in the south and dublin understand the anger still in towns like cavan and mullingar about the closure of the barracks.

There is very intense lobbying going on to have them reopened. One TD even suggested that since the south has got a HEMS helicopter that O Neill barracks should be reopened and 112 relocated to it.

Either way Fun Tines ahead

Manic Moran

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121560038#Comment_121560038

Right, it's in the CoDF implementation plan, but surely it would make more sense for the group to finish their deliberations, announce the new orbat, and then figure out how many of what sort of troops they need, instead of just saying right now "We're going for 11,500" and ending up with 1,500 of the wrong type of troop.

jonnybigwallet

I see the Spanish Army have established a brand new type of brigade formation...The King Alfonso Brigade? Might be the type of thing the Irish need. Seeing as they are down to only two brigades now.

sparky42

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121561794#Comment_121561794

To be fair, the 11,500 figure is for the end point of LoA2, and will be a challenge even then, any deliberations on a new Orbat are going to be well done before we hopefully see any meaningful increase in strength.

Larbre34

I wouldn't be too concerned about the political backlash in the Barracks towns, thats already been priced in a few elections ago, and only a fool would claim to see a way to having ancient Barracks reoccupied as 21st Century military installations again.

My guess is that the announcement of the Army Headquarters will be withheld until after the general election which must be held by late Feb '25 at the latest.

And really options for it are pretty limited, as we have previously discussed.

The most important activity now is to see the shakeup being active, energetic and ambitious, both from the point of view of slaughtering a few sacred cows, and keeping the DF in the media as an exciting prospect for a stimulating career and a good life.

roadmaster

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121562562#Comment_121562562

Actually they do still own the land it has not being signed over to the LDA yet despite the money the LDA have spent on design teams. A lot of LDA land around the country has not actually being signed over to them yet.

roadmaster

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121562357#Comment_121562357

The 1st sacred cow i would be slaughtering would be the Equestrian boys in mckee . Send them to the curragh or the national stud or even better P45s and use there space in Mckee to build good accomadation for the younger men and women base there

Larbre34

However, they are an important element of competitive equestrian success in Ireland. I wouldn't be inclined to feck the baby out with the bathwater.

The music school and equine could all be put under a single command and expand the horses into a ceremonial presence with the bands.

Like it or not, horse sport is Ireland's one truly world class presence.

roadmaster

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121564014#Comment_121564014

I dont think they should be taking up valuable space in McKee where no one outside of the Army know they exist.

They have zero inpact on the irish horse business unlike willie mullins.

If they are to stay part of the defence forces they should be in the national stud where the public can see them

jonnybigwallet

I'm inclined to agree with my old mate Larbre on this and feel that the horse element of the DF should be enhanced to include ceremonial duties. Parades etc....

roadmaster

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121565256#Comment_121565256

Did Mary Lou & Crew get to you over christmas?

sparky42

On a bit of a tangent, but I've found myself having a look through some of the Foreign Affairs Archives online for some reasons, and its frustrating/amazing to see the same fecking discussions today happening nearly 100 years ago. From 1926 for example:

Of course, a prevalent misconception appears to prevail about the question of neutrality of nations generally, apart from our peculiar position in the British Commonwealth. It must be remembered that neutrality depends on force and not declarations, and that if it suits other powers to violate any country's neutrality, they will do so with impunity unless it can put up sufficient force to make it awkward for them to do so. When the European War started, Belgium and Greece declared themselves neutral, and did not mobilise, while Holland and Switzerland also declared themselves neutral, but backed their declarations by mobilisation of all possible military and naval resources with the result that their frontiers were respected.

https://www.difp.ie/volume-3/1926/coastal-defence/740/#section-documentpage

sparky42

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121566252#Comment_121566252

To be fair given the economic state post Civil War and then the 1927 Crash the resources were beyond limited for the CnaG period I would say. After that however there were options for development that we could have taken but didn't. I mean for example in 1938 apart from the highlight of agreeing to hand back the Ports, there was a suggestion from the British for building up a domestic defence industry in regard to covering Irish needs in case of war and selling excess to the British. Given their rearmament program was hitting the maximum of their domestic economy at the time I wonder what investments we might have been able to get? It didn't go anywhere of course like so much else.

Risoc

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121321303#Comment_121321303

Is this story ever likely to see the light of day again?

mupper2

"Defence Forces may be on the brink of resolving its recruitment crisis

"

https://www.irishexaminer.com/news/spotlight/arid-41300881.html