3 New Navy Vessels for Irish Naval Service

Seems the Army was asked, however their response was they didn't have enough to support Army operations let alone Naval ops. As for bringing back people, that is the planned response in the next couple of months… At multiple times the cost of the actual naval personnel that they let go of course.

Great bit of an auld common sense comment there roadie!

The suggestion of the report is that the former personnel will be hired on as private contractor's rather than return to service so shouldn’t cause them tax issues? I mean it will be significantly more expensive than increasing the pay to keep the unit at strength but that somehow doesn’t matter.

Generally the issue is under pension abatement is a person cannot be in a public service job and be in receipt of a public service pension - its essentially one or the other unless an exception can be made, which is a very high bar. However, the former naval technician could come back in the employ of a contractor which means the can get their pension and salary. however, this is generally more expensive. So in effect the system is working against itself. There needs to be a realization that military hardware is complex, technical and incorporates a high degree of ICT etc. We need to pay accordingly.

There hasn't been a final decision in London. One suspects that with the state of the World, they may go into reserve rather than be sold off.

In any case, a 600 ft amphibious assault ship that takes needs 300 to crew even when empty of embarked forces, is not something we have any use for.

Seems insane. Even if everything went perfectly the first RN MRSS won't enter service for 8 years.

That leaves only the Royal Fleet Auxiliary ships to embark Royal Marines expeditionary units.

I'm laughing here at the gap between ambition and reality in GB.

The front runner for the MRSS class, the 'Fearless' proposal, only has the Dragon Fire laser weapon as its entire armament!

Niamh has apparently suffered hull damage while holding sea acceptance trials.

https://www.thejournal.ie/naval-ship-suffers-damage-to-hull-after-collision-with-quayside-in-cork-harbour-6627462-Feb2025/

I know our sailors don't like going to sea, but damaging the boat is going a bit far..

:-P

Well someone wont be getting a job in J2.

https://www.thesun.ie/news/14753741/le-niamh-navy-training-blunder-rips-hole-ship-refit/

Ouch, that looks nasty alright. Looks like she'll be out of business for a while.

What's the status of Róisín? Can she be made operational quickly enough to cover for Niamh whilst the latter gets her hull repaired?

Nice pics of the NSDS dive boats and NSR ML from Grace Fanning over on Twitter

i think at this stage the army have infiltrated the navy and are causing these incidents to make the navy look bad so they wont become an equal party in the defence forces. The Air Corps better watch out.