are there any special forces in Ireland?

09-12-2003 06:11PM

Originally posted by angelofdeath
i find it hard to believe they'd tell you somethin like that

ah...you got me...I made it all up :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes:

angelofdeath · 09-12-2003 06:14PM

well yeah, ya hardly think they're gonna be honest and say we're sending arw to liberia to murder some people, btw way to get round the censor:)

Grom · 09-12-2003 06:15PM

Lawl ROFL

Sinner_Rez · 09-12-2003 06:22PM

Ireland has got its own secret service, which is basically what MI-6 and MI-5 are. However the ISS are not seperated into foreign and national units and they work as a more cohesive unit. They are often seconded to the UK and AMerica for missions where an Irish person will gain access more readily than a citizen of one of those nations. They are based in the Curragh, along with the Rangers ( who consistantly outscore the SAS and NAVY Seals in competitions held for the world's special forces. They are also considered the foremost experts in Guerrilla warfare.)

red vex · 09-12-2003 06:30PM

mossad are israels intellegence service not a strike unit.

monument · 09-12-2003 06:34PM

Originally posted by utility_
I wonder how much these lads get funded in the budget...or would they even be funded by the Irish? It wouldn't surprise me if they were funded by the Americans or maybe even the Brittish...or the EU for that matter

DOF: Here's some money.
DOD/Army: Thanks! Please Sir, can we have some more?
DOF: No – we’ll need loads more for that stupid tram thing, and the metro which is sure to over run… never mind, just no!

It really is about that simple!

It could be possible (but unlikely) that the Irish army would be partly funded by the EU when/if the rapped reaction force is set up. But why on earth would they be funded by the Americans, or British?

sionnach · 09-12-2003 06:36PM

roflmao util " reminds me of the dialogue from that classic movie "airplane"

Ted: My orders came through. My squadron ships out tomorrow, we're bombing the storage depot at dakiri at 1800 hours We're coming in from the north, below their radar
Elaine:When will you be back?
Ted: I cant tell you that, it's classified

09-12-2003 07:13PM

Originally posted by monument

It could be possible (but unlikely) that the Irish army would be partly funded by the EU when/if the rapped reaction force is set up. But why on earth would they be funded by the Americans, or British?

Because it's not like we'd ever be going off to some god forsaken country with a group of special forces for Irelands benefit...now would we?

angelofdeath · 09-12-2003 07:29PM

Originally posted by sionnach
Ted: My orders came through. My squadron ships out tomorrow, we're bombing the storage depot at dakiri at 1800 hours We're coming in from the north, below their radar
Elaine:When will you be back?
Ted: I cant tell you that, it's classified

roflmao!!:D

monument · 09-12-2003 08:53PM

Originally posted by utility_
Because it's not like we'd ever be going off to some god forsaken country with a group of special forces for Irelands benefit...now would we?

Sorry about that, I forgot about the use of Ireland’s armed forces in OSCE, EC, EU, SFOR and KFOR missions. But most or UN led missions.

cujimmy · 10-12-2003 01:32AM

ARW / ERU elite units? best in the world? haha. One word folks ABBEYLARA

Epitaph · 10-12-2003 01:36AM

FYI, twas the ERU (Emergency Response Unit) of the Gardai that was involved at Abbeylara, not the Rangers.

Cohiba · 10-12-2003 01:46AM

1. The A.R.W. were not involved in the Abeylara incident.
2. Whether or not the E.R.U. acted improperly during the incident is a highly debatable matter, but to go into that here would be wandering completely off topic.

Mossy Monk · 10-12-2003 06:19AM

Originally posted by sionnach
Ted: My orders came through. My squadron ships out tomorrow, we're bombing the storage depot at dakiri at 1800 hours We're coming in from the north, below their radar
Elaine:When will you be back?
Ted: I cant tell you that, it's classified

excellent

woosaysdan · 10-12-2003 01:15PM

a little bit about the rangers if anybody is interested

The Army Ranger Wing is officially designated 'Sciathán Fianóglach an Airm'. There is no direct English translation of the term 'Fianóglach' so the designation Ranger is the accepted version. 'Fianóglach' links the traditions of the 'Na Fianna' (Legendary Irish Warriors) with the present day Irish Defence Forces (Óglaigh na hÉireann). Qualified members of the unit wear the Fianóglach shoulder flash insignia.

Beginning in the late 1960s, the personnel from the Irish Defense Forces were sent to take part in the US Army's Ranger School. Graduates of this program returned to Ireland and established a new school, very similar in mission and organization to that of the US Army. Students on these courses were selected from among all ranks and all Units of the Army, the Air Corps and the Naval Service. These courses proved to be very beneficial in improving standards of physical endurance, marksmanship, individual military skills and small unit tactics. By 1980, it was decided that the skill level of the members had evolved to a degree which warranted the establishment of an official Army Ranger Wing (ARW). The missions of this unit are multiple, including long range patrolling, training of other units, VIP security, anti-hijacking, hostage rescue, and counterterrorism. These duties, specifically as they related to CT, are considered supplemental to Ireland's primary response unit, the Garda Siochana.

Unit strength is approximately 100 men who are organized into two assault platoons, a support platoon with medical, EOD, aviation, etc. Each of the assault platoons has five assault teams of 3-4 men each. These men are all volunteers, selected from other units already serving with the Defense Forces. Training includes at least three days and one night on the firing range. Advanced tactics are taught in parachuting, combat diving, small boat handling, and mountaineering. Interestingly, ARW members are returned to their original units after a set period of time, thus ensuring their expertise will be shared throughout the Defense Forces. The Rangers have received additional training from the Royal Dutch Marines and the U.S. Army's Delta Force. Operational control of the ARW is the responsibility of the Chief of Staff's Branch at Army Headquarters. The unit is currently located at Curragh Camp, County Kildare.

tba · 10-12-2003 02:26PM

Very nice, where did you get the info from, or will you have to kill me if I find out?

woosaysdan · 10-12-2003 02:29PM

here

Hagar · 10-12-2003 02:45PM

Scíathain is wing.
Fian I think should be fiáin meaning fierce,wild.
Óglach is a volunteer.

A loose translation would be fierce volunteer wing. Not bad.

Óglaigh na hÉireann is Irish Volunteers. Hence the IV on the buttons.

The Fíanna Fáil on the cap badge has nothing to do with the political party is means Soldiers of Destiny.

Here endeth today's lesson.

vibe666 · 10-12-2003 03:00PM

well, i didn't know any of that.

nice to know they're there anyway. sounds like they know their sh1t anyway.. I'd definately want them on our side.

nobody mentioned the Ghurka's yet did they? growing up i always thought they were the best. maybe it was just from me grandaddy being posted in burma and telling me lots of stories.

CyberGhost · 24-10-2004 03:05PM

Thanks for all the info guys!

now I'm confused! you guys named so many forces which one to get interested in?

the 2 main topics that I'm interested in is:

1. Gardai Special Forces = within city, like SWAT
2. Army Special Forces = military operations

You guys named so many units, I got confused! Can you guys please help me categorize those units?

what does ARW stand for?

1. ermm.... *bird sounds* erm....

2. Irish Rangers
ERU?

also, what do you guys think of Russian Spetsnaz? no no, I'm not thinking of joining it, seeing as you guys are so informed, it's interesting to hear your opinion!

oh, yea one last question, do you have to be in regular army to join/be transfered those special forces? or can you just go straight to them?

Raphael · 24-10-2004 03:56PM

Sir Digby Chicken Caesar · 24-10-2004 03:59PM

12 days is hardly "dragging up old posts"

Sarky · 24-10-2004 04:01PM

It's a bloody funny card, though.

Raphael · 24-10-2004 04:03PM

Mordeth, the last post in the thread was on the 10-12-2003. Seeing as boards uses the Irish dating system, thats the 10th December 03. Thats somewhere around 320 days, not 12.

CyberGhost · 24-10-2004 04:10PM

Raphael wrote:

well that card says posts 3 years +

so that doesn't apply to me!

Barry Aldwell · 24-10-2004 04:34PM

CyberGhost wrote:

Thanks for all the info guys!

now I'm confused! you guys named so many forces which one to get interested in?

the 2 main topics that I'm interested in is:

1. Gardai Special Forces = within city, like SWAT
2. Army Special Forces = military operations

You guys named so many units, I got confused! Can you guys please help me categorize those units?

what does ARW stand for?

1. ermm.... *bird sounds* erm....

2. Irish Rangers
ERU?

also, what do you guys think of Russian Spetsnaz? no no, I'm not thinking of joining it, seeing as you guys are so informed, it's interesting to hear your opinion!

oh, yea one last question, do you have to be in regular army to join/be transfered those special forces? or can you just go straight to them?

ARW = Army Ranger Wing. To join the ARW you must be a serving member of the PDF, and you must pass the ARW selection course, which very few people do. It is not just something you can walk in off the street and do, and is not for what are known as "Walter Mittys", or wannabes.

The ERU are, as has been said, the Garda armed backup unit, called to situations where they would be needed, such as Abbeylara. The ARW are, as well as being trained in counterterrorism, trained to serve as long range reconnaissance and deep strike units, as a part of the Defence Forces as a whole. They most certainly would not be concerned with a situation such as Abbeylara, which is something for a police force, not the military. I'm not going to even try to specualte on the strangth of the ARW, as those who know would be bound by the Official Secrets Act, and as such any speculations is basically just BS.

pork99 · 24-10-2004 05:36PM

angelofdeath wrote:

The British SAS and US special forces did not take part. They only enter competitions where they have a high chance of winning.

Or is it because they are all too busy enjoying themselves in Iraq and Afghanistan?

oh, yea one last question, do you have to be in regular army to join/be transfered those special forces? or can you just go straight to them?

The British army has at least one Territorial Army SAS unit

nobody mentioned the Ghurka's yet did they? growing up i always thought they were the best. maybe it was just from me grandaddy being posted in burma and telling me lots of stories.

Because they are not "Special Forces" in the sense of the ARW or SAS. Still though, Johnny Gurkha, tough little b*gger, cut yer throat while you sleep God bless 'im, goes on killing Japs for hours after getting his limbs blown off (I was very very drunk etc) ;

http://www.thekhukurihouse.com/Content/VCHolders.php

Barry Aldwell · 24-10-2004 05:50PM

pork99 wrote:

The British army has at least one Territorial Army SAS unit

They have 2, 21 SAS and 23 SAS. However, they are not trained up to the same standard as the regular SAS, concentrating instead on what they could do in the event of the regular SAS being annihilated in action abroad, and the British isles subsequently being invaded

pork99 wrote:

Because they are not "Special Forces" in the sense of the ARW or SAS. Still though, Johnny Gurkha, tough little b*gger, cut yer throat while you sleep God bless 'im, goes on killing Japs for hours after getting his limbs blown off (I was very very drunk etc) ;

The Gurkhas function in a similar role to the French Foreign legion: As cannon fodder, so that the coffins are those of foreigners, rather than those of British citizens. As Vietnam proved, public opinion can often be swayed when young men are being sent home in boxes, for no visible gains

pork99 · 24-10-2004 06:24PM

Barry Aldwell wrote:

The Gurkhas function in a similar role to the French Foreign legion: As cannon fodder, so that the coffins are those of foreigners, rather than those of British citizens. As Vietnam proved, public opinion can often be swayed when young men are being sent home in boxes, for no visible gains

I don't know. I think there's only 3 infantry battalions, plus engineer, logistics and signals units, left of them in the British army. However I think they have had an impact out of proportion to their numbers.

A battalion of Gurkhas was sent to the Falklands War but I don't think they were used in this or the previous Iraq wars. I think the Indian army also has Gurkha regiments.

Their origins are in the armies of Honourable East India Company (which did not come fully under crown control until 1858 after the Indian Mutiny). The British fought a war against them in 1815-1816 and as was usual with any people on the sub-continent who put up a good fight they were recruited into the HEIC's army.

Why the British army kept them after Indian independence is I suppose a combination of the grinding poverty in Nepal making a military career in the British army a very lucrative prospect plus Britains need for elite light infantry units to garrison Malaya, Hong Kong etc

cleansingfire · 25-10-2004 12:24AM

The ARW is a well trained and totally untested force. (Special forces by their nature are aggressive strike forces: they are not sent on UN duty as peacekeepers. The fact that the ARW has been sent as part of a UN contingent tells you about how they are really viewed. The British army has found that troops who serve on UN duty have to be retrained in order to regain an aggressive battle edge.)
Claims that we have the best special forces on the basis of a competition are silly. The only test is under fire. Given their experience the Russians, the US or the Brits would certainly have the edge. As far as I know the ARW does not train with the SAS because of political difficulties.
Military histories of both world wars will reveal that the battle hardiness of largely Irish regiments is dubious. Individual Irish soldiers have distinguished themselves but the collective reputation (leaving aside the 36th Ulster Division) is less than world beating.
Given the state of our public services and the incompetence and mismangement that we all meet every day of our lives I would be very surprised if our armed services were much different.
Ireland does not have a sceret service as such. There is a vote each year in the Dail on the Budget for "secret service" but it is thought that this money is used as a special informants' fund. It used to be less than a million euro. Internal security is handled by the Special Branch of the Gardai.
Thankfully neither our status nor our influence in the world depends on military matters.

are there any special forces in Ireland?

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