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Warning on the coast as Army fires live rounds
By Michael Lavery
Friday June 26 2009
The public has been warned to stay clear of live firing by army air defence guns and air corps planes along the Co Meath coastline next week.
The danger area centres on and around Gormanston Aerodrome while air corps and air defence firing exercises are under way.
It extends from sea level to a height of 40,000 feet and within a circle with a radius of 5.4km centred on the aerodrome, the Department of Defence warned.
It also extends seawards for a distance of 18.5kms, with ships and aircraft warned to stay out of the area.
The exercises will see the army air defence artillery using rapid fire, radar controlled Bofors EL 70 40mm guns at targets towed by air corps planes out at sea.
The Flycatcher radar used to control the guns is so accurate that an "off set" has had to be built in by gunners to avoid shredding the targets towed by the air corps.
The army bought the radars and guns from the Dutch air force after the 9/11 terror attacks on New York and Washington.
Anti-aircraft gunners will also sharpen their skills with 7.62mm and .50 calibre machine guns mounted on tripods and fired out to sea.
Air Corps Pilatus PC-9M trainer planes will fire unguided 68mm rocket and 12.7mm heavy machine guns from underwing pods at targets based in the sea.
The exercises, which involve army units from around the country, are due to end next Friday.
The Department of Defence said that objects found on the ranges could be highly dangerous and warned the public of the risk of handling or interfering with them.
No reward of any kind would be made for the finding of objects of a military nature on the ranges, it said.
- Michael Lavery
http://www.herald.ie/national-news/w...s-1792152.html
By Michael Lavery
Friday June 26 2009
The public has been warned to stay clear of live firing by army air defence guns and air corps planes along the Co Meath coastline next week.
The danger area centres on and around Gormanston Aerodrome while air corps and air defence firing exercises are under way.
It extends from sea level to a height of 40,000 feet and within a circle with a radius of 5.4km centred on the aerodrome, the Department of Defence warned.
It also extends seawards for a distance of 18.5kms, with ships and aircraft warned to stay out of the area.
The exercises will see the army air defence artillery using rapid fire, radar controlled Bofors EL 70 40mm guns at targets towed by air corps planes out at sea.
The Flycatcher radar used to control the guns is so accurate that an "off set" has had to be built in by gunners to avoid shredding the targets towed by the air corps.
The army bought the radars and guns from the Dutch air force after the 9/11 terror attacks on New York and Washington.
Anti-aircraft gunners will also sharpen their skills with 7.62mm and .50 calibre machine guns mounted on tripods and fired out to sea.
Air Corps Pilatus PC-9M trainer planes will fire unguided 68mm rocket and 12.7mm heavy machine guns from underwing pods at targets based in the sea.
The exercises, which involve army units from around the country, are due to end next Friday.
The Department of Defence said that objects found on the ranges could be highly dangerous and warned the public of the risk of handling or interfering with them.
No reward of any kind would be made for the finding of objects of a military nature on the ranges, it said.
- Michael Lavery
http://www.herald.ie/national-news/w...s-1792152.html
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