Irish Navy In the Call of Duty

[Lordinajamjar]

This is just an idea I had after browsing a Royal Navy article written in tribute to their seven former Island-class of ships most if not all having now been sold off to the Bangladesh navy.

Read article: http://www.navynews.co.uk/articles/2...004012901.asp#

I'm calling on Murph and anyone else who may have stories to tell or articles to share on the great work that our own Irish vessels have played over the last 30 years or more carrying out their duties at sea.

[theseaghost]

The le Ciara or Orla , was responsible for one of the biggest drug finds in the history of the state

[hptmurphy]

Unless I'm very mistaken one of the former Island class vessels now under Bangladesh ownership foundered last year withe loss of her captain.

It was noted in ship smonthly but I have been unable to confirm it other wise.

[Jetjock]

Interesting read there.

As regards our own vessels, are there any incidents involving Irish vessels where ships weapons were fired operationally, be it warning shots or actual direct fire?

[Lordinajamjar]

Murph does this relate to the article you are referring to? http://www.bangladeshnews.com.bd/200...l-rises-to-91/

The Bangladesh ship in question is a Fast Attack Craft the P412 'Shaheed Farid' an ex-Chinese Shanghai class. The ship was salvaged and a navy commander was reported as missing but its not clear from the story whether he was commander of this vessel or not.


The following vessels are EX RN ISLAND Class

OPVS

BNS KAPATHAKHAYA

BNS TURAG

BNS KAROTOA

BNS GOMATI

BNS SANGU

BNS S R AMIN

TRAINING SHIP

Shaheed Ruhul Amin

[spider]

http://www.seawaves.com/ship_decommissionings.htm

See the top of the list.

Shaheed Ruhul Amin capsized, but no mention of loss of life.

[Laners]

Interesting read there.

As regards our own vessels, are there any incidents involving Irish vessels where ships weapons were fired operationally, be it warning shots or actual direct fire?

The answer is yes , Aoife sunk a Spainsh trawler with 20 mm .

[Jetjock]

Can you give more info on the background to that incident Laners?
Why use the 20mm when a few rounds from the Bofors would have done the job?

[hptmurphy]

Thanks for that spider,,thats the one I'm referring too alright.

Laners are you referRing to Aisling and the Sonia incident in 1985 where the trawler did a runner and a lot of ammo was expended in trying to stop it but it later sank in heavy weather and the crew were picked up by a container ship and brought to Waterford.?

This incident was previously discussed in depth on the board.

http://archive.irishmilitaryonline.com/board/showthread.php?t=7313&page=2&highlight=sonia

The Bangladesh navy website and the RN site relating the vessel sem very out of date.

I also recieved this answer today from Shipspotting.com

Re: Island Class PV
The former HMS Jersey capsized in a storm in September 2006. She had been transferred to Bangladesh and renamed Shaheed Ruhul Amin

[Test Pilot]

..

[Goldie fish]

Interesting read there.

As regards our own vessels, are there any incidents involving Irish vessels where ships weapons were fired operationally, be it warning shots or actual direct fire?

Emer, under a certain dimunitive commanding officer was also fond of the odd warning shot in the 80s.

[BANDIT]

Yes, I can recall hearing and even seeing a few trawlers /ships that were brought in to face trial at various locations. The first time that i recall was the wee guy putting rounds in front and then into the bow ( thats the pointy bit at the front) of a russian factory ship , Maybe Grainne around 74\
Can anyone confirm or is thereanyone there who was born before 74.

[Goldie fish]

There are many here born before 74.

[Lordinajamjar]

There are many here born before 74.

And they are still in nappies!

[hptmurphy]

Eithne was known to bang off afew rounds in its day...ven have a photo of one particular incident...usually rifle fire was used first and then the heavier stuff was used. GPMGs weren't mounted back then so it was straight to 20mm from 7.62mm


Others to note was Deirdre sunk the bow section of the Betelguese with 40mm off the blaskets in 1979 .

29 September 1976 Grainne fired twelve rounds of 7.62mm and 12 rounds 40mm at the Russian trawler Belmoroye off the waterford coast and she was boarded by 24 armed naval ratings ( after the soldiers drafted from Clonmel became seasick and couldn't effect a boarding ferried to the Grainne by the Banba)

Frankie troy and Aidan Keogh ..both LT.s at the time were the boarding officers.

Fola fired on the Russian the Russian 'Repiter' using 20mm in 1975..turns out she wasn't just a fishing vessel but was armed to the teeth with 16 SAM missles and had been built in East Germany for the Russians as one of the OKEAN clss itelligence gathering vessels.

Peader McElhenny being the Folas skipper at the time.

Mave loosed offa 4" round at a russian PALTUS on January 7 1963

Jockey fired a few rifle rounds at the VIKTOR KHUDYAKOV from Grainne in 1974 of fthe Cork coast( this case was defended on behalf of the Russians by later president Mary Robinson..and won)..he complied with the rifle rounds but changed his mind..so the 40mm was introduced to which he quickly complied.

Deirdre put 7.62mm nad 40mm in the direction of a frenchman on 18th september 1973..including one through the wheelhouse....Fired on this one over two days after giving chase.

Both Grainne and Fola fired on the Claudia in 1973..and pistol shots fired by Frank Lynch from the gemini.

interesting one was in 1951 Macha used 4" and pom pom to try and sink a navigatioanl hazard and finally succeeded using a single depth charge.