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Irish Naval Service

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Naval Service
An tSeirbhís Chabhlaigh (Irish)
Emblem of the Naval Service
Founded1 September 1946[1]
Country Ireland
TypeNavy
RoleDefence of the state and protection of its maritime resources
Size764 active personnel (Establishment: 1,094) (Apr 2023)[2]
77 reservists (Establishment: 200) (Apr 2023)[2]
8 ships (including 2 in reserve as of September 2024)[3][4][improper synthesis?]
Part of Irish Defence Forces
Naval baseHaulbowline, County Cork, Ireland
Colours
Websitewww.military.ie/en/who-we-are/naval-service/
Commanders
FOCNSCommodore Mick Malone[5]
Supreme commanderPresident Michael D. Higgins
Insignia
Naval ensign
Naval jack

The Naval Service (Irish: An tSeirbhís Chabhlaigh) is the maritime component of the Defence Forces of Ireland and is one of the three branches of the Irish Defence Forces.[6] Its base is in Haulbowline, County Cork.

Though preceded by earlier maritime defence organisations, the Naval Service was formed in 1946.[7] Since the 1970s a major role of the Naval Service has been the provision of fisheries protection in Ireland's exclusive economic zone (EEZ).[8][9][10][11][12] Other roles include sea patrol, surveillance, and smuggling prevention.[13] Occasionally the service undertakes longer missions in support of other elements of the Defence Forces, Irish peacekeepers serving with the United Nations, or humanitarian and trade missions.[13]

The Naval Service has an active establishment of 1,094, and a reserve establishment of 200. Like other components of the Defence Forces, the Naval Service has struggled to maintain strength and as of April 2023 has only 764 active personnel, and 77 reserve personnel.[2]

Since July 2017 the Naval Service has participated in the European External Action Service mission which focuses a number of EU navies on humanitarian and training roles in the Mediterranean. This mission entitled "EU Navfor Med" is the first time Ireland has taken part in a multi-role and multi-national naval operation.

Ships in the Irish Naval Service are designated with the ship prefix of Long Éireannach (Irish Ship), which is abbreviated to LÉ.

History

[edit]
Naval Service personnel remove the body of a victim of Air India Flight 182 from LÉ Aisling which was sent to search for survivors on 23 June 1985

Coastal and Marine Service

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The Anglo-Irish Treaty of 1921, which created the Irish Free State, stipulated that it was to be given responsibility to police its customs and fishing, while control of its seas remained with the United Kingdom and its Royal Navy, who also retained the "Treaty Ports" of Cork, Berehaven and Lough Swilly.[14][15]

During the Irish Civil War, several coastal landings were undertaken by the Irish National Army using commandeered civilian passenger ships such as the Arvonia and the SS Lady Wicklow.[16][17] On 2nd August 1922, the Lady Wicklow, commanded by Captain Patrick Ryan, landed 450 troops under the infamous Paddy Daly at Fenit, the port of Tralee.[18] On 8 August, the Arvonia and Lady Wicklow were used to land over 1,000 troops at Youghal and Passage West liberating Cork unopposed two days later.[19]

In May 1923, Major General Vize established the Coastal and Marine Service (CMS) with fourteen patrol vessels, each armed with a 12 pounder gun, and several other boats armed with machine guns. As the civil war concluded the same month, the vessels were soon disposed of, and the service was disbanded in March 1924.[15][17][20][21]

Inter-war years

[edit]
HMCS Malaspina of the same design as the Muirchu

From 1924 to 1938, Ireland had very little interest in maritime affairs.[15] Its only ship was the unarmed Muirchú, which was operated by the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries to patrol Irish fisheries. By the late 1930s, the Free State began to pay a little more notice and the Muirchú was re-armed in 1936. She was joined in 1938 by the newly built steam trawler Fort Rannoch.[22][23] Also in 1938, the Anglo-Irish Trade Agreement returned the Treaty Ports to Ireland, and the Royal Navy withdrew from Cork Harbour.[24]

The Emergency - Marine and Coastwatching Service

[edit]
M1 Irish motor torpedo boat

On the outbreak of World War Two in September 1939, referred to as The Emergency in Ireland, the government established the Marine and Coastwatching Service, later renamed the Marine Service in 1942.[15][25] That May the government had ordered two motor torpedo boats (MTBs) from Vosper Thorneycroft. In order to present a more credible neutrality the government ordered an additional four boats later that year.[22][26][27] In June 1940, one of the MTBs was involved in a serious breach of Irish neutrality, when the crew who were in Southampton to collect the boat decided to assist in evacuating Allied soldiers during the Dunkirk evacuation.[28] A naval reserve, the Marine Inscription, was established with over 1,000 men in twelve companies to provide port security.[29] The closed Royal Navy base at Haulbowline in Cork harbour was re-opened in 1940 to serve as the base for the Service. By 1941, the Service had about 300 all ranks, with the six MTBs joined by the Muirchú, Fort Rannock, the minelayer Shark, and sail training vessel Isaalt. During the Emergency, these ships served as Ireland's navy, regulating merchant ships, protecting fisheries, and laying mines in Cork and Waterford harbours.[30]

Cold War - Naval Service

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1946-1971

[edit]

In September 1946, the Marine Service was incorporated into the Irish Defence Forces as the Naval Service.[15][22] The first formal training of Irish Naval Cadets took place at the Britannia Royal Naval College, Dartmouth, UK in 1947.[30][31] The government intended to purchase six corvettes for the fledgling navy, but ultimately only three Flower-class corvettes were purchased from the United Kingdom in 1946 and 1947.[32] The tradition of naming Irish Naval Ships after figures in Celtic Mythology was started, and the ships were named LÉ Macha, LÉ Maev, and LÉ Cliona. These three corvettes were Naval Service's only ships during the 1950s and 1960s with their main role being fishery protection. The corvettes were withdrawn from service between 1970-2 and scrapped soon afterwards.[33][34] In 1971, the Naval Service acquired three Ton-class minesweepers: LÉ Grainne, LÉ Banba and LÉ Fola.[34][35][36]

1971-1989

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The 1970s was a time of expansion for the Naval Service as several locally built ships were added to the fleet. In 1971, the Naval Service commissioned Verolme Cork Dockyard to build an offshore patrol ship. Named LÉ Deirdre, it was the first naval vessel purpose-built in Ireland to patrol its waters.[37][38]

LÉ Deirdre, the first purpose-built ship commissioned by the Irish Naval Service

Since independence, Ireland's territorial waters were limited to 3 nautical miles (5.6 km).[39] In 1964, its territorial waters were extended to 12 nautical miles (22 km) increasing its maritime area to 41,000 square kilometres (16,000 sq mi)[40], although several European countries retained fishing rights between 6–12 nautical miles (11–22 km).[41][42] In 1976, Ireland's exclusive economic zone was extended to 200 nautical miles (370 km) increasing its maritime area to 450,000 square kilometres (170,000 sq mi).[43][44][45] The increased maritime area required additional patrol vessels, and Ireland was granted funding from the European Economic Community to increase the Naval Service fleet.[30][46] Between 1977 to 1982 inclusive, Ireland received IR£31 million from the EEC to purchase ships and aircraft for fishery protection.[47]

LÉ Deirdre was the prototype for three further offshore patrol vessels built by Verolme[48][31], which were LÉ Emer (1978)[49], LÉ Aoife (1979)[50], and LÉ Aisling (1980).[51]

Naval Service personnel remove the body of a victim of Air India Flight 182 from LÉ Aisling which was sent to search for survivors on 23 June 1985

In 1980, the government planned to acquire two helicopter carriers from Verolme.[52][53] However, due to design delays[54] the first ship was not ordered until April 1982 with delivery expected twenty four months later.[55] LÉ Eithne entered service in December 1984, and two Dauphin helicopters were acquired to operate with her.[56][57] In 1986, L.É. Eithne became the first Irish naval ship to cross the Atlantic. The closure of the Verolme dockyard in 1984 due to poor management and low worker productivity prevented the sister ship to Eithne being ordered.[58][59]

Meanwhile, Isolda was acquired in 1977 from the Commissioners of Irish Lights. Renamed LÉ Setanta (A15), she served as a training ship until 1984.[60] A Danish stern trawler Helen Basse was leased for a year in 1977 as the LÉ Ferdia (A16).[34] By the 1980s, the three minesweepers were showing their age and were withdrawn from service by 1987.[61] As replacements, in 1988 the government purchased two Peacock-class patrol vessels from the Royal Navy's Hong Kong Squadron, which were renamed LÉ Orla and LÉ Ciara.[62] The 50th anniversary of the Irish Naval Service took place in 1996, which included a fleet review by President Mary Robinson.[63]

Into the 21st century

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In the late 1990s, the government commissioned Appledore Shipbuilders to construct a new class of larger patrol vessels. In December 1999, LÉ Róisín was delivered to the Naval Service, followed in September 2001 by LÉ Niamh.[30][64] LÉ Deirdre was decommissioned the same year.[65]

LÉ Róisín cruising off the Skellig Islands in 2013

In 2010, Appledore was again commissioned to construct two new patrol vessels. The new ships were 12m longer than the Róisín class patrol vessels, allowing for a longer deck area to accommodate unmanned submersibles, a diving chamber, or UAVs.[66] In a very controversial decision, the government broke from tradition and decided to name the new ships after Irish writers.[67] The first, LÉ Samuel Beckett, was delivered in April 2014 replacing the decommissioned LÉ Emer.[68][69][70] The second, LÉ James Joyce arrived in September 2015 to replace the decommissioned LÉ Aoife.[71][72] The option for a third, LÉ William Butler Yeats, was exercised in June 2014 and commissioned in October 2016 to replace the LÉ Aisling.[73][74][75] A fourth, LÉ George Bernard Shaw, was also ordered and entered service in October 2018.[76][77]

From 2015 to 2018, the Naval Service deployed a ship eleven times to the Mediterranean to provide humanitarian assistance because of the European migrant crisis, firstly in a bilateral agreement with Italy under Operation Pontus, and latterly with the European Union's Operation Sophia, rescuing over 18,000 illegal migrants.[78][79] Participation in Operation Sophia was controversial as it required approval by the so-called "triple lock" process.[80][81][82] The Naval Service's participation ended due to a shortage of operational ships as one third of fleet were in refit or maintenance, and there were insufficient numbers of technical and specialist personnel.[83][84]

In March 2022, the government announced the purchase of two retired RNZN inshore patrol vessels.[85] The government statement also announced the withdrawal of the LÉ Orla, LÉ Ciara and LÉ Eithne from service, which were later decommissioned in July.[86][87] The loss of LÉ Eithne represented a serious degradation in the service's operational capability given she was the only ship that was capable of operating a helicopter and had onboard sonar capabilities.[88][89] The two new inshore patrol vessels, LÉ Aoibhinn and LÉ Gobnait, were commissioned into service in September 2024.[90] Due to their small size, the two ships are intended to be used for fishery protection patrols in the Irish Sea, and based in an east coast base.[91]

"Manpower crisis"

[edit]

The decommissioning of three ships did not resolve the growing "manpower crisis" in the Naval Service, as in January 2023 LÉ Róisín and LÉ Niamh, one third of the fleet, were placed into operational reserve.[92][93] Later that year, two additional ships, LÉ James Joyce and LÉ George Bernard Shaw, were also placed into reserve, leaving only two ships available for patrols.[94] In July 2024, the Naval Service operated a "three-ship operational posture", with the four P60 class vessels on patrol in operational rotation (two operational and one standby), while the two P50 vessels were under refit or in reserve.[3][95][96] In January 2025, due to only having one naval ordnance technician left, the LÉ George Bernard Shaw had to go to sea with its main armament, OTO Melara 76mm, non-functional.[97] The reduced operational capability of the Naval Service has meant that the number of patrol days has halved between 2020 and 2024 to 428 days.[98]

Organisation

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Main article: Structure of the Irish Defence Forces
[edit]
Flag Officer Commanding the Naval Service (FOCNS) Commodore Michael Malone

The Naval Service is headed by Flag Officer Commanding the Naval Service (FOCNS) Commodore Michael Malone who is based at Naval Headquarters (NHQ) in Naval Base Haulbowline. NHQ oversees all aspects of the Naval Service, with a number of commands under it: Naval Operations Command (NOC) and Naval Support Command (NSC). The Naval College, like the DFTC is of an equal footing with the two commands, with all three headed by an officer commanding who report directly to the FOCNS of NHQ. Commodore Malone is the first marine engineer to be appointed as FOCNS, his prior appointment was as Officer Commanding Naval Support Command (OCNSC).

[edit]
Main article: Naval Operations Command (Ireland)

Naval Operations Command is the principal command component of the Irish Naval Service responsible for all day-to-day activities of the service, both at sea and on shore. One of three major command components of the NS this command is responsible for overseeing the work and mission objectives of all Irish naval vessels at sea who report directly to Naval Operations Command at Naval Base Haulbowline. The command is a direct subordinate to NHQ and is overseen by Officer Commanding Naval Operations Command (OCNOC). The OCNOC reports directly to the head of the Irish Naval Service, the FOCNS.

[edit]
Main article: Naval Support Command (Ireland)

Naval Support Command oversees the personnel, logistical and technical resources of the NS, allowing the service to meet its operational and training commitments. Ship procurement, maintenance, repair, provisions, ordnance, food, fuel, personnel and transportation are handled by Naval Support Command. Naval Support Command is headed by Officer Commanding Naval Support Command and reports directly to the FOCNS.

[edit]
Main article: Naval College (Ireland)

The Naval College is the principal naval military college in Ireland providing training to cadets, NCOs and recruits of the Irish Naval Service. The Naval College trains and educates personnel for service, providing a mixture of different courses ranging from officer training right through to naval engineering. The Naval College is based out of the Naval Service's headquarters at Naval Base Haulbowline but also provides classes and lessons in non-military naval training at the nearby National Maritime College of Ireland (NMCI) in Ringaskiddy.[99]

The Naval College contains a number of schools providing specialist courses including the Officer Training School, the Military and Naval Operational Training School and the School of Naval Engineering. The Officer Commanding Naval College reports directly to the FOCNS.

Specialist units

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The Naval Service has a number of specialist units that handle unique and varied tasks within the service.

Diving Section

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Members of the Naval Service Diving Section
Main article: Naval Service Diving Section

The Naval Service Diving Section (NSDS) (Irish: Rannóg Tumadóireachta na Seirbháse Cabhlaigh), formally part of NOC's shore operations section, is a specialist unit of the Irish Naval Service, a branch of the Defence Forces, the military of Ireland. The Naval Service Diving Section specialises in underwater diving tasks for the Naval Service, and since its formation in 1964 has become Ireland's most advanced diving team, aiding other state agencies in various specialist roles.[100]

Various mission roles of the NSDS include search and recovery, underwater survey, explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) underwater engineering and military diving training. They have conducted combat diving training for Army Ranger Wing members after selecting combat diving as a speciality.[101]

[edit]

The Naval Intelligence Cell, part of the NOC's Intelligence and Fisheries Section, is responsible for the collection, collation and dissemination of naval intelligence and is the naval component of the Defence Forces' Directorate of Military Intelligence.[102]

Fishery Monitoring Centre

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The Fishery Monitoring Centre, part of the NOC's Intelligence and Fisheries Section, oversees the identification, monitoring and surveillance of fisheries vessels in Irish waters as part of the Vessel Monitoring System. The Fishery Monitoring Centre coordinates with fisheries agencies in other countries.[103]

Roles and capabilities

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The Naval Service's military roles and the functions it carries out are more those of a coast guard rather than that of a conventional navy.[104] Lacking both anti-submarine and anti-aircraft capabilities, and without standoff weapons such as surface-to-surface missiles, the Naval Service's ability to control Ireland's territorial waters and provide close naval support is extremely limited.[original research?] Sea lift is also limited and ad hoc.[citation needed] The Naval Service's non-military capabilities in aid to the civil power and other government departments is fishery protection, search and rescue, drugs interdiction and dive support.

Irish territorial waters and EEZ

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Since the 1960s Ireland has seen its jurisdiction over the North Atlantic extend from 3 nautical miles (5.6 km; 3.5 mi) (pre-1967) to 12 nautical miles (22 km; 14 mi) (pre-1990s). This was increased to 200 nautical miles (370 km; 230 mi) again in 1994 when the introduction of the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) gave approval to the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). This convention grants the state sovereign rights over the seabed, its subsoil and the water adjacent to the seabed within the 200 nautical mile limit.

Negotiations are taking place that could see the influence of coastal states extended beyond the 200 nautical miles of EEZs.[citation needed] Part VI of UNCLOS concerns a coastal state's continental shelf out to 350 nautical miles (650 km; 400 mi) from the coastline. In 2007, Ireland became the first country to gain approval for the extension of its continental shelf, to the west of the island, and now has responsibility for an area of some 141,000 square nautical miles (480,000 km2; 187,000 sq mi) – an increase of 100 per cent.[citation needed]

Among the tasks mandated to the NSDS include the following;[100]

  • Search and recovery
  • Underwater survey
  • Explosive ordnance disposal
  • Underwater engineering
  • Military diving training

EU Navfor Med

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In July 2017, the Irish government agreed to allowing the Naval Service to join other EU member state navies in Operation Sophia (the EU operation focused on refugee smuggling in the Mediterranean).[105] Since 2015 the Irish Navy has had bilateral agreement called Operation Pontus with the Italian Navy in regards to Mediterranean search and rescue operations.[106] In order for Ireland to join the mission it required the passing of the so-called "triple lock system". This requires cabinet, Dáil and UN approval.[107] In its previous stance the Irish Navy was limited in its remit and sourcing of intelligence due to its lack of participation in EU Navfor Med. There was also a lack of force protection in the event of an attack on Irish vessels but this changed with the go-ahead for EU participation.[106]

Assets

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As of September 2024, the Naval Service fleet included four offshore patrol vessels (OPVs), two large patrol vessels (LPVs), and two inshore patrol vessels (IPVs).[108][109][90]

Until 2014, all vessels had been named with (mainly female) names taken from Celtic mythology and Irish folklore. However, the Samuel Beckett-class vessels, including LÉ Samuel Beckett (commissioned 17 May 2014), LÉ James Joyce (commissioned in September 2015), LÉ William Butler Yeats (commissioned 17 October 2016) and LÉ George Bernard Shaw (commissioned 30 April 2019) took their names from Irish literary figures. The ship prefix LÉ stands for Long Éireannach, "Irish Ship" in the Irish language. In 2024, the traditional naming conventions was restored with the naming of LÉ Aoibhinn and LÉ Gobnait who were commissioned in September 2024.[109]

Current fleet

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Sorted by tonnage; See also: List of Irish state vessels#Irish Naval Service

Class Picture Type Ships No. Comm. Displacement Note
Patrol vessels
Samuel Beckett class LÉ Samuel Beckett (P61) Offshore patrol vessel (OPV) LÉ Samuel Beckett P61 2014 2,256 tonnes In service on a "three-ship [..] operational rotation" as of July 2024[3]
LÉ James Joyce P62 2015
LÉ William Butler Yeats P63 2016
LÉ George Bernard Shaw P64 2019[110]
Róisín class LÉ Niamh (P52) Large patrol vessel (LPV) LÉ Róisín P51 1999 1,500 tonnes In reserve as of July 2024.[3]
LÉ Niamh P52 2001 Under re-fit as of July 2024.[3]
Lake class LÉ Aoibhinn (P71) Inshore patrol vessel (IPV) LÉ Aoibhinn P71 2024[111] 340 tonnes Undertaking "Maritime Defence and Security Operations" as of July 2024[112]
LÉ Gobnait P72 2024[111]
Motor launches
Cygnus Typhoon[113] Motor launch Fionnghuala YP01 2024[114][115] 30 tonnes Used by Naval Service Reserve.[116] Three more on order.[117]

Other assets

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The Naval Service also operates smaller training vessels and rigid-hulled inflatable boats.

Air assets to support naval patrols are provided by the Air Corps with their two Airbus C295 maritime patrol aircraft and AW139 helicopters operated from Casement Aerodrome, Baldonnel, County Dublin.

In July 2015, the Irish Naval Service began using an Irish-based satellite communications system for its fleet, with new systems and equipment installed on all vessels. The Irish National Space Centre (NSC) at Elfordstown, Midleton, County Cork, and County Wicklow based company Voyager IP provided the contract.[118]

Acquisitions and future

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In October 2010, contracts were signed for two new "offshore patrol vessels" (OPVs). The contract provided an option for a third vessel – which was later taken-up. A fourth vessel in the same class was ordered in June 2016.[119] Constructed by Babcock Marine in the UK to VARD Marine's PV90 design, the first ship, Samuel Beckett, was delivered in May 2014. The second ship, James Joyce, was delivered in 2015.[120] The third, William Butler Yeats, was floated out in March 2016 and delivered later that summer.[121] A fourth, named George Bernard Shaw, was delivered in late 2018, and commissioned in April 2019.[122] These Samuel Beckett-class OPVs replaced older vessel classes, such as the Emer class.

A number of these purchases were informed by a Whitepaper on Defence which expected acquisition of three new naval vessels over 10 years from 2015 to 2025.[123] As well as the acquired and ordered OPVs, the whitepaper covered a multi-role vessel (MRV) – which would be potentially enabled for helicopter operations and have a freight carrying capacity – to replace the flagship LÉ Eithne.[123]

In 2017, a delegation of Department of Defence (DoD) officials and members of the Defence Forces visited New Zealand to inspect the Royal New Zealand Navy (RNZN) multi-role vessel HMNZS Canterbury; it was suggested that a vessel of this type, capable of accommodating and deploying a full infantry company either by landing craft or helicopter, and with a fully equipped hospital, was what the Defence Forces needed for the type of military and humanitarian missions undertaken by Ireland.[124] Plans expected that LÉ Ciara and LÉ Orla be replaced with similar vessels,[123] but with counter-mine and counter-IED capabilities.[125] In August 2021, the Irish Examiner reported that the DoD was considering acquiring two former RNZN Lake-class inshore patrol vessels. These vessels would be based on the east coast and operate mainly in the Irish Sea with the primary role of fisheries protection in light of Brexit.[126]

On 14 March 2022, the DoD announced the acquisition of two such retired RNZN vessels, HMNZS Rotoiti and HMNZS Pukaki, for €26 million, to replace LÉ Orla and LÉ Ciara and with the expectation that they would require less crew to operate. [85] Intended to enter service in 2024,[127] the two vessels arrived in Ireland in May 2023.[128] On 5 April 2024, the DoD announced that the new vessels would be named LÉ Aoibhinn and LÉ Gobnait.[109][129] On 4 September 2024, the two vessels were commissioned into service.[90]

Decommissioned

[edit]
Badges of various decommissioned INS ships, National Maritime Museum of Ireland
The Irish naval jack flying from the bow of LÉ Aoife while docked in Dublin

The following vessels have served in the service's fleet:[130]

Weapons

[edit]
Name Origin Type Caliber Photo Notes
Pistol
Heckler & Koch USP  Germany Semi-automatic pistol 9×19mm Standard service pistol[131]
Assault rifle
Steyr AUG  Austria Assault rifle 5.56×45mm Standard service rifle since 1989
Battle rifle
FN FAL  Belgium Battle rifle 7.62×51mm Only used for line throwing
Machine gun
FN MAG  Belgium Machine gun 7.62×51mm Fitted onboard Naval Service ships for close range weapons support and anti-air point defence. Can also be mounted on RHIBs
M2 Browning .50 heavy machine gun (HMG)  United States Machine gun 12.7×99mm (.50) Fitted onboard Naval Service ships for close range weapons support and anti-air point defence
Autocannon
Rheinmetall Rh 202  Germany Autocannon 20×139mm Fitted onboard all Naval Service ships for close range weapons support and anti-air point defence
Naval gun
OTO Melara 76 mm  Italy Autocannon 76×900mmR Main weapon mounted onboard LÉ Róisín, LÉ Niamh, LÉ Samuel Beckett, LÉ James Joyce, LÉ William Butler Yeats and LÉ George Bernard Shaw

Personnel and ranks

[edit]
Main article: Irish Defence Forces rank insignia

As of April 2023, there were 764 personnel in the Naval Service, and 77 in the Naval Service Reserve.[2] The Naval Service is headed by a general officer commanding (GOC) known as the "flag officer commanding the naval service" (FOCNS), who holds the rank of commodore.[132] Non-military training takes place alongside Mercantile Marine personnel at the National Maritime College of Ireland in Ringaskiddy, near to the Haulbowline base.[133]

Irish Naval Service commissioned ranks

[edit]
Equivalent NATO code OF-8 OF-7 OF-6 OF-5 OF-4 OF-3 OF-2 OF-1 OF(D)
Republic of Ireland
Ireland
Irish Leas-Aimiréal Seachaimiréal Ceannasóir Captaen Ceannasaí Leifteanant-Cheannasaí Leifteanant Fo-Leifteanant Meirgire Dalta
English Vice admiral Rear admiral Commodore Captain Commander Lieutenant commander Lieutenant Sub lieutenant Ensign Officer cadet

Irish Naval Service warrant officers

[edit]
Equivalent NATO code OR-9
Republic of Ireland
Ireland
Executive
Administrative
Engineering
Communications
Irish Oifigeach Barántais
English Warrant officer

Irish Naval Service enlisted ranks

[edit]
Equivalent NATO code OR-8 OR-7 OR-6 OR-5 OR-4 OR-3 OR-2 OR-1
Republic of Ireland
Ireland 		No insignia
Irish Ard-Mhion-Oifigeach Sinsearach Ard-Mhion-Oifigeach Mion-Oifigeach Sinsearach Mion-Oifigeach Mairnéalach Ceannais Mairnéalach Inniúil Mairnéalach Earcach
English Senior chief petty officer Chief petty officer Senior petty officer Petty officer Leading seaman Able seaman Ordinary seaman Recruit

See also

[edit]

Further reading

[edit]
  • McIvor, Aidan (1994). A History of the Irish Naval Service. Dublin: Irish Academic Press. ISBN 0-7165-2523-2.
  • Brady, Jim (1996). The Irish Navy: What a Life!. Dublin: Anchor Press. ISBN 0-9528447-0-2.
  • Forde, Frank (2000) [1981]. The Long Watch. Dublin: New Island Books. ISBN 1-902602-42-0.
  • MacGinty, Tom (1995). The Irish Navy. Tralee: The Kerryman. ISBN 0-946277-22-2.
  • MacCarron, Donal (2004). The Irish Defence Forces since 1922. Osprey Publishing. ISBN 9781841767420.
  • Duggan, John P. (1991). A History of the Irish Army. Gill & Macmillan. ISBN 0-7171-1957-2.

References

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  1. ^ "The Defence Forces". Irish Defence Forces. Archived from the original on 14 April 2010. Retrieved 24 April 2014.
  2. ^ a b c d "Defence Forces Strength (Dáil Éireann Debate – Tuesday, 13 June 2023)". Dáil Éireann Hansard. 13 June 2023. Retrieved 25 August 2023. The established strength and current strength of the Defence Forces as at 30 April 2023 is [..] Army 7,520 .. 6,322 [..] Air Corps 886 .. 711 [..] Naval Service 1,094 .. 764 [..] Army Reserve 3,869 .. 1,382 [..] Naval Service Reserve 200 .. 77 [..] First Line Reserve N/A .. 275
  3. ^ a b c d e "Dáil Éireann debate - Tuesday, 2 Jul 2024 - Vol. 1056 No. 6 - Other Questions". oireachtas.ie. 2 July 2024. Retrieved 8 November 2024. The Naval Service is currently adopting a three-ship operational posture, which sees the four P60 class vessels on patrol in operational rotation [..] In addition [..] the LÉ Róisín is currently in operational reserve while the LÉ Niamh is in the process of completing a mid-life extension programme, after which she will enter operational reserve
  4. ^ "Two inshore patrol vessels commissioned in Haulbowline". rte.ie. 4 September 2024.
  5. ^ "Info Centre > General staff > Brigade commanders > FOC Naval Service". Defence Forces Ireland. Retrieved 25 January 2018.
  6. ^ The Irish Defence Forces are made up of the Permanent Defence Forces (PDF) – the standing branches – and the Reserve Defence Forces (RDF). The Naval Service is part of the PDF.
  7. ^ "History of the Naval Service". Official Defence Forces website. Archived from the original on 13 December 2021. Retrieved 7 May 2014.
  8. ^ "Roles of the Naval Service – Fisheries Monitoring Centre". Official Defence Forces website. Archived from the original on 13 December 2021. Retrieved 7 May 2014.
  9. ^ "Military.ie – Naval Service – History". Official Defence Forces website. Archived from the original on 13 December 2021. Retrieved 28 July 2014. (1999–2001) "Fishery Protection played an important role in the Service's day-to-day operations" (2002–present) ".. addition to the Naval Service's increasing fishery protection output ..
  10. ^ "Press Release – Naming and Commissioning Ceremonies for new Naval Service Vessel LÉ Samuel Beckett". MerrionStreet.ie Irish Government News Service. 17 May 2014. Archived from the original on 3 September 2014. Retrieved 28 July 2014. The [newest fleet addition] will be used mainly for fishery protection patrols
  11. ^ "Submission on Defence Green Paper: Towards an Efficient and Effective Fisheries Protection Partnership". The Sea-Fisheries Protection Authority. 2013. Archived from the original on 14 March 2016. Retrieved 16 June 2016.
  12. ^ "Casting the Net" (PDF). Signal. No. Spring 2004. Archived (PDF) from the original on 15 March 2016. Retrieved 16 June 2016.
  13. ^ a b "Roles of the Naval Service". Official Defence Forces website. Archived from the original on 16 March 2014. Retrieved 7 May 2014.
  14. ^ Articles of Agreement between Great Britain and Ireland, 6 December 1921 (Irish Free State established pursuant thereto on 6 December 1922)
  15. ^ a b c d e "History of the Naval Service". military.ie. Retrieved 10 February 2025.
  16. ^ McIvor, Aidan (1994). A History of the Irish Naval Service. Dublin: Irish Academic Press. p. 46. ISBN 0-7165-2523-2.
  17. ^ a b Bourke, Dr Edward. "Early Irish Free State Naval Activity". lugnad.ie. Archived from the original on 27 June 2015. Retrieved 6 October 2015.
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