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To start the slide show please click “Slide Show” at top of Page then on the top left click “from beginning” you are now ready to start. Click each slide when finished to move to next slide. Feel free to email me with any corrections that should be made and I hope you enjoy this little presentation. Terry Cummins Irish Naval Association navalassociation@eircom. net

The Irish Naval Service § From the beginning

§ Up to and during WW 1 Britain controlled all waters around Ireland. § =========== § Irish deep water Harbours were situated at : § Cobh, § Berehaven § and Lough Swilly , Britain based some of their Submarine and Cruiser Fleets at these Naval Bases.

Queenstown Naval Base

§ At the end of WW 1 Britain had suffered dearly in the Trenches of Belgium and France and had little stomach for the troubles in its own back yard, as Ireland fought Britain for its Independence § Feelers were put out to see if there might be some way of ending the hostilities in Ireland. Eamonn De. Valera and others were invited to London to sit and discuss terms to end the conflict. During discussion in London, Britain offered Independence to the 26 counties, but not the 6 Counties in Ulster which were predominately Loyalist. Britain would retain control of the Sea around Ireland would not have its own Navy, but would be permitted to have un-armed Vessels for Fishery Protection. All members of the new Free State Government would have to take an oath of allegiance to the King of England § § De. Valera could not accept these terms and rejected the proposals and returned to Ireland.

§ On his return to Dublin, De. Valera briefed the Dail on the discussions that led to the break down of the talks in London. A decision was taken for a delegation to return to London for more discussion. De. Valera decided he would not go and sent Arthur Griffith to lead the delegation, with Michael Collin and others, hoping for a solution § This delegation accepted the terms originally offered to De. Valera. § Michael Collins said it was the best offer that could be hoped for and was a stepping stone to full Independence. The Delegates signed treaty in London on the December 1921 § On their return to the Dail, De. Valera was furious and said they had no Authority to sign the Treaty as they were basically messengers. This was strongly disputed as they were Plenipotentiaries with powers to sign such a Treaty. This caused a split in the Dail leading to Pro and Anti-Treaty. § Following debate after debate an election was called to decide the Treaty this resulted in a small majority in favour of acceptance of the Treaty signed in London in Dec 1921 and following the vote of the people ratified in January 1922. The Irish Free State and its constitution came into existence by Royal proclamation on 6 th December 1922

Part of the Treaty Agreement was Articles 6 and 7 below. Under the agreement the new Free State would not have any armed vessels but could have vessels for Fishery protection Article 6 § Until an arrangement has been made between the British and Irish Governments where by Ireland undertakes her coastal defence, the defence of Great Britain and Ireland shall be undertaken by HM Forces, but this shall not prevent the construction of maintenance by the Government of Ireland of such vessels as are necessary for the protection of revenue or fisheries. Article 7 § The Government of Ireland shall afford HM Forces – in time of peace, harbours and other facilities as indicated or such facilities as may be from time to time agreed. In time of war – such harbour and other facilities as the British Government may require.

The Treaty also agreed the following: § Dockyard Port at Berehaven – maintained on care and maintenance by Royal Navy § Queenstown (Cóbh) – harbour defences and certain buoys retained. § Belfast Lough and Lough Swilly – harbour defences to be maintained. § Oil storage facilities at Haulbowline (Cóbh) and Rathmullen (Lough Swilly) to be offered for sale to commercial concerns under a guarentee that they maintain a certain minimum stock of fuel for admiralty requirements. § Aviation – facilities to be maintained in the named ports for coastal air defence.

Treaty Ports Cobh Berehaven Lough Swilly other seaports Lough Foyle (NI) Carlingford Lough Dublin Waterford Cobh Fenit Galway Westport Killeybegs

Heading for Civil War § With the signing of the Treaty Britain started its withdrawal from Ireland. Most Barracks were handed over to the new Free State Army, However, Anti-treaty forces south of a line from Waterford to Limerick took control of all the Britain Establishments as the British withdrew. No attempt was made to take control of the Rebel held South until the New Free State Army established itself in the Pro Treaty areas. Britain was concerned with the many areas held and controlled by the Anti-Treaty Forces and worried that with 10, 000 British Troops still in Ireland waiting to depart there might be attempts to restart hostilities or attack the six counties of Northern Ireland.

§ One of the major episodes that brought things to a head was the seizure of the unarmed SS Upnor leaving the Naval Base in Cobh with a large shipment of arms heading for Portsmouth in March 1922 § Members of Tom Barry’s Flying Column using a Tug “Warrior” boarded the Upnor forced the Captain to alter course to Ballycotton Bay. On arrival in Ballycotton Bay several trucks were waiting to transport § the weapons away.

§ SS. Upnor siezed by Cork No 1 Brigade IRA boarding from tug Warrior. Ballycotton Bay March 1922

Weapons sized from the USS Upnor § § § 1500 Rifles 61 Machine Guns 2000 Revolvers and Pistols 3000 Grenades ½ millions rounds of ammunition

§ In June 1922 Rory O’Connor Joe Mc. Kelvey Ernie O’Malley, Oscar Traynor and hundreds of men took control of the Four Courts in Dublin Declaring they were the real Government of the Irish Republic. This would be the straw that broke the Camels back and forced the British to inform the Free State Government that things were now out of hand forced the Free State Army to take action. Two 18 pound Artillery Guns was handed over to the Free State Army. However they had no experience with such Guns but Emmet Dalton had served as an officer in WW 1 and now a General in the Free State Army took charge of the Battery. After negotiations failed the Guns opened up on the Four Courts on the 28 th June.

Free State Army attack the Four Courts on the 28 th June 1922

Emmet Dalton (former WW 1 Officer) now Free State General took control of the Artillery

Gun Battery at Merchents Quay

Four Courts explodes in flames

Cathal Brugha in attempting to take pressure off the Four Courts took over the Gresham Hotel. Artillery was moved from the four Courts and attacked the Gresham Hotel. Cathal Brugha held cover while the rest of his squad tunnelled their way out. Cathal Brugha charged out onto O’Connell Street Gun in hand shouting “No Surrender” he was shot in the Legs and died of loss of Blood on the way to Hospital

The Beginning of the Irish Navy The Free State Army while having control of Dublin and most counties North of a line from Dublin to Galway and a strong Army presence in Castlebar it had to gain control of the rebel South. This proved difficult as the Anti-Treaty Forces blew up many bridges and adopted Guerrilla warfare with mined road blocks. The best option for the Free State forces was obtain seagoing vessels to land by sea around the Irish Coast transporting, Troops, Armoured Cars and Field Guns, to the areas held by the anti-treaty forces The next slides will show the Free State Forces landing in Cork and Kerry.

B&I Steamer “Lady Wicklow” Departed South Wall Dublin on July 31, 1922 with 450 officers and men of the Dublin Guards, armoured car and 18 -pounder field gun bound for Fenit where a successful landing was made. §.

Landing Troops, Armoured Cars and Field Guns from Lady Wicklow at Fenit, Kerry.

SS Arvonia Loading troops and supplies at Dublin.

On board SS Arvonia

On board SS Arvonia

Anti-treaty Forces sink ships to block Free State ships on the River Lee. However the Free State Forces just steered around the sunken vessels, and successfully landed Troops and Field Guns in Cork

Discharging a “Peerless” armoured car from Arvonia at Passage West.

Civil War Ends § As the months passed and the Free State Army (now called the National Army) gained control of most counties , the head of the Anti-Treaty Forces General Liam Lynch died in an attack on the Knockmealdown Mountains on 3 rd April 1923. § Shortly after on the orders of Frank Aiken the new § Anti-Treaty commander all Anti-Treaty Forces were ordered to lay down their arms and return home. § Thus ended the Irish Civil War

Coastal & Marine Service § While relative peace returned to Ireland it still had to be sure it was not only a lull to allow time to regroup and re-arm so in May 1923 a Coastal and Marine Service was established to interdict gun runners and provide fisheries protection. It was controlled by the Army in 3 sections: 1. Coastal Patrols 2. Marine Investigation Department 3. Coastal Infantry and Marine Investigations disbanded during autumn 1923.

The new Coastal & Marine Service was based at : - § Haulbowline Island – Cóbh § Dún Laoghaire § Galway § Killybegs

Coastal & Marine Service § While Ireland was not allowed to have a Navy and was also not to have armed vessels the British obviously turned a blind eye to the vessels obtained by the Free State Army during the Civil War which resulted in the following large fleet at the end of the Civil War in 1923 § § § § SS “Dainty” deep sea tug / patrol sloop patrol vessel “Murichu” (ex HMS Helga) 6 Mersey class armed trawlers 6 Canadian Castle class armed trawlers 2 drifters “Inisherer” & “John S. Somers” 5 chartered river patrol boats 3 80 ft motor launches 2 steam launches § Most of the crews were former Merchant Seamen

Dainty and Helga two Vessels handed over to the Free State Government by the British § § § Dainty 468 grt Built Chepstow 1918 Transferred to Irish Free State 1922 Ex Admiralty Deep-Sea tug Sold out of service to French interests

Muirchu (formerly Helga) Shelled Dublin during 1916 Easter Rising. Handed over to New Free State Government in 1923.

Coastal & marine Service May 4 th, 1923 to March 31 st, 1924 § The destruction that had taken place during the Civil War placed the Free State very poor economically. The Finance Department insisted that there was no need for the Coastal & marine service and this led to the service being wound up after 10 months and 27 days. § Murichu was transferred to the Department of Agriculture. § for use as a Fishery Protection Vessel § Other vessels were transferred to Office of Public Works for sale or disposal.

§ From 1924 until 1936 the Irish Free State had no armed vessels. § The Murichu while acting as Fishery Protection was rammed several times by Trawlers. Ireland asked and was granted permission by the British to re-arm the Murichu

§ The Treaty Ports remained under the control of the UK until the signing of the Anglo-Irish Free Trade Agreement in 1938 between Neville Chamberlain and Eamonn De. Valera

Irish Neutrality From an Irish point of view, the handover of the ports in the lead-up to WWII was felt to be vital to consolidate Ireland's neutrality. Winston Churchill was totally against handing back the Ports and was in favour of invading Ireland to protect its own interests in the event of War. As part of Irelands Neutrality , Ireland had to establish its own Navy. This led to the formation of the Marine and Coast Service which had a strength of no more than 300 during WW 2, however it was supplemented by the Maritime Inscription, which was a part time volunteer reserve. Ireland had an Army of 20, 000 and this was increased to 40, 000. It also established the LDF (Land Defense Force) This reached a strength of over 100. 000 during WW 2

Marine & Coastwatching Service § Coastwatching Service founded August 29, 1939. Marine Service founded September 06 1939 The Marine Service and Coastwatching service merged on December 07, 1939. § Set up to comply with the 1907 Hague Convention on neutral powers in a naval war.

Marine & Coast watching Service § Control the use of territorial waters and ports by belligerent warships. § Control of the use of territorial waters and ports by merchant shipping. § Minelaying, minesweeping and the notification and distruction of mines. § Protection of the country’s fishing limits. § Escort duties. § Protection of navigational aids and sea rescue. § Ireland placed an order in Britain for 3 MTB Boats. § On the outbreak of WW 2 this was increased to 6

Marine & Coastwatching Service Commander § Marine service took over the former Royal Naval yard and hospital at Haulbowline Island, Cóbh on July 07, 1940. § Lt. Commander James Morris RN appointed commanding officer. § Changed his name to Seamus O’Muiris on appointment.

Murichu (Helga)

§ § Built John Lewis & Sons, Aberdeen 1936 - 258 grt Ordered by Department of Fisheries 1938 Transferred to Department of Defence 1939 Armament: Twelve Pounder Gun

§ Built Porthmadog, Wales 1909 - 134 grt § Bought by the Marine Service from a private owner in Skibbereen in 1940. § Sold to a private owner in 1945. § Sank off Wicklow Head – December 1947. § Armament: none

§ Built Grimsby Trawling Company -1891 163 grt § Operated by Palmer Bros. Ringaskiddy as a salvage vessel from 1926. Used to salvage material from the “Celtic”. § Purchased by Marine Service October 1940 § Sold to Halbowline Industries, Cóbh for breaking 1952. § Armament: none

§ § Built by Thornycroft 1940 40 grt M 1 originally built for Estonia M 2 originally built for Latvia Armament: 2 torpedoes. Depth Charges. Madsen or Hotchkiss M/guns § All sold out of service to Col. Fitzmaurice between 1948 and 1950.

M 1 – M 6

Irish Naval Service In March 15, 1946 the Marine Service was reorganised into the present day Naval Service. An order was placed in Britain for 3 Flower Class Corvettes One year later the Maritime Inscription was renamed An Slua Muiri

The Corvettes Flower Class Corvettes § § Cheap Easily maintained. Robust Intention had been to obtain six.

§ § § Launched: George Brown, Grenock 1942. - 1020 tons displacement Commissioned Royal Navy as HMS Borage. Commissioned into Irish Naval Service – November 15, 1946. Sold to Haulbowline Industries for breaking on November 02, 1970 Armament: 4 inch gun, 2 pounder gun 2 single 20 mm AA guns, hedgehog mortar, four depth charge throwers, two depth charge racks.

§ Launched: H. J. Inglis, Glasgow 1941. - 1020 tons displacement § Commissioned Royal Navy as HMS Oxlip. § Commissioned into Irish Naval Service – December 20, 1946 at Devonport. § Sold to Haulbowline Industries for breaking on March 23, 1972

§ Two pounder “pom-pom” gun.

Anti-Aircraft gun.

§ § § Launched: George Brown, Grenock 1941. - 1020 tons displacement Commissioned Royal Navy as HMS Bellwort. Commissioned into Irish Naval Service – February 03, 1947 at Devonport. Sold to Haulbowline Industries for breaking on November 04, 1970 Flag ship – equipped with suite of cabins for Defence Forces senior officers.

Recruits Drill Instruction

Inspection by Taoiseach Seán Lemass 1954

Pom pom gun training 1954

Inspection

The Second Generation Ships The Corvettes had by now gone well outside its sell by date and it was heading to a situation that the Navy would have no ships as the Corvettes were withdrawn from service. The Government immediately placed an order for 3 Minesweepers.

§ § § Launched: Thornycroft, July 20, 1954. - 360 tons displacement Commissioned Royal Navy as HMS Oulston. Commissioned into Irish Naval Service – January 30, 1971. Sold to Spanish interests for breaking - 1987 Armament: 40 mm Bofors Gun 20 mm Oerlikon.

Launched: Thornycroft, March 24, 1954. - 360 tons displacement § Commissioned Royal Navy as HMS Alverton. § Commissioned into Irish Naval Service – February 23, 1971 at Gibraltar § Sold to Spanish interests for breaking - 1984 § Armament: 40 mm Bofors Gun 20 mm Oerlikon.

Launched: Thornycroft, June 21, 1955. - 360 tons displacement § Commissioned Royal Navy as HMS Blaxton. § Commissioned into Irish Naval Service – February 23, 1971 at Gibraltar § Sold to Spanish interests for breaking - 1987 § Armament: 40 mm Bofors Gun 20 mm Oerlikon.

1972 Ireland applied to join the EEC However as it was likely Ireland would be admitted to the ECC and our Fishery Limits extended to 200 miles It would be impossible to police our valuable Fish Stocks with the Ships at our disposal so with possible financial aid from the EEC Ireland commenced replacing it ageing vessels with orders for Ships to be built in Ireland at Verolme Shipyard in Cork. The first ship LE Deidre was launched in 1972 Ireland joined the EEC in 1973

§ § § Launched: Verolme Cork Dockyard, January 21, 1972. - 972 tons displacement Commissioned into Irish Naval Service – June 19, 1972 Armament: 40 mm Bofors Gun 120 rounds/minute 2 x 12. 7 mm heavy machine guns. Sold at auction for IR£ 190, 000 to Seastream International Limited, Cornwall 2001 Rebuilt as a private charter yacht operating on the Mediterranean.

§ § § Launched: Liffey Dockyard, Dublin 1953. - 1173 tons dis. Delivered to Commissioners of Irish Lights as tender ISOLDA Bought by Irish Naval Service in 1976 as training and supply ship Sold to Haulbowline Industries, Cóbh for breaking 1984. Armament: 2 x 20 mm Oerlikon.

§ Built: Denmark 1965 as stern trawler Helen Basse 651 grt. Had a later career as a seismic survey vessel. § Chartered to Irish Naval Service for use as a patrol vessel between 1977 and 1978. § Armament: 20 mm Oerlikon

§ Launched: Verolme Cork Dockyard, September 12, 1977. - 1020 tons disp. § Commissioned into Irish Naval Service – January 16, 1978 § Armament: 40 mm Bofors Gun 120 rounds/minute, 2 x 20 mm heavy machine guns.

§ Launched: Verolme Cork Dockyard, May 25, 1979. - 1020 tons disp. § Commissioned into Irish Naval Service – November 29, 1978 § Armament: 40 mm Bofors Gun 120 rounds/minute, 2 x 20 mm heavy machine guns. § Fitted with bow thruster § Still in service

§ Launched: Verolme Cork Dockyard, July 27, 1979. - 1020 tons disp § Commissioned into Irish Naval Service – May 21, 1978 § Armament: 40 mm Bofors Gun 120 rounds/minute, 2 x 20 mm heavy machine guns. § Fitted with bow thruster § Still in service

§ With the new scourge of Drug Smuggling § and Gun running during the Northern Ireland Troubles the Irish Government placed a final order for LE Eithne the biggest in the Irish Fleet and carrying a Helicopter

Launched: Verolme Cork Dockyard, December 19, 1983. - 1760 tons displacement Commissioned into Irish Naval Service – December 07, 1984 Armament: 57 mm Bofors Gun 200 rounds/minute, 2 x 20 mm Rheinmettal heavy machine guns. 2 x Wallop illuminant launchers. § Hangar for Dauphin 2 helicopter § Still in service

In 1988 the Irish Navy expands further with its newest fleet of modern ships

§ § Built: Hall Russell, September 11, 1984. - 712 tons displacement Commissioned into Royal Navy – October 17, 1984 – HMS Swift Sold to Irish Naval Service November 21, 1988. Armament: 76 mm OTO Melara gun 120 rounds/minute, 2 x 12. 7 mm heavy machine guns. 4 x 7. 62 mm machine guns § Still in service

§ § Built: Hall Russell, March 31, 1984. - 712 tons displacement Commissioned into Royal Navy – May 03, 1984 – HMS Swallow Sold to Irish Naval Service November 21, 1988. Armament: 76 mm OTO Melara gun 120 rounds/minute, 2 x 12. 7 mm heavy machine guns. 4 x 7. 62 mm machine guns § Still in service

LE Rosín P 51 § Launched: Appledore 1999, December 15, 1999. - 1500 tons displacement § Speed 23 knots § Armament: 1 x 76 mm OTO Melara Cannon, 2 x 1. 27 mm HMG and 4 x 7. 62 mm GPMG

LE Niamh § § § § Launched: Appledore 2001, 1500 tons displacement Speed 23 knots Armament: 1 x 76 mm OTO Melara Cannon, 2 x 1. 27 mm HMG 4 x 7. 62 mm GPMG

LE Niamh – Engine Room

§ In 2005 the roll of the Reserve Defence Force was re-organised. § An Slua Muiri became the Naval Service Reserve and although a Voluntary organisation and part time they are now trained at the Naval Base in Haulbowline and onboard the Naval Ships. § The FCA was reorganised into the present day Army Reserve

Role of the Irish Naval Service Primary Role § National Security Secondary Role § Fishery Protection § Aid to the Civil Power § Drug Interdiction § Maritime Safety § Diving Operations § Pollution Control § Overseas Mission Support s In 2013 the Irish Government allocated € 150 million § For the building of 3 new state of the art Ships. § The first LE Samuel Beckett was deliver in 2014 and the next LE James Joyce will be delivered in 2015 § The last of the new ships will be delivered in 2016

L. E. Samuel Beckett

§ LE Samuel Beckett § § § § § Offshore Patrol Vessel Length 90. 0 m Beam 14 m Draught 3. 8 m Speed 23 knots Range 6000 Nautical Miles @ 15 knots Crew 44 (6 Officers) Armament 1 x 76 mm OTO Melara 2 x 20 mm RH 202 Rhienmetall Cannon 2 x 12. 7 mm Browning HMG’s 4 x 7. 62 mm GPMG’s - / § Cost € 50 million

Naval Service Commanders

Commodore Kavanagh 1993 - 2003 Commodore Frank Lynch 2003 -2011

§ Commodore Hugh Tully 2013

Rear-Admiral Mark Mellett DSM 2013 Flag Officer (2011 -2013) This is the first time the Irish Navy have a Rear Admiral

Slán Abhaile