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• 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_at_eircom.net

2

• The Irish Naval Service
• From the beginning

3

• Up to and during WW1 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.

4
Queenstown Naval Base
5

• At the end of WW1 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 DeValera 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 and 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
• DeValera could not accept these terms and
  rejected the proposals and returned to Ireland.

6

• On his return to Dublin, DeValera 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. DeValera 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 DeValera.
• 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, DeValera 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 6th
  December 1922

7
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.

8
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.

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Treaty Ports CobhBerehavenLough Swillyother
seaports Lough Foyle (NI)Carlingford
LoughDublinWaterfordCobhFenitGalwayWestport
Killeybegs
10
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.

11

• 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 Barrys 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.

12

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

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

15

• In June 1922 Rory OConnor Joe McKelvey Ernie
  OMalley, 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
  and 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 WW1 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 28th June.

16
Free State Army attack the Four Courts on the
28th June 1922
17
Emmet Dalton (former WW1 Officer) now Free State
General took control of the Artillery
18
Gun Battery at Merchents Quay
19
Four Courts explodes in flames
20
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
OConnell Street Gun in hand shouting No
Surrender he was shot in the Legs and died of
loss of Blood on the way to Hospital
21
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.

22

• BI 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.
• .

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Landing Troops, Armoured Cars and Field Guns from
Lady Wicklow at Fenit, Kerry.
25
SS Arvonia Loading troops and supplies at Dublin.
26
On board SS Arvonia
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On board SS Arvonia
28
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
29
Discharging a Peerless armoured car from
Arvonia at Passage West.
30
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 3rd 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

31
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 re-group 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
• Infantry and Marine Investigations
  disbanded during autumn 1923.

32
The new Coastal Marine Service was based at -

• Haulbowline Island Cóbh
• Dún Laoghaire
• Galway
• Killybegs

33
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 80ft motor launches
• 2 steam launches
• Most of the crews were former Merchant Seamen

34
Dainty and Helga two Vessels handed over to the
Free State Government by the British

• Dainty 468grt
• Built Chepstow 1918
• Transferred to Irish Free State 1922
• Ex Admiralty Deep-Sea tug
• Sold out of service to French interests

35
Muirchu (formerly Helga) Shelled Dublin during
1916 Easter Rising.Handed over to New Free State
Government in 1923 .
36
Coastal marine Service
May 4th, 1923 to March 31st, 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.

37

• 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

38

• 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 DeValera

39
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 WW2,
  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 WW2

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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.

41
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 countrys 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 WW2 this was increased to 6

42
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 OMuiris on
  appointment.

43
Murichu (Helga)
44

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

45

• Built Porthmadog, Wales 1909 - 134grt
• 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

46

• Built Grimsby Trawling Company -1891 163grt
• 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

47

• Built by Thornycroft 1940 40grt
• M1 originally built for Estonia
• M2 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.

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M1 M6
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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

52
The Corvettes

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

53

• 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
  20mm AA guns, hedgehog mortar, four depth charge
  throwers, two depth charge racks.

54

• 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

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• Two pounder pom-pom gun.

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Anti-Aircraft gun.
58

• 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.

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Recruits Drill Instruction
60
Inspection by Taoiseach Seán Lemass 1954
61
Pom pom gun training 1954
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Inspection
63
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.

64

• 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 40mm Bofors Gun 20mm Oerlikon.

65

• 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 40mm Bofors Gun 20mm Oerlikon.

66

• 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 40mm Bofors Gun 20mm Oerlikon.

67

• 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

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• Launched Verolme Cork Dockyard, January 21,
  1972. - 972 tons displacement
• Commissioned into Irish Naval Service June 19,
  1972
• Armament 40mm Bofors Gun 120 rounds/minute 2 x
  12.7mm heavy machine guns.
• Sold at auction for IR190,000 to Seastream
  International Limited, Cornwall 2001
• Rebuilt as a private charter yacht operating on
  the Mediterranean.

69

• 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 20mm Oerlikon.

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• Built Denmark 1965 as stern trawler Helen Basse
  651grt. 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 20mm Oerlikon

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

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

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

74

• 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

75

• Launched Verolme Cork Dockyard, December 19,
  1983. - 1760 tons displacement
• Commissioned into Irish Naval Service December
  07, 1984
• Armament 57mm 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

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In 1988 the Irish Navy expands further with its
newest fleet of modern ships
77

• 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 76mm OTO Melara gun 120
  rounds/minute, 2 x 12.7 mm heavy machine guns. 4
  x 7.62mm machine guns
• Still in service

78

• 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 76mm OTO Melara gun 120
  rounds/minute, 2 x 12.7 mm heavy machine guns. 4
  x 7.62mm machine guns
• Still in service

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LE Rosín P51

• Launched Appledore 1999, December 15, 1999. -
  1500 tons displacement
• Speed 23 knots
• Armament 1x76mm OTO Melara Cannon, 2x1.27mm HMG
  and 4x7.62mm GPMG 

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LE Niamh

• Launched Appledore 2001,
• 1500 tons displacement
• Speed 23 knots
• Armament
• 1x76mm OTO Melara Cannon,
• 2x1.27mm HMG
• 4x7.62mm GPMG 

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LE Niamh Engine Room
82

• 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

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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

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L.E. Samuel Beckett
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•  LE Samuel Beckett
• Offshore Patrol Vessel
• Length 90.0m Beam 14m
• Draught 3.8m
• Speed 23 knots Range
• 6000 Nautical Miles _at_ 15 knots
• Crew 44 (6 Officers)
• Armament 1 x 76mm OTO Melara
• 2 x 20mm RH 202 Rhienmetall Cannon
• 2 x 12.7mm Browning HMGs
• 4 x 7.62mm GPMGs - /
• Cost 50 million

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Naval Service Commanders
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Commodore Frank Lynch 2003-2011
Commodore Kavanagh 1993 - 2003

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• Commodore Hugh Tully 2013

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

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Slán Abhaile