3 New Navy Vessels for Irish Naval Service

While she may not quite be ready for the breakers yard, her days as a naval vessel are over. She would make a fine oceanographic research vessel though, for whatever years she has left, until her systems become uneconomical to maintain. She is older than her last crew, and one of her recent XOs was a toddler in the dockyard when she went down the Slipway at her launch. She owes the state nothing.

7 years would be a nice extension

Gents....I am really sorry....I hadn't realized until today how small the new Lake class "ships" really are when I posted a couple of days ago that there might be the potential to re use the 57mm main gun off the Eithne to give them a bit more oomph. I have now seen that the Lakes have simply not got the deck space to accomodate this as the superstructure is quite massive compared to the size of the deck. In fact I don't know if it would even be possible to position a 20mm Rheinmettal cannon up front. As it stands they only have a small MG to deter and detain any rogue trawlers of drug smugglers which ain't a lot of firepower.

I really endorse the idea that Ancient Mariner came up with very recently re giving the Eithne a new lease of life. It's going to take a while for this alleged new funding for the DF to come through so might as well spend some money out of the normal round of budget to make some improvements. Doubt if a new frigate or corvette could be up and running before 2026 even if ordered tomorrow..... BTW, I read today that the Poles have ordered 3 of the type 21's. Might be the kind of thing our guys end up with ? Have a jolly old weekend one and all!

Could she do any of this while permanently moored in DL?

Could act as a base for the new training launch and the two lake class vessels until something more permanent is put in place.

Why is this waffle continuing?

Could be just your own clic, who knows really?

What's a clic?

Same shite, different day Jonny?

What we say is based in fact and on information in the public domain.

You do realise the P50 class ended deliveries 20 years ago?

You do realise they require more than double the crew of the Lake class?

You do realise that it's a personnel problem they are trying to solve, not exacerbate?

You do realise that just because the Department of Defence aren't giving you a daily briefing on every aspect of the delivery of the Lake class, that the deal isn't dead and that there is no doubt a huge diligence and logistical exercise involved in approving the ships for handover and in getting them shipped on an appropriate platform?

You do realise that you talk an immense amount of complete rubbish?

Not much tonnage though. Bit of a vomit comit in the Irish sea on a rough day.

Ah but what happens when you stick the 57mm mount on the front…

When we discuss crewing and the variation between ships it has to be based on the role and manning of the ship systems on a 24/7 basis. If a vessel has 2 x 20mm, 2x 12.7, 4 x gpmg's, need for boats deployments, operate ship's main armament, man Main control room and Damage control, man operations and fire control. Even without resupply of mounts it would take about 21 personnel for immediate action stations and 63 to cycle through 24 hours. You still need medical, galley, and Damage control/firefighting personnel. Our crewing is tight and in full action would be wearing. The corvettes in wartime were close to 75 and we had them at 68. Crewing will always effect continuous capability. Small transit crews are limited to singular tasks with intervening rest periods.

You might be right there johnny. Then again, you may also be full of shite.

Wait, whats that?

https://www.gov.ie/en/press-release/b679d-announcement-of-the-purchase-of-two-inshore-patrol-vessels-ipvs-from-the-new-zealand-government/

🤣🤣

No doubt JBW will be fierce upset that he wasn't kept abreast of the situation, or invited to the Base for the cupán tae agus píosa cáca milis.

Good luck to LÉ Vigilant and LÉ Indomitable and God bless to all who sail on them.

More interestingly is how they are to be taken over so that crews are bedded in and operate the ship and it's equipment. The next decision is how to get them home and when they do come home where will they be permanently home ported so that berths and facilities are Naval use only. Names need serious thought but should be short and of value. We had wags at sea that always fixed on a rock at Inishkea North End which was Carrickmoylenacurrahoaga. It drove the navigator nuts because it had to be transcribed into the fair log for HQ.

These craft were armed with 2 x 12.7mm and an 81mm mortar?? We should check that out as to concept.