Interesting articles

Do they still have the GPMG in regular use?

So I read this evening. Had passed me by at the time.

These few days mark the 40th anniversary of the extraordinary snow storm of 1982 which blanketed the Eastern two third of Ireland in depths not seen for decades prior and only maybe once since.

The TV report above shows the Air Corps Aerospatiale SA330 Puma (242) busy dropping supplies to isolated locations and ferrying dialysis patients and mothers in labour to hospital. Another four Alouette type, not shown, were tasked to other similar work around the Country, according to the report.

I presume they will need a helicopter based with them if there is an issue in the irish sea or of the north west

I was joking....

But I can't see them being anything other than the ARW / Fiannóglach they already are, that just so happen to do a rotation with the NS. If you divide what is alresdy a very small command, notionally or administravely, then it uses its integrity.

Presumably within the Wing you have some lads that train to specialise in sniping, or demolitions, or field medical, or negotiation etc. Surely the maritime ops become an enhanced speciality with improved interoperability, but not an actual Naval special operations group doesn't it?

It does make me laugh though that this is (rightly) being considered, but at the same time any talk of naval helicopter ops being reintroduced is played down by the DoD

An absolute disgrace. I will post my thoughts on this later,when I've had time to process this.

I wonder will anyone make it from Shannon to the Russian Embassy to complain about the build up on the Ukrainian border or this exercise?

I don't really give a monkeys if it's a section of the yellow brick road.

It is however our EEZ, the natural resources of which are all ours, to protect, to manage and to exploit.

While I appreciate that there is a Billion tons of munitions and scrap shipping at the bottom of it from two World Wars, I don't think that's reason enough to now tolerate the Russians dumping another few thousand tons of explosives, chemicals and other dodgy materials into it, just so they can wave their cock around in the current geopolitical situation.

Yes, it's an EEZ and not soverign territorial waters, but answer me this, how many other European States, NATO or not, neutral or not, would put up with similar in their EEZ, when these exercises have no legitimate value such that they couldn’t be conducted in the Black Sea, the Arctic Ocean or even in mid-Atlantic.

I wish it were for no good reason.

Its being said by analysts on social media that the reasons are two-fold. 1) to distract and divide NATO naval forces to coincide with the coming invasion of Ukraine and 2) to compromise trans-atlantic communications cables at the crucial moment.

If you care to take your Google maps and plot a sector 240kms S by SW of Bantry Bay and compare it to this below, it will tell you everything you need to know.

The UK have flown 15 full C-17s of anti-armour gear to Kiev in the last 4 days alone. I'd hate to see what unlimited looks like.

I'm sure we wouldn't have to ask, but might be an idea to ensure the US has whatever Carrier Strike Group from the 2nd Fleet is operational, to be in or around the Celtic Sea next month.

When even the Shinners have an issue with the reported exercise:

https://www.breakingnews.ie/ireland/td-deeply-concerned-over-reports-of-russian-missile-exercise-off-irish-coast-1246970.html

Hmm i think i heard the recuritment tag line below somewhere before

https://www.stenaline.com/joinus/

Pity they didn't think of building better housing when the soldiers lived in it.

We'll we sorry if we go looking for the cavalry and it doesn't arrive.

The only thing is its a government feasibility study so it will take 5 drafts to complete

Seems to be suggesting a Major General in charge of Air(force) Corps, Army Component and a Rear Admiral as FOCN.

Doubling size of Navy and possibly Air component, so 6:2:2 ?

I wonder what Type of aircraft the CoDF are thinking about for interception duties?

I seem to remember that after the WP that raised the suggestion of Primary Radar we had some interest from some of the companies I wonder if anyone kept their offers? Anyone have the list of that?

I dont have access to the full artcile for context but i am pretty sure McKee is still there!

https://www.irishtimes.com/opinion/michael-mcdowell-we-run-down-the-defence-forces-at-our-peril-1.4791015?mode=sample&auth-failed=1&pw-origin=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.irishtimes.com%2Fopinion%2Fmichael-mcdowell-we-run-down-the-defence-forces-at-our-peril-1.4791015

Is it necessary to accommodate a brigade in the city centre?

The bulk of 7BN and the Eastern Brigade should be located at a new site, the design of which is not handicapped by a Victorian era barracks. Casement isn't a bad idea, and the AC could benefit from those facilities also. Not to mention that co-location is beneficial to operations.

The ceremonial, HQ, Ordnance Corps bomb squad and a small contingent (a company?) to satisfy Paul Kehoes terrorism concern are all that need to be at McKee (which has better access to the M50 and equal access to the city centre as Cathal Brugha). McKee could also continue to serve the RDF.

I saw that a figure of €100m, approximately, could be realised from the sale. Let's hope that the maximum is secured for the DF - defence trumps all, including the housing crisis.

Apart from the fact that the Dublin councils have collectively made it clear in the past that they want Casement for future development, and if we are moving towards more airframes up to and possibility including Fighters then we are likely talking about moving at least some degree of a second base will put other pressure on Casement. There's is also the past history of the failure of development of previous DF bases handed over, and the lack of money going back into the DF from those sales. Add in the historic buildings of the Barracks and I'm doubtful that the number of units that the Greens are claiming would happen.

If we are talking about substantial changes and increases in the DF then selling off barracks before we've even seen the Commissions report let alone debating it is cart before horse to put it mildly. Closing the Barracks won't materially affect the issues of Dublin's supply issues.

CB isn't closer to the M50 than Casement, or a new greenfield site. If you want people to respond quickly to incidents in the city centre, or the port (although M50 to port via the tunnel from Casement would not take an hour under blue light escort, even less if you run across the airfield and helicopter there), have a company in McKee. McKee is also a better city centre location for the bomb squad, IMO.

Granted there has been a lot of money thrown at CB, but there are such things as sunk costs. Starting afresh is easy (or easier) with the potential windfall from the sale.

The preferences of the personnel in CB at the moment would be interesting, given that retention is paramount. I'd wager the outskirts is as convenient, if not more convenient than a city centre location. Would they prefer modern facilities built for a 21st century army, or retrofitted stables and delipidated accommodation?