Weapons of the Irish Army

[Bernard Woolley]

Weapons of the Irish Army


Armoured Vehicles

Artillery, mortars, and air defence

Anti-Tank Weapons

Small Arms
- Service Rifles
- Precision Rifles
- Sub-machine guns and sidearms
- Machine guns and grenade launchers
- Combat Shotguns

[Bernard Woolley]

Armoured Vehicles


FV101 Scorpion
Fourteen Scorpions served with the 1st Armoured Cavalry Squadron. As part of mobilisation of the squadron, the Irish Army acquired two additional Scorpions, one FV105 Sultan Armoured Command Vehicle, an FV106 Samson armoured recovery vehicles and three Stormer armoured personnel carriers, via the UK MoD.


Panhard AML
The Irish Army initially used two variants of the AML armoured car. The AML-60, which was armed with a 60mm mortar and two 7.62mm machine-guns. By the 1970s, due to a fault, the mortars could not be fired, leaving the machine-guns as the vehicles man armament. Eventually, from 1989, those vehicles were rearmed with a G12 20mm cannon and a co-axial FN MAG, becoming known as the AML-20. The second variant in service was the AML-90, which was armed with an F1 90mm gun and co-axial FN MAG. By 2005, the AML was primarily in service with Reserve Cavalry Squadrons.


MOWAG Piranha IIIH
Eighty Piranhas were in service with the Irish Army in 2005. Of that total, forty-five were of the APC variant, eight were command vehicles, two were armoured ambulances, one was an armoured recovery vehicle, eighteen were cavalry Recce vehicles (CRV) and six were medium Recce vehicles (MRV). The APC variant had a one-man turret armed with a 12.7mm HMG and a 7.62mm MAG, the CRV variant had a Remote Weapons Station that could be armed with either an HMG or 40mm GMG, while the MRV had a a two-man turret armed with a 30mm cannon and a co-axial 7.62mm MAG. The APC variant was mainly used by the 1st Mechanised Infantry Company, while the CRV and MRV were used by regular Cavalry Squadrons. After Ireland entered the war, the army sought to procure additional Piranhas. However, it was now impossible to get additional vehicles from Ireland's previous supplier, Switzerland. However, the Canadian built LAV III was very similar to the Piranha IIIH, therefore it was possible for additional vehicles, similar to the Swiss built examples to be supplied by Canada.


SISU XA-180 APC
The United Nations supplied Ireland with ten of the Finnish APC for troops serving in Lebanon as part of UNIFIL. The Irish Army purchased two APC to act as training vehicles for soldiers preparing to deploy as part of UNIFIL. The UN and Irish vehicles were fitted with a turret fitted with twin FN MAG. The two training vehicles were observed being used for home defence purposes in 2005. The Irish Army was able to obtain four additional XA-180 during the war, although the source is unclear.

[Bernard Woolley]

Artillery, mortars, and air defence

L118 Light Gun
Seventeen of these British built howitzers were in service with regular artillery regiments of the Irish Army. The army also had six of the similar L119 variant in service with one regiment. The Irish Army had an aspiration to procure additional Light Guns to equip one battery in every reserve artillery regiment. That aspiration was not met pre-war, however some Light Guns were supplied by the UK and USA after Ireland became a belligerent.


Ordnance QF 25-pounder
While the 25-pounder had been replaced in regular service by the Light Gun, it was still used by some batteries in reserve artillery regiments. No 25-pounders would be deployed outside Ireland during the war.


M87 120mm Mortar
New in Irish Army service in 2005, the Swiss manufactured heavy mortar was used by some regular and reserve artillery batteries.


Brandt 81mm Mortar
A French manufactured mortar used at battalion level by both regular and reserve infantry battalions. Additional examples of the mortar were supplied by France after Ireland joined NATO.


M1 60mm Mortar
Another new weapon for the Irish Army in 2005, the South African mortar having entered service in 2003. The mortar was used by mortar sections of weapons platoons of rifle companies. The 60mm mortar was only to be found in regular battalions. Reserve battalions either lacked light mortars, or used the elderly French Brandt Mle 1935. A small number of American supplied M2 60mm mortars, which had been used in the Congo deployment in the 1960s, were still to be found in Irish Army armouries.


RBS-70
Ordered in 1979 for delivery in 1981, the MANAPS variant of the RBS-70 was employed by a single battery of the the Irish Army's 1st Air Defence Regiment. The missile was used in conjunction with the Ericsson Giraffe 40 radar system, which was truck mounted. Sweden would supply two additional RBS-70 launchers and a Giraffe 40 radar, which replaced the original, which had been destroyed by a Soviet attack.


Bofors 40mm
Two variants of the Bofors gun were in Irish service, the L/60, twelve of which were in service. These weapons were, in 2005, in storage, for issued to planned reserve AA batteries. Thirty-two of the more modern L/70 variant were in service with the 1st Air Defence Regiment, paired with eight Flycatcher radars. The L/60 would be issued to strengthen LAA defence in Ireland, the UK supplying an additional three guns.


Rapier FSB2
Four Rapier firing posts, and associated fire control and tracking radars were supplied from RAF reserve stocks. While issued to the 1st Air Defence Regiment, they were used to defend the RAF detachment at Shannon Airport. RAF Regiment gunners would join the regiment to train their Irish counterparts in the use of Rapier.

[Bernard Woolley]

Anti-Tank Weapons

AT-4 Short Ranged Anti-Armour Weapon
The AT-4 entered Irish service in 1997, being issued to Anti-Tank sections of rifle company weapons platoons. As additional AT-4 were acquired it would find its way to rifle platoons too, as well as being used by the A/T and reconnaissance platoons of support companies. While initially only issued to regular infantry battalions, the AT-4 would soon be issued to other arms and to reserve units.


Carl Gustav 84mm Anti-Armour Weapon
Issued to Anti-Tank sections of rifle company weapons platoons and Anti-Tank Platoons of Support Companies. The Irish Army had held onto the Carl Gustav for long enough for it to come back into fashion as a weapon.


Pansarvärnspjäs 1110 (Pvpj 1110)
A Bofors manufactured 90mm recoilless rifle commonly known as the Pv-1110. Was issued to Anti-Tank Platoons of Support Companies. The Pv-1110 was replaced in regular battalions by the more tactically mobile Milan ATGW. However, it lingered on in reserve service, before being placed in storage. Some infantry battalions assigned to home defence would be issued Pv-1110 in place of ATGW, which had been passed to units deploying abroad.


MILAN
The first Anti-Tank Guided Weapon in Irish Army service, with twenty-one being procured. The MILAN 2 and 2T would be issued to regular battalions, equipping A/T Platoons in Support Companies. While no additional firing posts would be bought, the Irish Army would continue to buy missiles and MILAN was eventually issued to reserve infantry battalions when Javelin entered service.


FGM-148 Javelin
Entered service in 2003, with thirty-six Command Launch Units being procured along with missiles. Was only issued to regular infantry battalions, although reserve personnel were trained in its use. Additional CLU and missiles were supplied by the USA and UK when Ireland joined NATO. Was used by A/T Platoons of Support Companies in infantry battalions, although some were also used by Cavalry soldiers, including the APC Troop of the 1st Armoured Cavalry Squadron.

[Bernard Woolley]

Small Arms


Service Rifles

FN FAL
Once the standard issue rifle of the Irish Army, replacing the Lee-Enfield No.4. While no longer issued to regular soldiers, FAL were still to be found in the armouries of reserve units and were issued during the war. The Naval Service also used the FAL as a line-throwing rifle.


Steyr AUG
Ireland's standard issue rifle across the whole of the defence force, the AUG entered service in 1989. The A1 is the primary variant of the rifle in Irish service, with the A2 being used by the Irish Ranger Wing. The Rangers also procured some of the new (as of 2004) A3 variant. The Irish Defence Force was planning in 2005 to upgrade its AUG rifles, but that was not likely to happen until the early years of the next decade. During the war, the Irish Army was able to acquire some Australian built F88 rifles, which were similar to the A1.


M4A1
The carbine variant of the M16, a small number were acquired by the Irish Ranger Wing after training with US Special Operations units. The Rangers also acquired some of the similar C8SFW when serving alongside UKSF during the war.


L85A2
A small number of these rifles were acquired for familiarisation purposes by Irish troops serving as part of 1 (Br) Corps. An equally small number of L86A2 were also acquired for similar reasons.



Precision Rifles

FN FAL Sniper Support Weapon
Before a the AI 92 was issued, the Irish Army depended on FAL rifles fitted with scopes for sniper rifles. Some FAL rifles were upgraded with an adjustable butt stock, Picatinny-style rail hand guard, a bipod, and a Schmidt & Bender sight for use as sniper support weapons once a purpose-built sniper rifle entered service.


AI 92 Sniper Rifle
Irish Defence Force designation for the Accuracy International Arctic Warfare rifle in 7.62mm NATO. A small number of AWM rifles in 8.6mm and AW50 in 12.7mm were in service with the Army Ranger Wing. It was planned to issue the AWM to the wider 'green' army.


Lee-Enfield No.4 (T)
A small number of the precision variant of the Lee-Enfield No.4 were still to be found in Irish Army armouries. They were generally used for competition shooting.



Sub-machine guns and sidearms

Webley Mk IV
Was the standard sidearm of the Irish Defence Force until 1963. Most revolvers were disposed of (i.e. destroyed, to stop them falling into the wrong hands) when they were replaced. However, some remained in the armouries of reserve units and with the Naval Service. A shortage of sidearms led to them being issued to some troops assigned to home defence.


Browning Hi-Power
Used by all branches of the Irish Defence Force, the Hi-Power became the standard issue sidearm from 1963. The pistol was well regarded, although some examples were getting a little worn by 2005. A new standard issue sidearm was being sought, with the H&K USP being a favourite.


Heckler & Koch USP9
Used in small numbers by the Army Ranger Wing. While the Rangers also use other pistols, it appears that the USP9 was the one they were coming to favour in 2005. With additional orders having been made for it. The Ranger's experience with the pistol, seemed to have influenced the 'green' army's preference for the USP9 as a replacement for the Hi-Power.


SIG Sauer P226
Was the primary handgun of the Army Ranger Wing in 2005. The Rangers also used the P228, for scenarios where a more compact weapon was required. While the Rangers have been very satisfied with the P226 and P228, it did not appear in 2005 that they intended to retain the designs past the lifespan of the pistols they already possessed.


FN Five-seveN
Used by the Army Ranger Wing for some Counter-Terrorism operations where the ability of its 5.7mm round to penetrate body armour was appreciated.


Carl Gustaf M/45
Formerly the standard sub-machine gun of the Irish Army. Was used during the Congo peacekeeping deployment, during other UN peacekeeping missions and in the Internal Security role. It was replaced in service by the AUG. However, it survived in service with some reserve units and was seen in the hands of some Irish troops deployed on home defence duties.


Heckler & Koch MP5
Primarily used on CT operations by the Army Ranger Wing, although also found in other parts of the defence force. E.g. military police. The A3, SD6, F, and K variants were in Irish service.


FN P90TR
Used by the Army Ranger Wing on CT operations, primarily hostage rescue, for similar reasons to its Five-seveN sibling.



Machine guns and grenade launchers

Bren light machine gun
The standard LMG of the Irish Army until the 1960s, when it was replaced by the FN MAG. However, examples chambered in 7.62mm remained in service with reserve units. Reserve units attached to regular formations deploying abroad would take their Bren guns with them.


FN MAG
Used in both the light role on a bipod and in the Sustained Fire role on a tripod, the MAG could be found at both platoon and company level. The MAG was also used by the Irish Air Corps and Irish Naval Service. As of 2005, the Irish Army had not procured a modern Light Machine Gun in 5.56mm for the regular army.


Browning HMG
Primarily found at battalion level, where it was used both as a support and AA weapon. The Browning also armed some vehicles and was used as a secondary weapon on some ships.


FN Minimi Para
The Minimi was exclusively used by the Army Ranger Wing in 2005. However, a number of LMGs were supplied by the UK to Irish troops serving as part of 1 (Br) Corps.


M203
Mounted to some AUG rifles; had the primary role of supporting the infantry section. Some US supplied M4A1 had M203, while UK supplied C8SFW had the H&K AG36.


Heckler & Koch GMG
An automatic grenade-launcher, generally used as a vehicle mounted weapon on the APC variant of the Piranha IIIH . It was also used on some of the vehicles of the Army Ranger Wing.



Combat Shotguns

Benelli M3T
Primarily used by the Army Ranger Wing, although a few were used by the Irish Naval Service for boarding operations.


Benelli M4
Initially only employed by the Army Ranger Wing, the M4 began to appear in small numbers with regular troops once they were deployed abroad. It was believed that some of those M4 were British Army L128A1.


Remington 870
Generally used for breaching operations by the Army Ranger Wing. Had been issued to some regular soldiers manning Observation Posts near the border with Northern Ireland. Was again issued to the 'green' army for use in O.Ps and loaded with anti-vehicle rounds at Vehicle Check Points.


Franchi SPAS-12
Used by the Army Ranger Wing for Close Quarter Battle operations.