Corps of Engineers (Ireland): Difference between revisions
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|type=[[Military Engineering]] |
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|role=EOD, Camp Construction, Military Bridging |
|role=[[EOD]], Camp Construction, Military Bridging |
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|size=Engineer Battalion |
|size=Engineer Battalion |
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|garrison=1st Fd Engineer Coy - [[Cork]]<br> 2nd Fd Engineer Coy - [[Dublin (city)|Dublin]]<br>4th Fd Engr Coy - [[Athlone]] |
|garrison=1st Fd Engineer Coy - [[Cork]]<br> 2nd Fd Engineer Coy - [[Dublin (city)|Dublin]]<br>4th Fd Engr Coy - [[Athlone]] |
Revision as of 21:38, 7 May 2007
Engineer Corps | |
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File:Engineer Crest1.jpg | |
Active | September 1922- |
Country | Republic of Ireland |
Branch | Army |
Type | Military Engineering |
Role | EOD, Camp Construction, Military Bridging |
Size | Engineer Battalion |
Garrison/HQ | 1st Fd Engineer Coy - Cork 2nd Fd Engineer Coy - Dublin 4th Fd Engr Coy - Athlone |
The Engineer Corps (or An Corps Innealtoiri in Irish) is the combat engineering unit of the Irish Defence Forces. The Engineers Corps is responsible for all combat engineering and general military engineering matters within the Defence Forces.The main role of the Combat Engineers is to provide engineering on the battlefield. The Engineers Corps have successfully leveraged their skill and expertise in several of the Irish Army's deployments in UN operations.
History
Following the establishment of the Irish Free State on 6 December 1922 General Routine Orders were issued which laid down the organisation of the first centralised Defence Forces. From an engineering point of view there were three particular problem areas to be overcome:-
- The Barracks and Posts throughout the state were in great need of repair following the War of Independence and the Civil War.
- There was a general shortage of materials.
- Most of the railway system was in disarray with many towns cut off.
To meet these requirements three (3) Corps were set up:
- The Works Corps - to carry out repairs and reconstruction.
- The Salvage Corps - to recover materials from damaged buildings for use elsewhere.
- The Railway Protection, Repair and Maintenance Corps - to rebuild the railway system.
The Corps of Engineers was established and took over from these three Corps with effect from 1 Oct 1924. In 1931 Field Engineer Companies and the School of Military Engineering were added to the establishment.
Roles
The Engineer Corps has a wide variety of roles, covering conventional warfare, Counter-terrorism warfare and training for the Defence Forces. With such a wide range of skills, the Engineer Corps provide a variety of support to the Army. This support includes anything from the provision of:
- Counter Terrorist Search Operations
- Explosive Ordnance Disposal: Battlefield Area Clearance, Route Clearance, Boobytrap Clearance, Demining.
- Demolitions
- Camp Construction: Camp Clara (Monrovia, Liberia), Camp Clark (Kosovo)
- Fire Fighting & RTA services.
- Military Bridging.
Missions
The Engineer Corps have seen active service in Kosovo (KFOR/UNMIK), Somalia (UNOSOM II), Congo (ONUC), Lebanon (UNIFIL), and in Liberia (UNMIL) - where the Engineer Corps was deployed following the Second Liberian Civil War, to construct Camp Clara in advance of a contingent of more than 400 troops.
Equipment
- Aardvark Midi Mine flail
- Doking MV-4 Remotely Operated Mine flail
- Cyclops Mk4 Remotely Operated Vehicle
- Remote Firing Demolitions Equipment (BIRIS, PRIME, DRFD)
- Maybe Johnson Bridge
- Infantry Assualt Bridge
- FFV 013 Area Defence Munition
- Rigid-hulled inflatable boats (RIBs) (Delta 7 metre, Lencraft 5.1 metre dive, and Lencraft 7.5&6.5 metre intruder RIBs) (See: image)
Future Developments
As in all aspects of society, legislative changes and technological advances have required workforces to become more specialised and more highly skilled. The Irish Defence Forces is no exception - requiring specialist skilled engineers.
Compared with Defence Forces in other countries e.g. British and French Armies, the number of engineers in the Irish Defence Forces is low, 5.5% against 8.8% and 12.8% respectively.
Gallery
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Area Defence Munition
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Demolition using Harick Shape Charges
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Aardvark Joint Service Flail detonating an Anti-Tank Landmine
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Demolition Glen of Imaal
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Constructing a Rubb Hall
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Installing Lighting Towers
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Route Clearance Operation
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Fire Service DFTC