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Corps of Engineers (Ireland)

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Engineer Corps
File:Engineer Crest1.jpg
ActiveSeptember 1922-
CountryRepublic of Ireland
BranchArmy
TypeMilitary Engineering
RoleEOD, Camp Construction, Military Bridging
SizeEngineer Battalion
Garrison/HQ1st 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 engineering matters within the Defence Forces.The main role of the Combat Engineers is to provide engineering on the battlefield. Combat Engineering is engineering at the sharp end - the skill, expertise and determination of the Engineers has been at the heart of most of the Army's achievements 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 Liberia, Kosovo, Somalia, Congo and Lebanon.

Liberia

The Engineer Corps was deployed in Liberia following the Second Liberian Civil War in advance of a contingent of more than 400 troops to construct Camp Clara.

Equipment

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. There is now a greater need than heretofore for specialist and highly qualified and skilled Engineers. Compared with other 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. In these circumstances, the Engineer Corps can be proud of its achievements to date.

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