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Army Ranger Wing

TheArmy Ranger Wing (ARW) (Irish:Sciathán Fianóglach an Airm,[6] "SFA") is thespecial operations force of theIrish Defence Forces, the military ofIreland. It is a branch of theIrish Army, it also selects personnel from theNaval Service andAir Corps. It serves at the behest of the Defence Forces andGovernment of Ireland, operating internally and overseas, and reports directly to theChief of Staff. The ARW was established in 1980 with the primary role ofcounter terrorism and evolved to bothspecial operations and counter-terrorism roles from 2000 after the end ofconflict in Northern Ireland.[5][7] The unit is based in theCurragh Camp,County Kildare. The 2015 White Paper on Defence announced that the strength of the ARW would be considerably increased due to operational requirements at home and overseas.[8]

Irish Army Ranger Wing
Irish:Sciathán Fianóglach an Airm

Shoulder flash and insignia of the Army Ranger Wing
Active16 March 1980 (1980-03-16) – present[1]
Country Ireland
Branch Irish Army
TypeSpecial forces
RoleCounter-terrorism
Special operations
SizeClassified
Part ofDefence Forces
Garrison/HQDFTC,Curragh Camp,County Kildare[2]
Nickname(s)Fiannóglaigh/Fianóglach[3]
Motto(s)Glaine ár gcroí, Neart ár ngéag, Agus beart de réir ár mbriathar[4]
("The cleanliness of our hearts, The strength of our limbs, And our commitment to our promise")[4]
ColoursBlack,Red andGold[5]
EngagementsUNOSOM II
INTERFET
UNPROFOR
UNFICYP
UNIFIL
MINURSO
UNMIL
MINURCAT
MINUSMA
Websitewww.military.ie/en/who-we-are/army/arw/
Insignia
Green Beret
AbbreviationARW

The unit has served abroad in a number of international peacekeeping and peace enforcement missions including inSomalia,East Timor,Liberia,Chad, andMali.[5] The ARW trains with special forces units around the world, particularly inEurope.[9] The ARW in its domestic counter terrorism role trains and deploys with theGarda Síochána (national police) specialist armed intervention unit, theEmergency Response Unit (ERU).[10]

In February 2022, the Commission on the Defence Forces report recommended that the ARW be renamed theIreland Special Operations Force (IRL-SOF).[11] The IRL-SOF would be placed under a Special Operations Command which would report directly to Joint Force Command.[12] A follow up report released in November 2023, the Detailed Implementation Plan for the Report of the Commission of the Defence Forces, stated that the ARW is due to be renamed the IRL-SOF in 2028.[13] The updated IRL-SOF is proposed to consist of three Task Groups: Land, Air and Maritime.[13][14] By 2028, the Air and Maritime Task Groups are to be re-located to theCasement Aerodrome and theHaulbowline Naval base.[15]

Roles

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Rangers on a maritime counter-terrorism exercise in 2011
 
Rangers on a counter terrorism exercise in 2010

The Army Ranger Wing roles are divided between wartime special operations ("Green Role") and anti-terrorism ("Black Role"), the latter known formally asmilitary Aid to the Civil Power (ATCP):[16]

Military tasks (Green Role)

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Offensive operations behind enemy lines

Defensive operations

Aid to the civil power tasks (Black Role)

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  • anti-hijack operations
  • hostage rescue operations
  • airborne and seaborne interventions
  • search operations - specialist tasks on land or sea
  • pursuit operations
  • recapture of terrorist-held objectives
  • VIP security operations/close protection of VIPs
  • contingency planning to counter terrorist/subversive threats

Name and motto

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The unit's official name isSciathán Fianóglach an Airm in theIrish language which translates into English as "Army Ranger Wing".[6]Fianóglach (representing "Ranger") is an amalgamation of two Irish words.Fiann is closest to the word "warrior", and refers to the ancient band of warriors known asNa Fianna inIrish mythology.[4]Óglach literally means "young soldier", and is often translated as '"volunteer". Use in this context refers to the name of the Defence Forces in Irish:Óglaigh na hÉireann ("Irish Volunteers").Na Fianna were purportedly expert warriors, so the addition of the wordFiann beforeÓglaigh denotes an elite element to the unit.[17] The shoulder flash insignia of the unit usesFianóglach.[18]

The motto of the Army Ranger Wing is taken from an old Fianna poem, in Irish it is:"Glaine ár gcroí, Neart ár ngéag, Agus beart de réir ár mbriathar", which translates as: "The purity of our hearts, the strength of our limbs and our commitment to our promise".[4]

History

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In the late 1960s, the Defence Forces established 'Special Assault Groups' (SAG) in the Army to meet security challenges on the border withNorthern Ireland.[19] A number of Army officers attended theUnited States ArmyRanger School inFort Benning,Georgia who returned to conduct Army Ranger courses in Ireland with the first held in 1969.[19] Among its founding officers was later-to-be Chief of StaffLieutenant GeneralDermot Earley.[20] Special Assault Groups were formed comprising 40 Rangers trained in all arms, engineering and ordnance techniques.[19]

By the mid-1970s, the Defence Forces had over 300 Rangers who conducted support operations on the request of the Garda Síochána.[19] Students on these courses were selected from among all ranks and units of the Army, Naval Service and Air Corps.[21] The courses improved standards of physical endurance, marksmanship, individual military skills and small unit tactics.[21] In December 1977, the Garda Síochána formed a counter-terrorist unit named the Special Task Force (STF) to operate in border regions that was later to become the Emergency Response Unit.[22]

Following an assessment of the SAG, and Rangers receiving training from theM-Squadron, an elitecounter-terrorism (CT) branch of theRoyal Netherlands Marine Corps,[23] in 1978 it was decided to consolidate the Rangers into a new special forces unit with a counter-terrorist capability following an increase ininternational and national terrorism, such as the 1972Munich massacre inGermany (thenWest Germany) and a number of hostage-takings by the Provisional IRA (such as theBalcombe Street siege).[1][5][19][24]

The Army Ranger Wing (ARW) was formally established, in accordance with the Defence Act, by Government order on 16 March 1980.[1][21][25] The ARW received its colours in 1981; Black, Red and Gold, signifying Secrecy, Risk and Excellence.[5] In 1991, the ARW was granted permission to wear the Green beret.[5]

In April 2017, it was reported that there had been no increase in the strength of the ARW despite the 2015 White Paper's aim to considerably increase the strength of the unit.[26]

On 16 January 2022, there were recommendations made for some ARW operators to be based in Cork to work alongside their colleagues in the Naval Service in improving its maritime anti-terrorism capabilities.[27] In January 2022, the ex-ARW operator turned politicianCathal Berry said that he backed proposals to rename the unit as the 'Ireland Special Operations Force' (ISOF).[28]

Structure

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The Officer Commanding the Army Ranger Wing is responsible for the administrative, disciplinary and operational control of the unit, and is in turn directly under the command of theChief of Staff at Defence Forces Headquarters (DFHQ).[29] Information on the numerical strength of the unit and the identity of its personnel is restricted.[30][31][32] Estimates variously put the strength at "well over a hundred" or between 140 and 150 personnel.[33][34][10] In 2015, the Defence White Paper announced an increase in strength with reports of the unit doubling in size.[34][8][35] The Wing is divided into operational task units each comprising several assault teams relative to each operator's area of speciality.[36][37][38][1] After serving one year in an assault team an operator can apply to join a specialist team such as combat diving team, free fall parachuting team and sniping team.[39][40] An example of an operational task unit is the Special Operations Maritime Task Unit (SOMTU).[40][41] Support elements provide expertise inbomb disposal, medical treatment, maritime and aviation operations.[42] The Army Ranger Wing is headquartered at theDefence Forces Training Centre (DFTC) in the Curragh Camp, with Army Rangers required to live within a defined radius.[33] Training is carried out nationwide at a number of Department of Defence properties, including Lynch Camp inKilworth,County Cork.[43]

The ARW is on immediate call 24/7, 365 days a year for operations throughout the state and abroad. The ARW is on 96 hours' notice to deploy overseas on special operations.[44] The ARW is on a 1-hour alert for anti-terrorist operations to deploy anywhere on land in the Republic of Ireland using Air Corps aircraft and up to 200 miles out to sea via the Naval Service vessels.[44][45] In the event of a major terrorist, hijacking or hostage incident, the ARW may be called to aid theGarda ERU, and in the past, they have been put on standby to assist theIrish Prison Service during majorprison riots. The unit has on occasion been tasked forsearch and rescue (SAR) operations, as the ARW have trained Arctic survival specialists.[46]

Besides sanctioned international military missions, the unit may be deployed overseas to protectIrish diplomatic missions and diplomats (particularly in times of war or civil unrest in host countries),[47] to provide close protection to members of the Irish government travelling overseas,[48][49] to rescuekidnapped Irish citizens,[37][50] toextract citizens in hostile or conflict zones, or to conduct intelligence operations.[51]

The ARW is equipped withSINCGARITT,Harris andRacal communications equipment, which have an inbuiltencryption andfrequency-hopping systems.[29] It is also equipped with satellite communications, through the ARW C3 (Command, Control & Communications) function and in cooperation with theCommunications and Information Services Corps (CIS).[29] This means ARW teams can communicate with their GHQ from anywhere in the world. The Army Ranger Wing Intelligence Section has the ability to remotely intercept electronic andtelephonic communications,[52] working with theDirectorate of Military Intelligence (J2)[53] and Army CIS Corps.[54]

Selection and training

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ARW sniper course in 2013
 
Rangers fast rope from anAW139 helicopter in a maritime counter-terrorism exercise on theIrish Sea in 2011

Candidates must be serving members of the Permanent Defence Forces (PDF) from any of the three branches (Army, Air Corps or Naval Service).[1][55] The candidate must be medically fit and have attained the rank of at least 3 Star Private (or equivalent).[55] There is no age limit to attempt selection.[56] Selection has been open to females since 1984, however, none have been successful.[33][57][58] Usually 40 to 80 candidates attempt selection annually.[56]

The ARW recently[when?] revised its selection and assessment procedures combining the previous Selection course & Basic Skills course into a new single course named theSpecial Operations Force Qualification Course (SOFQ).[10][36] The SOFQ is conducted over 10 months (40 weeks).[59] The Selection Course had been conducted over 3 weeks after being reduced in 2006 from 4 weeks.[56][60][61] The Basic Skills course had been conducted over 5 months.[56][60][62]

The SOFQ is divided into 5 modules:[36]

  1. Assessment & Evaluation
  2. Skills & Leadership
  3. SOF Tactics, Techniques, and Procedures TTPs
  4. Counter-Terrorism Tactics, Techniques, and Procedures TTPs
  5. Continuation training

Module 1 assesses a candidate's level of physical fitness, motivation and suitability to progress on towards further modules (2-5) of the SOFQ course similar to the previous selection course.[36] Candidates must pass a series of fitness assessments, map reading and individual navigation assessments, claustrophobia, water confidence, and psychometric testing.[36] The final phase of Module 1 includes individual navigation exercises with set weights over unknown distances and completion times which can be over 250 km, culminating in an additional 65 km cross-country march carrying a 65 lb combat load in the Dublin & Wicklow mountain range.[36][59] On average candidates get between four and five hours sleep per night.[56] Officer and senior NCO candidates are subjected to separate, rigorous scrutiny of their planning and decision-making skills to determine their suitability.[36] The length of Module 1 is 3 weeks similar to the previous selection course length.[59] Typically 85% of candidates fail Module 1.[59] Between 2000 and 2005, approximately 240 attempted selection, including a female, with 50 successful.[32]

Modules 2 to 4 consist of assessment and training in weapons and marksmanship, live-fire tactical training, special operations tactics, techniques, and procedures (green role) and counter-terrorism tactics, techniques, and procedures (black role), combat water survival, Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Extraction (SERE), communications and medical training.[36] Upon successful completion of Module 3, candidates are awarded theFianóglach shoulder tab and are provisionally assigned to the unit. Upon successful completion of Module 4, candidates are awarded the distinctive ARW green beret.[36]

Module 5 Continuation training is the conclusion of the SOFQ course, and candidates are posted to an operational ARW task unit as an assault team operator.[36] 3 Star Privates (and equivalents) who are successful in completing the SOFQ course pass out at the rank of ActingCorporal, and the lowest commissioned rank in the unit is that ofCaptain.[41] All candidates must successfully complete the basic parachute course of five (5) static line jumps from 3,000 feet using T10 round canopies.[63][39]

As of 2012, it was reported that since the unit's inception fewer than 400 had completed training to become a Ranger.[64]

Further specialist training courses for Rangers include advanced combat medical skills, military freefall, combat diving (taught by the specialistNaval Service Diving Section) and boat handling, close protection and handling of advanced weapons.[36][39]

Prior to 2000 withThe Troubles, approximately 85% of Ranger training had been dedicated tocounter-terrorism.[65] The average age of a Ranger is 31 years old with the eldest 44 years old.[56] On average, a member of the ARW spends between 5 and 10 years serving with the unit before being returned to their home unit bringing their skills with them, but it is not uncommon for some to spend 15 years in the unit.[39]

The ARW has its own purpose-built tactical training facilities, including shooting ranges, kill houses and various urban and rural settings. The main facility is known as "Tac Town", based in theCurragh.[66] Other ranges are located inCounty Wicklow. These facilities are also made available to theERU.[67]

The ARW has trained with other military and law enforcement special operations forces, including;

The ARW and ERU train specifically for marauding terrorist firearms/explosive attacks.[73][74]

In 2015, the Irish Defence Forces signed agreements with their British counterparts to deepen joint special forces peacekeeping co-operation,[75] extending from previous deployments withBritish special forces in a number of combat zones.[76]

Notable missions

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Rangers have seen active service in a number ofpeacekeeping missions around the world with the United Nations,European Union (EU) andPartnership for Peace (PfP) of theNorth Atlantic Treaty Organization (the Republic of Ireland is not a member of NATO, due to its policy ofmilitary neutrality). Individual deployments includeLebanon,Bosnia,Cyprus,Iraq andWestern Sahara.[69]

Somalia

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The ARW's first deployment overseas was inSomalia in 1993 as part ofUNOSOM II where a number of teams joined theUnited States-led peacekeeping coalition tasked with imposing a ceasefire in theBaidoa region.[77][78] Over 100 Irish troops took part in the mission.[79]

On one regular return journey, from protecting a food convoy/supply run toMogadishu, Irish and Indian UN troops were ambushed by insurgents. Following an intense firefight, there were more than 10 enemies killed with no Irish or Indian fatalities reported. Following this, the Irish contingent was supplied with armoured vehicles as they had previously been relying on soft-skinned vehicles mounted with heavy calibre machine guns.[80]

East Timor

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Rangers on a reconnaissance patrol inEast Timor

In October 1999, No 1 IRCON (Irish Contingent), an ARW platoon of 30 Rangers deployed toEast Timor as part of theInternational Force for East Timor (INTERFET) to restore peace and security following the independence referendum in August.[81][82][83][84] The Australian-led mission had begun nearly a month earlier with an allied special forces coalition of Australian Special Air Service, New Zealand Special Air Service and BritishSpecial Boat Service (SBS) armed Response Force.

No 1 IRCON was embedded in the reconnaissance company in the1st Battalion, Royal New Zealand Regiment (1 RNZIR) Battalion Group together with an infantry company from the Canadian3rd Battalion, Royal 22 Regiment bringing the battalion to full strength.[84] The Battalion Group based inSuai was responsible for securing the south-west of the country frompro-Indonesia militias andIndonesian soldiers that included a long section of the border between East and Indonesian controlledWest Timor.[85]

No 1 IRCON completed a four-month deployment followed by No 2 IRCON. In February 2000, INTERFET handed over command of military operations to theUnited Nations Transitional Administration in East Timor (UNTAET). No 2 IRCON completed its four-month deployment in June 2000 with subsequent rotations from infantry platoons.[83] The Battalion Group had several contacts (firefights) and a number of incidents with threat forces sustaining no casualties.[86]

Liberia

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The ARW was deployed inLiberia in the aftermath of theSecond Liberian Civil War as part of a peacekeeping contingent of more than 400 troops from the Irish Army, in turn, part of the mixed Irish-Swedish Force Reserve Battalion of the United Nations mission in the country,UNMIL (2003). The ARW's area of operations (AO) was "all of Liberia", consisting of 4.7 million people and 111,369 sq km (43,000 sq mi).[80]

One of their most successful missions during this deployment was the rescue of a large group of civilians captured by gunmen from renegade Liberian forces.[87] Acting on intelligence, a team of twenty heavily armed Rangers were dropped via helicopters at the town of "Gbapa".[87] To avoid casualties among the hostages, the ARW implemented a policy of less-lethal intervention and, after surrounding a 40-foot container holding 35 hostages, rescued the innocent civilians and captured the rebel forces, including their commander.[87][88] The incident, which resulted in no Irish casualties, drew praise from the international community and boosted the reputation of the ARW worldwide.[89]

Ranger Sergeant Derek Mooney (33) ofDublin, was killed when his vehicle was involved in amotor vehicle accident during a transport convoy.[90]

Chad and Central African Republic

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ARW vehicle patrol inFord F-350 SRV inChad in 2008

In February 2008, a Special Forces Task Group of 58 Rangers deployed toAbéché inChad as part of theEuropean Union Force Chad/CAR based at Camp Croci.[80][91] The ARW was an Initial Entry Force together with other EUFOR special forces that conducted special reconnaissance within the Irish assigned south eastern Chad area of operations.[92][93]

The ARW was later based at Multi-National Base-South atGoz Beïda known as Camp Ciara in the area of operations providing security during the construction of the base. The ARW conducted vehicle patrols along the Chad /Sudan border in theirFord F-350 Special Reconnaissance Vehicles.[37][94][95] The ARW mission ended in June 2008 with the arrival of the 97th Infantry Battalion.[96]

Mali

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In June 2019,Dáil Éireann approved sending an ARW Task Unit and staff officers to the UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) in intelligence and operational roles, on 4-month rotations for two years.[97] The ARW were deployed in response to an upsurge in violence in north-eastern Mali, led by militants affiliated with al-Qaeda. The Irish contingent were primarily tasked with conducting long-range reconnaissance patrols (LRRP) and deployed as part of a German-ledISTAR Task Force, benefiting from the protections and medical support in place for the larger force.[98] 14 ARW operators are reported to be involved per rotation.[99]

MINUSMA is the most dangerous UN peacekeeping mission. As of October 2019, 204 peacekeepers had been killed out of a total of 15,000 deployed uniformed personnel.[100] It is the first overseas operational deployment for the ARW as a unit, in ten years.[101]

In February 2020, three ARW personnel were injured when an IED blast hit the armoured patrol vehicle they were travelling in, 70 km east ofGao.[102][103] The personnel were airlifted to hospital but after two weeks were reported to be "back to work".[104]

Overseas extraction operations

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In October 2005, Rangers andArabic-speakingintelligence officers fromMilitary Intelligence (J2) were deployed toBaghdad,Iraq,[50][105] following the abduction of Irish journalistRory Carroll byal-Qaeda-affiliated militants.[106] Following negotiations with Irish, British and American government representatives, Rory Carroll was released unharmed days later and returned safely to Ireland.[107]

In 2009, the ARW were involved in the evacuation of GOAL aid workerSharon Commins who was kidnapped byJanjaweed in Darfur, Sudan for more than 100 days before being released, although the government denied the involvement of the ARW at the time.[108][109]

With the fall ofMuammar Gaddafi in 2011 and theLibyan Civil War, the ARW, Air Corps and other Defence Forces assets were deployed in order to evacuate upwards of 115 Irish citizens from the country, mainly via the capitalTripoli. The ARW operated out of the British diplomatic mission in Malta.[110] It was reported at the time that Irish officials printed fake boarding passes in order to bypass "tight" security at Tripoli airport, where authorities refused to allow a large number of aircraft to land or take off.[111] Three Irish aircraft were involved in the operation.

In October 2019 it was reported that the ARW were deployed to the Syrian border to extractLisa Smith - a former Irish Army soldier who converted to Islam before fleeing Ireland to joinISIS - and her two-year-old child in a Non-Combatant Evacuation Operation (NEO) after the2019 Turkish offensive into north-eastern Syria resulted in Kurdish-held ISIS prisoners escaping, including Smith, although the Defence Forces or Irish government did not confirm this.[112] ARW personnel were in plainclothes and "discreetly armed" for protection purposes.[113] Smith was repatriated to Dublin Airport where she was arrested by Gardai and charged with terrorism offences.[114]

On 23 August 2021 in the aftermath of theFall of Kabul to theTaliban, Minister for Foreign Affairs and DefenceSimon Coveney approved the deployment of an Emergency Consular Assistance Team (ECAT) comprising ARW personnel and a small team ofDFA diplomats toHamid Karzai International Airport inKabul in order to evacuate Irish citizens.[115] The options available to the Irish government to extract its citizens were hampered by Ireland's lack of an organicstrategic airlift capability.[116] The mission ended on 26 August, just 48 hours after the team touched down in Kabul and resulted in the evacuation of 26 Irish citizens.[117] It was reported the last members of the ECAT team left minutes after adeadly suicide bombing at Kabul airport.[118]

In April 2023, a team of up to 12 ARW were deployed to Sudan as part of theevacuation of foreign nationals during the 2023 Sudan conflict. ARW and DFA personnel travelled to Sudan viaDjibouti to link up with and extract Irish citizens. The ARW provided medical & security support, secure communications and an intervention element.[119]

Other overseas missions

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During theWar in Afghanistan, ARW personnel served in small numbers withISAF andRSM from October 2006 to March 2007 and from September 2014 to March 2015, mainly as trainers, medical staff and IED experts.[42]

From 2006 to 2014, it has been reported that operatives from the ARW, including from the Intelligence Section and Military Intelligence Directorate, had been on the ground inAfghanistan,Iraq,Syria,Lebanon,Israel,Sudan,Ivory Coast,Liberia,Kosovo andBosnia-Herzegovina as part of various international missions.[120][121]

In 2012, it was reported that the ARW could deploy 30 Rangers in theGulf of Aden, subject to Government, Dáil and UN approval ("triple-lock"), to protect international shipping lanes againstSomali pirates as part of the EU'sOperation Atalanta.[122]

As of 2014, Rangers were serving missions on three continents, including training foreign forces inAfrica and theBalkans, protection duties inLebanon for the United Nations mission and security and intelligence operations on the Israeli-Syrian border (Golan Heights).[10]

In late 2015, Private John O'Mahony (Ret.) gave evidence as a witness in a military trial inBeirut,Lebanon against Mahmoud Bazzi, a former Lebanese militia fighter accused of murdering Private Thomas Barrett and Private Derek Smallhorne of the Irish Army in April 1980 in Southern Lebanon (seeAt Tiri Incident). O'Mahony was accompanied during his entire time in Lebanon by a Close Protection Team from the Army Ranger Wing.[123]

The ARW was chosen to spearhead the special operations task group (SOTG) for theEU Battlegroup rapid reaction force based in Germany, deploying in late 2019.[51] It was the fourth time the Irish Defence Forces served in the Battlegroup, but the first time the ARW have as a unit. The wider force comprises 1,500 troops from EU member states. The ARW trained with the battlegroup for six months after which they remained on standby with it for 18 months.[124] This overlapped with the unit's rotations to MINUSMA in Mali.

Reported domestic missions

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ARW maritime counter-terrorism exercise on theIrish Sea in 2011

In December 1983 the ARW was involved in an operation against aProvisional IRA "unit" on the loose in woodland in the South ofCounty Leitrim that had been holding hostage forransom a kidnapped businessman, the ARW having been sent in by the Government after the P-IRA had murdered a Garda officer and an Irish Army soldier that had found their hideout.[125]

In the early 1990s the ARW took part in operations in support of theGarda Emergency Response Unit against the Provisional IRA.[126]

In January 1997, two teams of 12 from the ARW were sent toMountjoy Prison in central Dublin where three prisoners armed with knives had taken two prison officers hostage and barricaded themselves inside the Medical Unit where they were threatening to kill the prison officers. The ARW took up positions ready to blow down the steel door to the unit and eliminate the threat posed by the hostage-takers. The siege ended within a few hours of the ARW being called in after the hostage-takers were made aware of their presence during negotiations and surrendered.[127]

In May 2011, the unit had a major role in protectingQueen Elizabeth II on herstate visit to Ireland,[128] where "viable" assassination attempts bydissident republican terrorists were prevented.[129][130] The ARW had airborne sniper teams in threeAgustaWestland AW139 helicopters, counter assault teams in themotorcade and a number of ground teams, including 20 close protection officers.[128]

Also in May 2011,President of the United StatesBarack Obama received protection from the ARW on his visit to Ireland just days after the visit of the Queen.[128][131] The two visits were the largest civil security operations ever undertaken in the Republic of Ireland,[132][133] both ultimately successful.

From January to July 2013, the wing formed part of the security apparatus for thePresidency of the Council of the European Union, held by Ireland for six months, which included supplying sniper and spotter teams. Also in June 2013, they helped secure theRepublic of Ireland–United Kingdom border on land and at sea as part of the security operation for the39th G8 summit inNorthern Ireland.[134]

In the early morning of 26 September 2023, an ARW Maritime Task Unit was involved in thestorming of MVMatthew, a Panamanian-registered bulk cargo vessel, off the coast of Cork in what was described as an "opposed boarding operation".[135] The ship had crossed the Atlantic from Venezuela; approximately 2,200 kilograms ofcocaine with an estimated street value of €157 million were found hidden on board the next day, in the largest seizure of illegal narcotics in Irish history.[136] The ship, which had been monitored after entering Irish territorial waters, reportedly refused orders to halt for inspection and headed forinternational waters when warning shots were fired by theLÉ William Butler Yeats. This was followed by ARW maritime operatorsfast roping onto the vessel from anIrish Air Corps helicopter. After the ship was secured, it was escorted intoCork Harbour for further investigation.[137][138] The 25 crew members detained for interview,[139] with nine people arrested (of whom one was released) as of 30 September[update].[140]

Casualties

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Three Rangers are known to have died while serving in the unit since its foundation in 1980, one of them overseas. Sergeant Derek Mooney, aged 33, of Blackrock, Dublin, died after theLand Rover Defender he was driving in a convoy overturned due to poor road conditions, 40 km south ofMonrovia, Liberia on 27 November 2003.[141] Sgt Kevin Mayne (1987) andRQMS Patsy Quirke (1998) also lost their lives while serving in the unit,[142] however no details regarding the cause of their deaths are publicly available. No other losses have been publicly disclosed.

In Paul O'Brien and Wayne Fitzgerald's bookShadow Warriors, it states "four operatives losing their lives while on active service" with the ARW, however, their names and details are omitted at the request of the Irish Defence Forces. They are remembered on a memorial located within the ARW compound at the Curragh Camp.[80]

Equipment

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Weapons

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In addition to standardweapons of the Irish Defence Forces, weapons used by the ARW include:-

Personal weapons

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NameOriginTypeCaliberPhotoNotes
Pistols
SIG Sauer P226  Germany
  Switzerland		Semi-automatic pistol9×19mm Parabellum [68][143]
SIG Sauer P228 [33][68]
Heckler & Koch USP  Germany Suppressed[68]
Submachine guns
FN P90  BelgiumPersonal defense weaponFN 5.7×28mm [68][144][145]
Heckler & Koch MP5  GermanySubmachine gun9×19mm Parabellum IncludingMP5A3, MP5SD6, MP5F and MP5K variants[68][143]
Combat shotguns
Benelli M3T (Tactical)  ItalySemi-automatic shotgun12 gauge [68]
Benelli M4 Super 90 [68]
Franchi SPAS-12Combat shotgun [68]
Remington Model 870  United StatesPump action [68][143]
Assault rifles/Carbines
Heckler & Koch HK416  GermanyAssault rifle5.56×45mm NATO HK416 A5 in 11" and 14.5" variants.
Steyr AUG A1  AustriaBullpupassault rifle [68]
Steyr AUG A3Bullpupassault rifle [68]
Sniper rifles
Heckler & Koch HK417  GermanyBattle rifle7.62×51mm NATO Suppressed[68]
Accuracy International Arctic Warfare Magnum  United KingdomBolt actionsniper rifle.338 Lapua Magnum [39][68][146]
Accuracy International AW5012.7×99mm NATO [147][39][68][146]
Light machine guns
FN Minimi  BelgiumLight machine gun5.56×45mm NATO Para[33][68]

Support weapons

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ACMAT VLRA used by the ARW as a 'mothership' to resupply Ford F-350 SRV
 
Ranger parachuting for ARW 30th Anniversary in 2010

Vehicle-mounted weapons

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Specialised equipment

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Terrain vehicles

Watercraft

Parachuting

See also

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  1. ^abcde"Army Ranger Wing - 10 Years in Existence"(PDF).An Cosantóir.50 (4):2–3. April 1990. Archived fromthe original(PDF) on 7 November 2017. Retrieved14 November 2016.
  2. ^"Defence Forces Training Centre".Defence Forces. Retrieved14 November 2016.
  3. ^"Sciathán Finnóglach na hAirm (Army Ranger Wing)".28 January 2009. Shadow Spear. Archived fromthe original on 8 April 2019. Retrieved14 May 2014.
  4. ^abcd"The Army Ranger Wing".Defence Forces.Archived from the original on 14 May 2014. Retrieved19 November 2016.
  5. ^abcdefBourke, Wesley (April 2010)."ARW 30 years in action"(PDF).An Cosantóir.70 (3). Retrieved14 November 2016.
  6. ^ab"About The ARW".military.ie. Irish Defence Forces. Retrieved11 September 2021.Unit is officially designated 'Sciathán Fianóglach an Airm' which is translated as 'The Army Ranger Wing' (ARW)
  7. ^abcBourke, Wesley (August 2007)."Tomorrow's Forces Today"(PDF).An Cosantóir.67 (6):6–7. Archived fromthe original(PDF) on 5 March 2017. Retrieved18 November 2016.
  8. ^ab"White Paper on Defence".Department of Defence. August 2015. Archived fromthe original on 1 February 2017. Retrieved18 November 2016.
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