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The Irish Times The Irish Times ____________________________ 200 Troops “Ambushed” in Wicklow IRISH TIMES REPORTER ______________________________ THE sharp crack of rifles, the stutter of machine-guns and the ear- splitting blast of other heavier weapons echoed through the Glen of Imaal, Co. Wicklow, yesterday, as 200 troops fought their way through an “ambush”. But the only real shooting that met them was that triggered by movie- cameramen and press photographers who were covering a demonstration exercise, the object of which was to familiarise about 70 recruits in their last stages of elementary training. A cavalry advance-guard, consisting of four Landrovers and two Landsverk armoured cars, came to an abrupt halt along a laneway, when a landmine exploded near the leading armoured car. Then from behind a hill, the “enemy” opened fire (simulated by explosions), Troops armed with rifles and sub-machine-guns, jumped from the vehicles to retaliate, and the armoured cars opened up with their cannon. Before the final assault, the “enemy” position was brought under medium machine-gun, mortar and artillery fire from support positions. The action which was conducted by Commandant W. A. Mulligan, 4th Motor Squadron, Curragh, and watched by Lt-Col. Donal McCormack, Officer Commanding, General Training Depot, Curragh, and Lt-Col. Patrick Hassett, Executive Officer, Curragh Training Camp, was observed two platoons of recruits, who heard a commentary by their instructors. The troops taking part were from the following units: 1st Armoured Squadron (Landsverk armoured cars). 2nd Motor Squadron (Landrovers and motor-cyclists), 3rd Curragh Battalion (medium machine-guns and 60mm mortars). 2nd Field Artillery Regiment (25-pounder howitzers), 4th Field Artillery Regiment (120 mm mortar), Depot Signal Corps (communications and safety net), and Depot Engineer Corps (explosives). Irish Times Wednesday, December 31st , 1958 Transcribed by Matt McNamara – May 2018 1 A mine explodes as a Landsverk armoured car comes into “enemy” territory during an Army demonstration in the Glen of Imaal, Co. Wicklow, yesterday. The Curragh Command Flash. 2 Personnel from the Depot Engineers, Curragh Camp prepare some explosive demolitions, Glen of Imaal, 1990s (Photo: Sgt Dan Whelan) 3 A Landsverk armoured car (ZC 5840) of the 1st Armoured Car Squadron, Plunkett Barracks, Curragh Camp. Unit Shoulder Flash of the 1st Armoured Car Squadron (Curragh) The unit disbanded in 1998 in a Defence Forces Reorganisation 4 Motorcyclists of the 2nd Cavalry Squadron 1950s Unit Shoulder Flash of the 2nd Cavalry Squadron (Dublin) 5 A 25-Pounder Artillery Gun (Howitzer) of the 2nd Field Artillery Regiment (Athlone, formally McKee Bks, Dublin) Unit Shoulder Flash of the 2nd Field Artillery Regiment (Athlone) 6 A modern photograph of Artillery Gunners of the 4th Field Artillery Regiment (Mullingar) The unit was disbanded in 2012 in a Defence Forces Reorganisation. Unit Shoulder Flash of the 4th Field Artillery Regiment (Formally Mullingar Bks) 7 Unit Shoulder Flash of the 3rd Infantry Battalion (The Bloods) The 1998 Defence Forces Reorganisation saw the 3rd Inf Bn move from The Curragh Camp to it’s new home in Kilkenny. One company remained (B Coy) and the new Mowag Armoured Personnel Carrier was introduced to the Defence Forces. B Company later became 1st Mechanised Infantry Company, DFTC 8 The Bloods The MOWAG Piranha III preparing for exercise in The Curragh Camp. 9 .
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