LÉ Ciara (P42)

LÉ "Ciara" (P42) is a sclass|Peacock|patrol vessel in the Irish Naval Service. She is the sister ship to "Orla". They were originally constructed in 1984 for the Royal Navy by Hall Russell. "Ciara" is the former HMS "Swallow" (P242) and she passed to the Irish Naval Service in 1988. Her official commissioning was by the then Taoiseach Mr. C. Haughey on 16 January 1989. Previously the vessel had been part of the Royal Navy Hong Kong patrol.

Etymology

This ship takes her name from a Tipperary woman who was born around the year 611. In her teens she took holy orders and founded a convent near Nenagh, Kilkeary. The ship's coat-of-arms depict three golden chalices which represent the three ancient dioceses among which Tipperary was divided. Also featured is a Celtic cross a representation of the North Cross at Athenny, County Tipperary. The coat of arms incorporates the Tipperary colours of Blue and Yellow as well as the background or field colours of the Tipperary Arms which is Ermine - white with a pattern of black arrowhead shaped points.

Weapons and Equipment

The ship's principal armament is a 76mm OTO Melara Gun with a convert|14|km|0|adj=on range which can fire 85 rounds per minute. There are also 2 single 12.7mm heavy machine guns and four single 7.62mm machine guns.

She is equipped with Navigation, Communications and Surveillance equipment, a fishery protect information system which is regularly updated via a satellite link with the Irish Naval Service base at Haulbowline Island, Cobh.

The "Ciara" has a cruising speed of 46.3 km/h (25 knots) and a sprint speed of 55.6 km/h (30 knots). The crewman have come to give the vessel the nickname Road Runner and this can be seen by the cartoon mascot on the funnel. [ [http://www.irishseashipping.com/archives/news/1997/MS0697.html June 1997 ] ] The name was chosen to signify that the "Ciara" is the fastest ship in the Irish Navy.

References

External links

* [http://www.military.ie/naval/flotilla/p42/ciara.htm IDF LÉ "Ciara" webpage]