Northern Ireland Squadron
Encyclopedia
The Northern Ireland Squadron was a unit of the Royal Navy
. It was established during the conflict in Northern Ireland
known as the Troubles
to interdict the movement by sea of illegal arms for paramilitaries and to provide other material support for anti-terrorist operations in Northern Ireland.
The squadron was moved to HM Naval Base Clyde, aka Faslane Naval Base
, Scotland
in 1993.
In 1993, River-class
minesweepers
, , , , and were assigned to the Northern Ireland Squadron where they replaced Ton-class minesweepers
.
The River-class vessels were replaced in 1998 with Hunt-class mine countermeasures vessels (MCMVs).
In 2005, with the Provisional Irish Republican Army
having decided to enter into a permanent ceasefire, it was decided that the squadron was no longer required. The last three ships of the squadron, the Hunt-class ships , , and , were decommissioned on 19 July 2005.
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
. It was established during the conflict in Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
known as the Troubles
The Troubles
The Troubles was a period of ethno-political conflict in Northern Ireland which spilled over at various times into England, the Republic of Ireland, and mainland Europe. The duration of the Troubles is conventionally dated from the late 1960s and considered by many to have ended with the Belfast...
to interdict the movement by sea of illegal arms for paramilitaries and to provide other material support for anti-terrorist operations in Northern Ireland.
The squadron was moved to HM Naval Base Clyde, aka Faslane Naval Base
HMNB Clyde
Her Majesty's Naval Base Clyde is one of three operating bases in the United Kingdom for the Royal Navy...
, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
in 1993.
In 1993, River-class
River class minesweeper
The River class was a class of minesweeper built for the British Royal Navy in the 1980s, designated Fleet Minesweepers .-Design:The Rivers were built with a traditional steel hull to a design based on a commercial offshore support vessel...
minesweepers
Minesweeper (ship)
A minesweeper is a small naval warship designed to counter the threat posed by naval mines. Minesweepers generally detect then neutralize mines in advance of other naval operations.-History:...
, , , , and were assigned to the Northern Ireland Squadron where they replaced Ton-class minesweepers
Ton class minesweeper
The Ton class were coastal minesweepers built in the 1950s for the Royal Navy, but also used by other navies such as the South African Navy and the Royal Australian Navy...
.
The River-class vessels were replaced in 1998 with Hunt-class mine countermeasures vessels (MCMVs).
In 2005, with the Provisional Irish Republican Army
Provisional Irish Republican Army
The Provisional Irish Republican Army is an Irish republican paramilitary organisation whose aim was to remove Northern Ireland from the United Kingdom and bring about a socialist republic within a united Ireland by force of arms and political persuasion...
having decided to enter into a permanent ceasefire, it was decided that the squadron was no longer required. The last three ships of the squadron, the Hunt-class ships , , and , were decommissioned on 19 July 2005.