Ireland in the VBCW

[Gallowglass]

Do please consult the links already provided on the first page of this thread, gentlemen.

The Irish Cavalry Corps 1939-45

Armoured Car Corps was consituted in August 1922 with HQ at Dublin.

   Nine armoured car companies were created with a varying number of cars.
   Corps HQ moved to The Curragh in 1924 and organization reduced to a HQ and four companies
      One Company at The Curragh
      One Company at Dublin
      One Company in Cork
      One Company in Athlone
   All companies moved to The Curragh in 1925.
   Vehicle strength after the move was:
      13 Rolls Royce Armoured Cars
      7 Peerless Armoured Cars
      64 Lancia Armoured Cars
   A Vickers Medium C Tank purchased in England in 1929
   Depot (recruit training unit) and a school were added in 1931
      Separate companies were joined into the 1st Armoured Squadron also in 1931
   1st Cyclist Squadron was added in 1933
   Name changed to the Cavalry Corps in 1933 at the same time as 1st Cyclist Squadron added.
   After 1933 reorganization the Cavalry Corps included the following:
      1st Armoured Car Squadron
      2nd Armoured Car Squadron (Cadre)
      1st Cyclist Squadron
      1st Horse Squadron
      2nd Horse Squadron
      School and Workshops
      Volunteer Force (a reserve)
         19 Cyclist Squadrons
         6 Horse Squadrons
         5 sub-depots
   Note - Horse Squadrons had all ranks mounted on bicycles
   Four Leyland Terrier chassis were purchased in 1933
      Turrets purchased from Landsverk of Sweden
      Engines replaced by Ford engines
   In 1936 eight Landsverk L180 Armoured Cars and two Landswerk L60A Light Tanks purchased.
   Four, six and eight-cylindered Ford Light Trucks with M-Gs purchased starting in 1939
      These vehicles were called 'Bug Chasers' and formed into motor squadrons as reconnaissance
         units, one for each infantry brigade
   1st Motor Squadron in 1939 included the following:
      Four Reconnaissance Troops
      Each troop had five cars and 15 motorcycles
      Later, an armoured troop with four Landsverk and Rolls Royce ACs temporarily detached from
         1st and 2nd Armoured Squadrons replaced one reconnaissance troop in this and subsequent
         squadrons
      Six more motor squadrons formed during WWII.
   Lancias had been withdrawn from service by WWII.
   2nd and 3rd Armoured Squadrons were formed in 1941.
      Armed with Leyland, Lansverk, Rolls Royce, Dodge and Ford Armoured Cars
   Carrier Squadron formed in WWII equipped with British Universal Carriers
   Four more Landsverk L180s were ordered from Sweden but fell into German hands
   4th Armoured Squadron formed in 1944
      Equipped with 40 of several Marks of British Beaverette Armoured Cars
      Personnel came from disbanded Carrier Squadron. 26 carriers turned over to infantry units.
   All units listed above were formed into 1st Armoured Regiment in 1942
      This was for large-scale maneuvers and not used after that.
   After the war the Cavalry Establishment reduced to:
      Headquarters
      School and Workshops
      one armoured car squadron
      one motor squadron

Summary of Irish Marks for Armoured Cars and other vehicles:

   Mark I   1920 Rolls Royce called Whippets - 13 obtained
   Mark II   1936 Landsverk L180 - 8 purchased
   Mark III   1933 Mark II type hull mounted on Leyland chassis
   Mark IV   1938 Ford 1.5 ton
   Mark V   1938 Fored 122-in. - 14 built
   Mark VI   1938 MkV with Vickers M-G on Landsverk turret
   Mark VII   1939 Dodge 30 hp with Landsverk turret
   Mark VIII   Mark VII with Vickers 50 cal M-G and .303 cal M-G
   Mark IX   British Beaverette of various marks - 40 purchased
   Peerless   1921, 7 from British - Armor used by other vechicles after 1934
   Lancia   1922, - 64 obtained - withdrawn from served by WWII
   Crossley Tender   1922, Open topped utility cars
   Ford   1934-39, Bug Chasers
   Landsverk L60A Tank   Two purchased from Sweden
   Vickers Medium D Tank   1929, one purchased from Britain
   Universal Carrier   26 purchased from England

Other equipment:

http://www.csn.ul.ie/~dan/war/equip.htm

Irish Army AFVs:



This photograph is dated as 1941. I have my doubts about that. I think it's much more likely to come from the 1930s.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irish_Army_Armoured_Fighting_Vehicles

[commissarmoody]

I found these:





One of four Gloster Gladiators delivered from 1937. They were numbered 23-26.

Thanks for the pic's, I am just guessing the guys with 2nd from the left was not informed that he could ajust his chin strap, don't really know what the other Joe's are up to....
And thinks for the list GG vary helpful.
And for any one interested I talked to the guys the GB and they said they would be more then happy to toss what ever type of heads you wanted in to your woodbine design order. Just tell them when you place the order.

 So  I predict some time in next month I should have my first order on the way.
 

[commissarmoody]

If any one is interested I found this while looking threw the Gentlemen's war pallor site.


http://gwargamesp.18.forumer.com/index.php?showtopic=2429&st=0

[paul c]

I understand that Reiver are bringing out Irish Free State troops soon;

http://reivercasting.wordpress.com/

[commissarmoody]

Figures they would do that after I just sent off an order to Gripping beast. 

How well to the Reiver mins stack up to musketeer and Woodbin designs?