Naval Presence Cut Heavily

Press, Volume CX, Issue 32396, 8 September 1970, Page 13

Naval Presence Cut Heavily

(N.Z. Press Assn. —Copyright) DUBLIN, Sept. 7. The Republic of Ireland does not rate highly among the great naval powers of the world, but its rating will slip even further this month. The Irish Ministry of Defence has announced that the fleet will be cut by two-thirds. Two of the navy’s three corvettes, used for fishery patrol duties, are being withdrawn from service because they leak. Ireland’s fleet consists of only three corvettes, all built in Britain during World War 11. The problem has been that in recent months two of the ships have broken down so often—and leaked so much—that the Ministry of Defence finally decided they were more of a danger to the men who sailed in them than to; the foreign fishing boats they

were supposed to chase out of Irish waters.

But the departure of the two boats, from active service will bring sorrow to some young Irishmen. The navy has been a popular career with many young men, not least, it is said, because the ships never went far from the shore and the crew could always be sure of being home in time for tea. The third corvette will remain in service, struggling along, but with a maximum speed at sea given officially as 10 to 12 knots she is appreciably slower than most of the fishing boats she is likely to chase. There is a ray of hope. Two new vessels are on order, designed for fishery protection work and with a much better top speed. They are not expected to be in service, how-' ever, for another twr> years.