LÉ Ciara (P42)
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 Command bridge and 76mm gun of Ciara |
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| Career (Ireland) |  |
|---|---|
| Name: | LÉ Ciara (P42) |
| Acquired: | 1988 |
| Commissioned: | 16 January 1989 |
| Nickname: | Road Runner |
| Status: | In active service |
| General characteristics | |
| Displacement: | 712 tonnes full load |
| Length: | 62.6 m (205 ft) |
| Beam: | 10 m (33 ft) |
| Draught: | 2.72 m (8.9 ft) |
| Propulsion: | 2 diesels, 2 shafts, 10,600 kW (14,188 bhp) |
| Speed: | 46.3 km/h (25.0 kn), cruising 55.6 km/h (30.0 kn), sprint |
| Complement: | 39 (6 Officers and 33 ratings) |
| Armament: | 1x76mm OTO Melara Cannon 2x12.7mm HMG 4x7.62mm GPMG |
| Armour: | Belted Steel |
LÉ Ciara (P42) is a Peacock-class 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.
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[edit] 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 Diocese 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.
[edit] Weapons and Equipment
The ship's principal armament is a 76mm OTO Melara Gun with a 14-kilometre (9 mi) 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.[1] The name was chosen to signify that the Ciara is the fastest ship in the Irish Navy.
[edit] References
[edit] External links
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