LÉ Aoife (P22)
 Aoife at Haulbowline in March 2008 | |
| Career (Ireland) |  |
|---|---|
| Name: | LÉ Aoife (P22) |
| Namesake: | Aoife, step-mother to the children of Lir |
| Laid down: | 3 July 1978 |
| Launched: | 12 April 1979 |
| Commissioned: | 29 November 1979 |
| Decommissioned: | 31 January 2015 |
| In service: | No |
| Out of service: | 31 January 2015 |
| Homeport: | Haulbowline Naval Base |
| Identification: | P22 |
| Fate: | Donated to Malta, 2015 |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type: | Emer class OPV |
| Type: | Offshore Patrol Vessel |
| Displacement: | 1019.5 tonnes Standard |
| Length: | 65.2 m (214 ft) overall |
| Beam: | 10.5 m (34 ft) |
| Draught: | 4.4 m (14 ft) |
| Speed: | 31.5 km/h (17.0 kn) maximum |
| Complement: | 46 (5 Officers and 41 Ratings ) |
| Armament: | 1 x Bofors 40mm 2 x Rheinmetall Rh202 20mm Cannons 7.62mm L7 GPMGs |
LÉ Aoife (P22) was an offshore patrol vessel in the Irish Naval Service. The ship was named after Aoife, step-mother to the children of Lir, whom she turned into swans. It is the sister ship of the LÉ Deirdre (decommissioned in 2001), the LÉ Emer (decommissioned in 2013) and the LÉ Aisling (in active service).
Operational History
Aoife was commissioned after funding became available from the European Union (then known as the EEC) when the Irish Exclusive Fisheries Zone was extended from 12 nautical miles to 200 nautical miles in 1976.[1]
Aoife operated primarily as a fisheries protection vessel but had assisted in emergency rescue operations as well as other naval support roles.L.E. Aoife was the refueling vessel used in Richard Bransons 'Virgin Challenger' record attempt Atlantic crossing in 1986. In October 2004, Aoife assisted in the rescue of the Canadian Navy submarine Chicoutimi off the north-western coast of Ireland. In July 2007, Aoife assisted in the rescue of over 100 children taking part in a sailing regatta off Dun Laoghaire Harbour.[2]
Despite the ship's home port being Haulbowline Island in Cork Harbour, it had a close relationship with the city of Waterford and its crew regularly fund-raised for the children's ward of Waterford Regional Hospital.[3]
LÉ Aoife was decommissioned in Waterford on 31 January 2015 and later donated to Malta.[4][5] When it is commissioned, it will be the largest ship in the Maritime Squadron of the Armed Forces of Malta, since it is larger than the present flagship, the Diciotti class offshore patrol boat P61.
External links
References
- ↑ "A History of the Naval Service". National Maritime College of Ireland. Retrieved 20 April 2015.
- ↑ "News and Events". 62 Reserve Artillery Regiment. Retrieved 20 April 2015.
- ↑ "The Mayor of Waterford, Cllr Mary O’Halloran, accompanied by Lt.Cdr. Brian Dempsey, inspects a guard of honour at the Naval Vessel L.E. AOIFE whilst docked in Waterford.". eircom.net. Retrieved 20 April 2015.
- ↑ Brophy, Daragh (19 February 2015). "We’ve just given Malta a naval ship, instead of selling it". thejournal.ie. Retrieved 20 April 2015.
- ↑ "Ireland and Malta to explore further defence co-operation in the context of European security, peacekeeping and crisis management operations". Department of Defence. 19 February 2015. Retrieved 20 April 2015.
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