LÉ Orla (P41)

Career (Ireland)
Name:Orla (P41)
Namesake: Orla, a grand niece of Brian Boru
Ordered: 1983
Builder: Hall Russell
Cost: £7.4m (1984 pounds)
Commissioned: 3 May 1985
Homeport: Haulbowline Naval Base
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 ft 11 in)
Propulsion:2 diesels, 2 shafts, 10,600 kW (14,188 bhp), 1 Schottel 'Loiter Drive' ( ≈180 bhp)
Speed:25.0 kn (46.3 km/h)
Boats and landing
craft carried:
X2 Avon 5.4m seariders
Complement:39 (6 Officers and 33 ratings)
Armament:1x76mm OTO Melara Cannon
2 x Rh202 Rheinmetall 20mm Cannon
4x7.62mm GPMG
Armour:Belted Steel
Notes:redir

LÉ Orla (P41) is a Peacock-class patrol vessel in the Irish Naval Service. Like the rest of her class, she was originally designed for use by the British Royal Navy in Hong Kong waters, and was delivered in 1985 by Hall, Russell & Company[1] as HMS Swift (P243). She is the sister ship to LÉ Ciara.

In November 2008, the LÉ Orla assisted in Operation Seabight which resulted in the largest seizure of cocaine in the history of the state.[2]

Specifications

LÉ Orla (P41) has 712 tons displacement, fully loaded, was launched in 1984 and bought by the Irish government in 1988. She is powered by two Crossley Pielstick 18 PA6V 280 diesels rated at 10,000 kW (14,000 hp), providing a top speed of 25 knots (46 km/h; 29 mph) and a range of 4,000 kilometres (2,500 mi) at 17 knots (31 km/h; 20 mph).[3] She carries a crew of 39, including six officers. She is armed with one 76 mm/62 OTO Melara compact gun; 2 x 20mm Rh202 Rheinmetall weapons and four 7.62 mm machine-guns.

Etymology

The ship is named after Orla, a grand niece (great niece) of Brian Boru. She was murdered by her husband around 1090.[3] The crest shows the arms of Clare on the top segment and a sword and royal collar on the base.[3]

History

By August 2014, LÉ Orla was out of commission for several months due to asbestos being discovered on the ship.[4]

References

External links