As a former member of the FCA (1989-1996) I think that’s the first time I’ve heard the words “high quality” being used in the same sentence as Irish military equipment/uniforms 🤣🤣
@@heritage195 I turned up every week for training. Went to camp each year. Was on the shooting team for rifle, bren, and SMG. And was an NCO when I left.
Operation Mallard , Autumn 1987 arms searches etc. Navy gave significant support. I was in the navy at the time. Wet gear was the biggest problem. The army stuff in use at the was pathetic, soldiers overloaded for small boat ops and Gardai were worse off.
@@heritage195 no need to be a cockwomble ... its a valid and genuine question, aimed at a amateur historian that i assume has knowledge on the subject.
@@neilcastell6951 I apologise Neil, it is a question that is freqently agenda loaded so I hope you will understand my shooting from the hip. The answer is they were as serious as they were on the northern side. We had as much to lose and probably much more if they gained the upper hand.
@@heritage195 ok, understood .... my knowledge of activities on the other side of the border, is almost nil ... i've read a few accounts of IRA training camps being raided. Large parts of the border seems pretty much uncontrollable and porous. I know many IRA guys when things got to hot would head south for awhile. I also heard a few accounts of british army patrols occasionally wandering across the border. There must have been deconfliction protocols because i never heard of any accidental deaths among the security forces. (or maybe it was kept quiet)
@@hughhughp68 agreed.. For example the styer Aug had no reliability issues but the SA80 was plagued with them such as magazines falling out due to the design of the mag release latch, iron sights snapping off and telescopic sights fogging up.. It took YEARS to get that rifle sorted despite it having been in development for years so much that a small number of the early /prototype versions were tested under actual combat conditions in the Falklands war.
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As a former member of the FCA (1989-1996) I think that’s the first time I’ve heard the words “high quality” being used in the same sentence as Irish military equipment/uniforms
🤣🤣
The combat coat is objectively well-made and heavy duty compared to many of its contemporaries of the 1980s.
If you've ever seen British 84/85 pattern uniform you'd definitely agree the Irish uniform was High quality ! Lol
Ho Chi Minh jackets of the FCA lololol
Typical sandbag comment. Sounds like you didn't get out much. Did you actually turn up for your training parades?
@@heritage195 I turned up every week for training. Went to camp each year. Was on the shooting team for rifle, bren, and SMG. And was an NCO when I left.
Thank you for showing some of irelands history rifleman Moore
Hot off the heels of John's video I see :) Another great video, keep up the good work.
Nice presentation. Well done!
Fantastic mate thank god I had the PLCE webbing
Operation Mallard , Autumn 1987 arms searches etc. Navy gave significant support. I was in the navy at the time. Wet gear was the biggest problem. The army stuff in use at the was pathetic, soldiers overloaded for small boat ops and Gardai were worse off.
Very interesting collect.
FCA = Free Clothing Association
After about 4 washs they changed colour to"" field gray""🤣
how serious were the irish police and/or army
at intercepting republican terrorist activities along the border?
Another man who didn't get out much or learn much!
@@heritage195 no need to be a cockwomble ... its a valid and genuine question, aimed at a amateur historian that i assume has knowledge on the subject.
@@neilcastell6951 I apologise Neil, it is a question that is freqently agenda loaded so I hope you will understand my shooting from the hip. The answer is they were as serious as they were on the northern side. We had as much to lose and probably much more if they gained the upper hand.
@@heritage195 exactly. Well said.
@@heritage195 ok, understood .... my knowledge of activities on the other side of the border, is almost nil ... i've read a few accounts of IRA training camps being raided. Large parts of the border seems pretty much uncontrollable and porous.
I know many IRA guys when things got to hot would head south for awhile. I also heard a few accounts of british army patrols occasionally wandering across the border. There must have been deconfliction protocols because i never heard of any accidental deaths among the security forces. (or maybe it was kept quiet)
Am saying nothing calling that lot an army.
They are an Army and very well trained too and very well equipped on a personal level.
@@hughhughp68 agreed.. For example the styer Aug had no reliability issues but the SA80 was plagued with them such as magazines falling out due to the design of the mag release latch, iron sights snapping off and telescopic sights fogging up.. It took YEARS to get that rifle sorted despite it having been in development for years so much that a small number of the early /prototype versions were tested under actual combat conditions in the Falklands war.