Who has a stronger military today England or Ireland?

Wren M

Firstly Englandâ€™s armed forces are part of the Armed Forces of the UK.

Secondly letâ€™s look at the facts;

Ireland spends $1.3 billion US dollars on defence; the UK spends $70 billion US dollars, the 2nd highest expenditure in the world (2nd only to the US, Ireland is ranked 56)

The UK has around 421,000 men under arms (Army, Navy, Royal Marines, Air Force, Reserves and Territorialâ€™s) Ireland has 10,500

The UK has a strategic Nuclear Deterrent, Ireland does not.

The Royal Navy has 10 Nuclear powered Attack Submarines, 4 SSBN Submarines, 3 Aircraft Carriers, a large number of Frigates, Destroyers and other ships amounting to the 2nd largest navy in the world (in gross tonnage) with around 120 ships in commission. The Irish Naval Service has 8 patrol vessels only.

The Royal Air Force operates just under 400 fast jets; the Irish Air Corps operates just 27 aircraft and does not have any combat jets at all.

The British Army has around 7000 vehicles (including around 450 tanks and 3000 APC), the Irish Army has around 200 vehicles (NO Tanks and around 40 APC)

So Iâ€™ll let you make your own mind up on who is more powerful!!

conranger1

Janus hit the nail on the head with his reply.

The Irish Military are known as the Irish Defence Forces.

http://www.military.ie/

The Irish also served continually in South Lebanon from 1978 to 2000 with U.N.I.F.I.L. where over 40 Irish members gave their lives in the service of peace

The Role of the Irish Defence Forces:

The Defence Forcesâ€™ mission is: â€œTo contribute to the security of the State by providing for the military defence of its territorial integrity and to fulfill all roles assigned by Government, through the deployment of well-motivated and effective Defence Forces.â€

The mission statement identifies the core activity of the Defence Forces, points to a diverse range of additional tasks, which may be assigned by Government, and emphasizes the importance of Defence Forcesâ€™ personnel and the need for a flexible operational capacity.

The roles assigned by Government are:

* To defend the State against armed aggression; this being a contingency, preparations for its implementation will depend on an ongoing Government assessment of threats.

* To aid the Civil Power (meaning in practice to assist, when requested, the Garda SÃochÃ¡na, (Police) who have primary responsibility for law and order, including the protection of the internal security of the State).

* To participate in multinational peace support, crisis management and humanitarian relief operations in support of the United Nations and under UN mandate, including regional security missions authorized by the UN.

* To provide a fishery protection service in accordance with the Stateâ€™s obligations as a member of the European Union.

* To carry out such other duties as may be assigned to them from time to time e.g. search and rescue, air ambulance service, ministerial air transport service, assistance on the occasion of natural or other disasters, assistance in connection with the maintenance of essential services, assistance in combating oil pollution at sea.

The Republic of Ireland has a Defence Force, which consists of the Army, Navy, and Aer Corps, the Reserve is known as the F.C.A for the army & cavalry, the (CÃºltaca na SeirbhÃs Cabhlaigh) is the Naval Reserve.

Recently the Irish joined the:

E.U. Exercise Northern Resolution

for Nordic Battle Group Training

7 November 2007

The Defence Forces contribution of over 100 men and women to the 2,600 strong Nordic Battlegroup (NBG) is currently being put through rigorous training inside the Arctic Circle alongside their colleagues from Sweden, Finland, Norway and Estonia. The troops are in the field at Jokkmokk in Northern Sweden on Exercise Northern Resolution since 03 November 2007. Day time temperatures reach a high of -5 degrees Celsius. This exercise will continue until 12 November and the Irish specialist search and bomb disposal unit will be involved assisting the Swedish battle-group commander.

Irish troops have experienced these harsh temperatures in Kosovo as part of the UN mandated, NATO led peacekeeping mission. However, the conditions in Sweden are more basic given that the exercise involved a strategic move of all troops by rail from SKOVDE 1500 kilometres south. Throughout the exercise the NBG is proving its command and control procedures, rapid deployment ability and logistical capabilities in a harsh climate. The N.B.G. is the first of 15 such battle-groups to carry out full operational testing of its ability. This will stand it well for its stand by period from 01 January - 30 June 2008.

On completion of this exercise the troops will return to Ireland on 15 Novemeber 2007 and prepare for its 6 month stand-by period. The troops are drawn mainly from 4 Western Brigade and are garrisoned in Custume Barracks, Athlone.

On 07 November 2007, the N.B.G exercise was visited by Minister for Defence; Mr Willie O'Dea, TD accompanied by the Chief of Staff; Lieutenant General Dermot Earley.

Ireland is NOT part of N.A.T.O. and receives NO funding from the British.

Traditionally a large number of British Military Soldiers were volunteers from Ireland, both before and after the country became a Republic in 1922.

joelopster

England by far

Panos

England has almost 60.000.000 peeps in it.Ireland has 2 mill.
What exactly are you asking again???

janus

Ireland has its own army and is not linked to Britains,unlike what some here says.It being a small Country it has a Small Army of about 12,000 Men it is called Oglaig Na H'Eireann. It has some good Equipment ,but it has only a few Medium size Tanks. It has some decent Quality Armoured Cars and Personnel Carriers and Field Guns.It has Six Naval Vessels,used mostly for Coastguard and Fishery Protection. Its Army Aer Corps has a few Trainer Jets,which could only be used as Anti Tank Attackers,and some Prop Driven Planes,and also some Helicopters.It has a part time reserve like the Territorials in Britain ,and they go for Training every Two weeks.They are I think around 20, 000 or used to be.They are called Forci Cosanta Aituill or the FCA for short. They do marvelous work Overseas in the UN in places like Former Yugoslavia and Africa. They certainly would not be a match against Britains Army. It is not Funded by Britain,Ireland is an Independant Country.

CLYDE55

Here we go again, England when they mean Britain.
This does my nut in.

Proper Gander

err well, we have one of the best, fittest most highly trained troops in the world, 21st century navy,aircraft, armour and other weaponry and a large nuclear arsenal.

You've got some 'orange men' with hairy cheeks and a big drum.

GAMER VET

Well Ireland has more money then England. England has a good military & Navy then Ireland. Not only that, have you ever heard the term "SAS"?

LadyMoonlight!!

If you replaced "England" with "UK" your question might make sense.

Its the BRITISH army (ie includes people from Wales and Scotland as well as England)

And as far as I know the British army is much larger than Ireland's.

hms jollies

another one England is not the end all it a small country with little minded folk like you

SeÃ¡n O

A lot of stupid comments. The UK military and its NATO membership are a significantly more formidable force than Ireland could ever hope to put together. Ireland has no tactical support capacity - i.e. imports 99+% of its weapons and materials. The RAF is a super modern well trained organisation, the Royal Navy, which includes a nuclear submarine, is second to none. Ireland's defence forces are largely ceremonial and in true terms hasn't the capacity to defend itself against an enemy with the economic or military capacity to attack (i.e. invade) it. The UK, has 12 million people that theoretically can be called to military service in a national emergency. The whole island of Ireland has less than 6 million people. Do the math.

Richard

O..KK then? England, Wales, Scotland, N.Ireland Armies( British Army) is the biggest and the most powerfull army in Europe and around 2nd to 4th in the World, it spends around$70,000,000,000 each year and is deployed in over 80 countries! Ireland on the other hand declarded independence on the U.K like most other countires (Canada, Australia ect). Ireland has one of the smallest armys in the world if it does have one. UK has a population of over 62million, Ireland has 6million including the UK state/country of Northen Ireland. I think it shows whos the Most powerfull U.K or Ireland. Its defo UK (United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northen Ireland)
By the way the UK is the 4th or 5th richest country in the world what are youn on about UK is defo richer than Ireland!

lunatic_asylum_seeker

Yep, as has been said Ireland isn't in NATO but there's almost certainly an unwritten agreement that NATO and the UK would come to its defence if ever required.

If the Russian navy was sailing up and down its western coast you can be sure that the Royal Navy would be there watching them.

RayN-is-back

I would hope Ireland Been with both get alone fine with them,the English....Well..I watch my back when I'm around them

mr perfect

well considering Ireland army is British run and funded i do`NT see your point

rnwallace07

Ireland does not have a separate military army. All military functions are through the British military. The Irish Republican Army (IRA) is not a military army, but an army of individuals. This term may have led to your confusion.

Platobeenz

What have you heard? Who is invading who?

nikitas743

England doesn't have an army. The UK has an army and there is no comparison between the British Army and the Republic of Ireland boy scouts!

Yhoshua

Ireland because the english are inferior

(english mentality back then and now, what goes around comes around)

Enter Your Message or Comment

User Name:
User Email:
Post a comment: