A failed 1916 Easter Monday Rebellion touched off several years of guerrilla warfare that in 1921 resulted in independence from the UK for the 26 southern counties; the six northern counties (Ulster) remained part of Great Britain. In 1948 Ireland withdrew from the British Commonwealth; it joined the European Community in 1973. Irish governments have sought the peaceful unification of Ireland and have cooperated with Britain against terrorist groups. A peace settlement for Northern Ireland, approved in 1998, has not yet been implemented. - US CIA World Factbook

1916 Dublin
Armored Lorry - Dublin Ireland

This remarkable vehicle was constructed during the Irish Easter Rising of 1916. The vehicle was built for the British Army in Dublin. On the morning of 30th April 1916 authority was given to build an armored car for convoy and patrol work. Work was finished by 6:30pm the same day, being done at the Great Southern Railway works at Inchmore. The lorry was a 3-ton Daimler commandeered from the Guinness brewery. The armored body was assembled from locomotive smoke boxes; flat steel plates protected cab and radiator, with a locomotive cab roof as overhead cover. Many of the loopholes in the circular body are actually painted-on dummies, to confuse snipers. The armor was not actually bullet proof at close ranges, but the curve of the body did help deflect bullets. After the Rising, the armor was returned to the railway works and the Daimler returned to the brewery to deliver Guinness.

Rolls Royce Armored Car---Rolls Royce Armored Car
Rolls Royce Armored Car
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Triota-Lancia Armored Car
Triota-Lancia Armored Car
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Peerless Armored Car
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Various trucks and truck conversions by Ford, and Dodge
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Leyland Armored Car (early model)---Leyland Armored Car---Leyland Armored Car (late model)
Leyland Armored Car

Irish early and late Leyland Armored Cars (with Landsverk armor). The left picture is of the early model.

Crossley Armored Car
Crossley Armored Car
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Landsverk L-182 Armored Car
Landsverk L-182 Armored Car
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Vickers Universal Carrier
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Vickers Medium C Tank
Vickers Medium C Tank
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Vickers Medium D - The Medium Mark D tank being introduced to Irish Army soldiers; the turret is reversed, showing the rear machine-gun position, while both the cupola and front gull door are open.
Vickers Medium D Tank

The only obvious difference between it and the Mark C was the fitting of the turret cupola for the commander. This tank remained in service until 1940, when it was damaged beyond economic repair in anti-tank defense trials; its turret was dismounted to form part of a pillbox; the hull being scrapped. Now only the gun survives as a treasured relic.

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Landsverk L-60A Tank

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Beaverette Armored Car

These tiny armored cars were hastily built in 1940 for the British Home Guard.

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Churchill Infantry Tank

Exact model and numbers are unknown.

Comet A34
Cruiser Tank A34 Comet

The Comet resulted from a hurried need to fit the 17pdr gun to the chassis of a Cromwell/Challenger. The 17pdr was also redesigned as well into a shorter, lighter version that came to be called the 77mm. Not on the prototype, return rollers were added to the production line as built by Leyland. A new, and much more aesthetic, turret was added. The design was all welded. The tanks were in service in early 1945. In service in Ireland from 1950 to 1970.

Specifications
Crew 5
Weight 32.5 Tons
Length 25' 1.5"
Width 10'
Height 8' 9.5"
Armor 14 - 101mm
Powerplant Meteor 600hp
Armament 1 x 77mm, 2 x 7.92mm MG
Performance 29 mph

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Last Update: Thursday, February 13, 2003