Army Equipment
This page will give some details of the basic equipment used by the Irish Army during the Emergency period. At the end of the page can be found a list of weaphons holdings for the emergency period.
Infantry Equipment
Small arms and Support weapons
Lee-Enfield .303 Rifle - The standard weapon of the infantry.
Springfield .300 rifle - Stocks of this weapon were received from the US in 1940 and were distributed to the LDF for use. Main problem with this weapon was a lack of ammunition for the type.
Vickers .303 Medium MG - The standard heavy machine gun of the battalions.
Light MG's:
Lewis .303 - An aging weapon which became difficult to maintain but which constituted the main light MG for the army.
- Hotchkiss .303 - Another older weapon described as obsolescent but which had to be used for lack of suitable replacement.
- Bren .303 - The modern and favored weapon, of which only small numbers could be obtained.
Mortars
-
Brandt 81mm - The standard battalion mortar until 1943, which gave the battalions a semblance of mortar support.
- 3" mortar - A stock of these weapons doubled the battalions mortar support but still left it some what deficient in numbers.
Boyes 0.55" Anti tank rifle - This large calibre weapon constituted the armies only anti armour weapon in any numbers, a weapon which was useless against all but light armour.
Artillery
18 Pounder
3.7 Inch
4.5 Inch
75mm
