More info on Ammo ships bound for Cork

national | miscellaneous | news report Tuesday August 06, 2002 12:41 by John Jefferies - The Workers' Party (Cork) wpcork at eircom dot net Thomas Ashe Hall, 15 Fr. Mathew Quay, Cork 021-4270409

Further information on forthcoming visit to Cork Harbour of US Navy cargo ships carrying weapons, ammunition and supplies.

The Department of Foreign Affairs is "not concerned" that the forthcoming visit of two ammunition ships to Cork Harbour will breach Irish neutrality.

The ships in question, the 1st Lt. Harry L. Martin and USNS Eugene A. Obregon are due in the harbour on 29th August. It is believed they are heading for the Mediterranean.

The ships were recently involved in Operation "Dynamic Mix 2002" (May-June) and were part of a squadron which off-loaded more than 450 pieces of military hardware — delivering the equipment for US Marines participating in the NATO exercises off the coast of Spain. Obregon and Martin both belong to a squadron of six ships strategically prepositioned in the Mediterranean, which together carry enough combat equipment and supplies for about 17,000 U.S. Marines for 30 days.

Photos from Operation Dynamic Mix 2002 show military tanks being offloaded from the Eugene Obregon. The department of Foreign Affairs told me that they had sought assurance from the US Navy that the ships were not carrying nuclear weapons. It seems that other weapons (such as tanks and missile launchers) don't concern the Irish government.