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 Operation Green

Unternehmen Grun


The United Kingdom fell to the Nazis in early August 1940, and Hitler gave his permission for the invasion of the Irish Free State in late September.  British forces in Northern Ireland have not surrendered, and Taoiseach (Prime Minister) Eammon de Valera stands by Ireland's neutrality and calls for an end to the partition of Ireland.  Churchill and the government (and Royal family) have escaped to Canada, and the US maintains its neutrality.  

At 7.00am on the morning of September 30, 1940, German airborne units parachute and glider assault into Rineanna (Shannon) and Baldonnell (Casement) aerodromes in the Irish Free State and Aldergrove airfield in Northern Ireland.  Simultaneously, amphibious forces will land on the Waterford and Wexford coast lines and establish two beach heads.  The airfields have to be secured intact by the paras thus allowing JU 52s to fly in reinforcements.

The Irish Defense Forces are under strength, under equipped, and lack combat experience.  The Air Corp consists of three Gloster Gladiators at Baldonnell, and Walrus flying boats and Ansons at Rineanna. There is no radar to warn of any air attacks, and there is no navy to protect the coastline.  British unit commanders have offered their assistance to the Free State, but de Valera has refused, as he is worried about violating Irish neutrality and giving Hitler an excuse to invade.


Baldonnel Defenses:

1 platoon of Irish Infantry

1 Boffars AA gun

2 Lewis MGs (AA version)

1 2 pdr. gun

1 Ford Armored Car

1 Bren Gun carrier

1 Vickers MG team


German Forces:

5 DFS 230 gliders each carrying a pilot and a 8-9 man Fallschirmjager squad.  The glider had a roof hatch MG 15 (7.92mm).  4 gliders carry a squad each with the fifth glider carrying support weapons.


                                                            Baldonnell Control Tower


Single Lewis MG

                                                            Gloster Gladiator

Gloster Gladiator

                                                                Twin Lewis MG

                                                                    Boffar 40mm AA Gun
                                                                Air Hanger

                                                                        Type 23 Pill Box

                                                                        Type 26 Pill Box

                                                       
                                            


Landsverk L 60s.  The Irish purchased two from Sweden (1935 and 1936), and were armed with a Madsen 20mm cannon and a 7.92 Madsen MG.  It had a crew of three, and lightly armored (0.20-0.59 inches).  During "the Emergency" (WWII) the tanks were used for training purposes.

                                            
            
The Landsverk L180 was Swedish and the Irish ordered two in 1937, and six more in 1939.  Five more were ordered but didn't arrive because of the start of WWII.  It carried a Madsen 20mm cannon, and a two Madsen 303 MGs,  and had a crew of five.  It's front and side armor was 9mm, and the top 5mm.

 


    
                                                        








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