An Cosantóir

19 COASTAL AND MARINE SERVICE Royal Navy Motor Launches of the type purchased for the Coastal and Marine Service. Photograph: www.naval-history.net disastrous. The flotilla sailed from Southampton on 18th July. The weather was fine with a strong north westerly wind. That night M-L 2 began to take on water and at about 6am the engines stopped due to contamination of the fuel with sea water. The engines were eventually restarted but over the next twenty four hours the engines stopped repeatedly. Finally M-L 2 had to be taken in tow by M-L 4. That night the wind strengthened to gale force. By now M-L 2 was clearly sinking and her crew abandoned ship and were picked up by M-L 4 which then made for Bideford and landed the crew of M-L 2. While in Bideford, M-L 4 caught fire when fumes from a leaking petrol tank ignited, gutting the ship. Telegrams were sent to Portobello Barracks on 21st July to inform GHQ that M-L 2 had been lost at sea and M-L 4 damaged by fire. M-L 1 made it to Dublin followed by M-L 3 which had put into Ilfracombe with minor damage. Repairs and servicing were carried out and the three motor launches entered service. While the motor launches were being repaired, the government, in need of an immediate patrol presence around the coast, impressed the Helga (later Muirchu) from the Department of Agriculture and Technical Instruction and two small steam drifters, the Inisherer and the John S. Somers from the Congested Districts Board. To command this motley collection of ships, the government appointed Major General. General Joe Vize as O/C of the new department – the Marine Investigation Department, part of the army - with headquarters in Portobello Barracks. Joe Vize must have been the obvious choice. From Wexford he had sea-going experience as a marine engineer with the Clan Line of Glasgow, was a member of the IRB, had participated in the 1916 Rising and served as IRA Director of Purchases during the War of Independence. A letter from the marine surveyor of the Department of Economic Affairs reduced his tiny fleet. After inspecting the motor launches, he wrote: 'they are not suitable for bad weather and if they should have to patrol singly not to wander too far from the harbour. I am of the opinion, that with slight alterations and repairs the M.L. would be serviceable and seaworthy in narrow waters but are unfit for constant work in exposed positions round dangerous coasts.' This effectively confined the motor launches to harbour patrol. With only one ship immediately available, the Helga, other ships had to be procured, if the ambitious military plans of Michael Collins and his staff were to be implemented. Following the capture of the Four Courts, the anti-treaty forces regrouped in Munster and prepared to defend the 'Munster Republic' along a line from Waterford to Limerick. Limerick was captured by the government forces in July. There followed some of the most intense fighting of the Civil War near Kilmallock in the early days of August. While the Cork and Kerry anti-treaty brigades were engaged there, Michael Collins planned a series of seaborne landings along the south and southwest coasts, in the rear of the main republican forces. On 2nd August Free State troops were landed at Fenit in Kerry from the SS Lady Wicklow forcing the immediate return of the Kerry men from the fighting in Limerick. On 8th August there were a series of landings along the Cork coast: at Youghal from the Helga, at Passage West in Cork Harbour from the SS Lady Wicklow and the SS Arvonia and at Union Hall from the SS Alexandra. With the exception of the Helga, these were all privately owned vessels with civilian crews and had been requisitioned by the government. Further landings followed at Kenmare and Kinsale. All the landings achieved tactical surprise and captured their objectives. Their success played a significant part in bringing the first phase of the Civil War to a conclusion. After the fall of Cork, the government continued to use chartered vessels for both patrol work and to bring supplies and troops to isolated garrisons around the coast, particularly in counties along the west where republican flying columns disrupted overland communications. MURICHU. Ex HMY Helga (Shelled the GPO 1916). Photograph: www.eastwallforall.ie Portobello Barracks Dublin. (Now Cathal Brugha Barracks) Chosen as HQ for the fledgling service. Photograph: National Library of Ireland

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