An Cosantóir

www.military.ie THE DEFENCE FORCES MAGAZINE xx TRANSPORT CORPS BY COL BRENDAN NORTON I t was a busy year for fleet replacement and service provision within the Transport Corps. Subhead A10 procurement business started early, with the delivery in February of the last batch of '2024-pattern' Scania G500B 8x8 Dismountable Rack Offload & Pick- up System (DROPS) trucks. 22 of these soft-skinned vehicles have now been delivered to the Corps, and complement the 10 armoured variants already in service. Also in February, the Corps enhanced the zero-emissions proportion of the DF's saloon fleet by taking delivery of 10 Kia EV6 electric saloons for use by 1+-star General usage. In March, cold northerly weather struck parts of the country and our 4x4 TCV fleet converted over to snowplough operations to clear roads in some of the worse snow and ice-affected areas. Also in March, the field training element of the Corps' combined YOs and Std NCOs Cses successfully culminated in a week-long tactical replenishment exercise in the Glen of Imaal. After participating in a Drawdown Technical Work Party in mid-March, the Corps undertook the repatriation in April of ex-UNDOF armour & stores from the mission area, to the various stores of DF Logs Base Curragh. In May, the Corps inducted into DF service the first all-electric hoist van in the country. This vehicle will be utilised to maintain the barrack lighting and streetscape of military real estate across the country. Between 10 June and 12 July, the Corps initiated and undertook Op CAROUSEL I – a multi-convoy movement of materiel across the continent for eventual reprocessing and induction into the UKR Armed Forces. Building on a previous lift by the Transport Corps of two (2) end-of-life Döking flails (Op DRUMBEAT) to the international community's IDCC response centre in Poland in mid-February, the Corps conducted a series of five convoy movements in June and July to deliver a total of 32 ex-service vehicles donated by the Transport Corps to the Ukrainian Armed Forces. During the month of August, the Corps delivered a further four vehicles to Germany for use by DF training teams and HQ staff working with the EU Battle Group, in advance of the EUBG's full activation in 2025. Also in August, the Corps took delivery of its first ever, all-electric, heavy-duty forklift. On 12 September, the Corps was proud to celebrate it's Centenary with an open day of ceremonial, music, and static equipment displays in the CVBW/VBTS Compound and on Connolly Square, Curragh Camp. The day formed a fitting salute to all those current and past members who have made An Cór Soláthair the specialist and professional service provider it continues to be today. In September and October, the Corps RSOM'd both vehicles & stores to Germany in preparation for EUBG Live Exes expected to be conducted on the continent later in the year. In early October, Transport Corps also took delivery of a new all- terrain Container Reach-Stacker to enable a more expeditionary capacity for TEU logistics going forward. Also in October, the Corps completed the final factory acceptance testing of the first of four new Scania 8x8 Heavy Recovery Trucks to be inducted into the Corps. These vehicles will mark a step-change in capability for effecting organic recovery of heavy Formation assets by individual Tpt Coys. The Corps looks forward to a continued level of investment in both its personnel and capabilities in 2025, and wishes all readers of An Cosantóir a warm, happy and safe Christmas. Ar agahaidh linn go léir. | 35 Troops on parade for the Transport Corps Centenary parade Brief to Transport Corps combined YO's and Standard course's Convoy in truck park outside Dunkirk Delivery of EUBG Stores to Antwerp Diesel Reach Stalker 'Up Lift' delivered to NSRC Haulage lined up Rec'ing UNDOF Offload in Dublin Booklet of the History of the Transport Corps Iveco DROPS on Lowloader in Ferry No 1 Truck - Side Rear - Fugen, Ziller Valley, Austrian Tyrol Snow Plough clearing the way for vehicles

• Cover