The Rifles of the IRA, UFF and UVF
Magill has obtained exclusive details of RUC and Garda estimates of the weapons being held by terrorists in Ireland. The details form part of a document which was presented to the Mitchell Commission on Decommissioning and are as follows:
An assessment by Magill of terrorist weapons holdings in Northern Ireland
Assessment of terrorist
weapons holdings
Republican weaponry:
The contents of the four pre-Eksund shipments from Libya to PIRA, as estimated by the RUC and the Gardai are as follows:
Description Contents Recovered Outstanding
AKM assault rifle 1200 612 588
GPMG machine guns 40 30 10
DSHK machine guns 26 9 17
SAM 7B missiles 10 1 9
RPG 7 missiles 130 84 46
RPG 7 launchers 33 22 11
Flame throwers 10 3 7
Webley revolvers 130 62 68
Hand grenades 275 160 115
9mm pistols 50 32 18
2. In addition approximately 1.5 million rounds of ammunition were imported on the four pre-Eksund shipments. While substantial quantities of ammunition have been recovered in various jurisdictions, it is impossible to quantify what amount has been expended both operationally and on training.
3. It is further estimated that the following explosives and ancillary items are available from the pre-Eksund shipments -
Hand Grenades 115
Electric detonators 711
Plain detonators 493
Semtex 2658 Kg
4. The above figures are calculated from an analysis of the October 1987 Eksund shipment and the likely contents of the four earlier shipments which were not intercepted. The figures are supported by information provided by the Libyan government to HMG and are agreed with the government.
5. UK intelligence has reported on other weapons shipments which push the figure for the total number of rifles (of various types) to just over 1,000, the number of hand guns to a little under 600 and 3 0.50 calibre HMGs.
6. An analysis of the number of weapons which are ballistically outstanding confirms that PIRA has more weapons than the pre-Eksund shipments alone.
Ballistically Outstanding Republican Weapons
HMG 12.7mm 6
HMG 0.50 inch 2
GPMG 19
Rifle 395
Shotgun 31
SMG 40
Handguns 497
Total 990
7. There will be some overlap between tables 1 and 3. An analysis of the three tables points to a PIRA arsenal of at least 67 machine guns (of various types), 588 rifles (again of various types), 497 hand guns and 2,658kg of Semtex. This assessment takes no account of the Republican's capacity to manufacture explosives.
Loyalist Weaponry
8. The main acquisition by Loyalist paramilitaries occurred in 1987 when a consignment of VZ58 rifles, RPG grenades and launchers and FN pistols were obtained. This consignment was to be shared between three Loyalist groupings. Listed below are the factual recoveries and outstanding weapons based on intelligence estimates of the acquisition.
Description Contents Recovered Outstanding
VZ58 7.62 x 39mm 206 132 74
Czech rifle
FN 9mm pistols 94 67 27
RPG 7 launcher 4 4 0
RPG 7 grenade 62 42 20
RGD grenade 536 351 185
9. An analysis of ballistically outstanding Loyalist weapons confirms that they have significantly more weapons than the 1987 procurement.
Ballistically Outstanding Loyalist Weapons
Rifles 34
Shotguns 33
SMGs (including home-made) 80
Handguns 674
Total 821
10. Again there will be some overlap between tables 4 and 5, but an analysis of the tables points to a minimum Loyalist arsenal of 80 machine guns (of varying types including home-made), 74 rifles and 674 hand guns.