User:Irahistory124/sandbox

The RathCoole Ambush was an ambush carried out by The North Cork Brigade of the Irish Republican Army on June 16th,1921.

THE AMBUSH
On the night before the ambush the I.R.A. volunteers slept at Rathcoole Wood, which overlooked the planned ambush position. Shortly after sunrise the following morning, Captain Dan Vaughan laid six landmines on the untarred road and covered them with dust. After a wait of several hours a convoy of four armour-plated lorries, each mounted with a machine gun and carrying ten men, was observed heading for Banteer. The volunteers prepared and at 6.20 in the evening, as the lorries passed through the ambush area on their return journey, three of the landmines which had been placed on the road exploded with devastating results. One mine detonated as the last of the four lorries drove over it, another exploded under the leading lorry in the convoy. Both vehicles were out of action with the two other lorries were trapped between them. A third mine exploded amid a party of Auxiliaries as they attempted to outflank the position. A bitter firefight developed. Each time Auxiliaries tried to outflank the I.R.A. they were driven back, suffering losses of more than twenty dead and over a dozen wounded.

The Rathcoole Ambush

 * conflict   = RathCoole Ambush
 * partof     = the Irish War of Independence
 * image      =
 * image_size =
 * caption    =
 * date       = June 16th, 1921
 * place      = Near RathCoole, County Cork
 * coordinates = 51.812°N, -9.039°W
 * result     = IRA victory
 * combatant1 = Flag of Ireland.svg Irish Republican Army (North Cork Brigade)
 * combatant2 =  Royal Irish Constabulary (Auxiliary Division)
 * commander1 = Flag of Ireland.svg [[Paddy O'Brien]
 * commander2 =  Unknown MC
 * strength1  = 130
 * strength2  = 40 Soldiers, supported by armored cars
 * casualties1 = None
 * casualties2 = 20 dead, 12 wounded

On the night before the ambush the I.R.A. volunteers slept at Rathcoole Wood, which overlooked the planned ambush position. Shortly after sunrise the following morning, Captain Dan Vaughan laid six landmines on the untarred road and covered them with dust. After a wait of several hours a convoy of four armour-plated lorries, each mounted with a machine gun and carrying ten men, was observed heading for Banteer. The volunteers prepared and at 6.20 in the evening, as the lorries passed through the ambush area on their return journey, three of the landmines which had been placed on the road exploded with devastating results. One mine detonated as the last of the four lorries drove over it, another exploded under the leading lorry in the convoy. Both vehicles were out of action with the two other lorries were trapped between them. A third mine exploded amid a party of Auxiliaries as they attempted to outflank the position. A bitter firefight developed. Each time Auxiliaries tried to outflank the I.R.A. they were driven back, suffering losses of more than twenty dead and over a dozen wounded.