The Samuel Beckett class forms the Irish Naval Service's largest and most capable patrol force. Built at Appledore, the ships combine a 76 mm gun, two 20 mm Rheinmetall cannon, machine guns, UAV capacity, and some additional ability to withstand damage. Three ships are expected to receive CAPTAS-1 towed-array sonar by 2027, alongside better air-search radar and electronic systems. These improvements would increase awareness without removing the class's other limits, including its lack of surface-to-air missiles. A sonar contact also raises a separate question about how the ship could act on it. Whether depth charges, torpedoes, or UAVs carrying those weapons would accompany the sonar remains open in this discussion.
Chapter · 19:38-24:06
Irish patrol ships separate submarine detection from attack
Planned CAPTAS-1 sonar would improve the Samuel Beckett class's submarine detection, while the accompanying anti-submarine weapon fit remains an open question.