DUBLIN MARITIME FESTIVAL 2008
Image by infomatique
LE Aoife was built in Ireland to the Naval Service’s Deirdre design but was modified for stability and speed and was also fitted with a bow thruster to improve manoeuvreability.
Her original BEFORS 40mm L60 gun was recently upgraded to a BEFORS 40mm L70 improving the range and accuracy of her main armament. Among many notable operational successes in her history, LE Aoife played a major role in the location of the flight recorder of the Air India airliner which crashed off the Irish coast in 1985.
Although all the ships’ homeport is Haulbowline Island in Cork Harbour, LE Aoife has a particularly close relationship with the town of Waterford.