It is the largest single peacetime movement of US citizens out of the country, the US ambassador to Ireland said.

“I only joined the ship in January so this is my first two-year rotation since the children were born."

Amongst the commitments is expected to be a new radar system, as well as significant investment in military hardware across the three branches of the Defence Forces – army, naval service and air corps.

The total complement of personnel in the Irish Naval Service had plunged below the 900 mark, where the minimum manpower level should stand at 1,094, so says Trevor Laffan in his weekly column.

President Vladimir Putin said the Russian navy will get 40 new ships and vessels this year, as he attended a Navy Day parade in St Petersburg.

AFTER 37 years and 628,856 miles, the LÉ Aisling was sold at auction for just €110,000. The figure was described as 'disappointing' by auctioneers.