Royal Artillery

Northumbrian Gunners

Monday, 24 October 2022

LÉ William Butler Yeats Tyne Visit

Long Éireannach William Butler Yeats (P63) is a Samuel Beckett-class offshore patrol vessel of the Irish Naval Service. It's role is to provide border protection, immigration law-enforcement, fisheries protection, as well as search and rescue duties.

LÉ William Butler Yeats (P63)
Samuel Beckett-class offshore patrol vessel

It is one of four Irish ships (Long Éireannach - ) in the class, all named after Irish Poets. The LÉ William Butler Yeats was built by Babcock Marine Appledore and commissioned 17 October 2016. It has ships complement of 44 (plus 10 trainees). It carries three x 8 m (RHIB) rigid-hulled inflatable boats. It uses Unmanned Air Vehicles (UAV) to provide aviation capability.  The ship can carry three 6.1 m sea containers and has a 5-ton 9.56 m crane aft. 

LÉ William Butler Yeats (P63)
Samuel Beckett-class offshore patrol vessel

It is armed with a 76 mm Oto Melara cannon and two 20 mm Rheinmetall cannons. There are mountings for 7.62 mm & 12.7 mm machine guns.

LÉ William Butler Yeats (P63)
76 mm Oto Melara cannon

The LÉ William Butler Yeats arrived on the River Tyne on 23rd October 2022.  It was tied up at Spillers Wharf.


LÉ William Butler Yeats (P63)
Arriving at Spillers Wharf

LÉ William Butler Yeats (P63)

The ship was on a two-day tour to take part in the Tyneside Irish Festival.

LÉ William Butler Yeats (P63)
River Tyne Spillers Wharf

LÉ William Butler Yeats (P63)
River Tyne Spillers Wharf

A reception was held on the evening of 25th October for the Tyneside Irish community hosted by the Officer Commanding and the Consul General of Ireland for Northern England. 

LÉ William Butler Yeats (P63)
Tyneside Irish Reception IJ

LÉ William Butler Yeats (P63)
Tyneside Irish Reception Irish Band

LÉ William Butler Yeats (P63)
Officer Commanding

LÉ William Butler Yeats (P63)
Tyneside Irish Reception 

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The Long Éireannach William Butler Yeats (P63) left the River Tyne on 26th October.