This is a list of ambushes carried out by the Provisional Irish Republican Army (PIRA; latterly IRA without "Provisional") during the Troubles. Most targeted "Crown Forces" within Northern Ireland.
Ambush Date Target IRA strength Government strength IRA losses Government losses Dungiven landmine and gun attack 24 June 1972 British Army 1 ASU 1 Army Convoy None 3 British soldiers killed7 wounded1 vehicle destroyed 1 vehicle damaged Drummuckavall ambush 22 November 1975 British Army 12 volunteers 1 infantry section None 3 British soldiers killed1 wounded Garryhinch ambush 16 October 1976 Garda Síochána None 1 Garda killed 4 wounded 1978 Crossmaglen ambush 21 December 1978 British Army 4–5 volunteers1 technical 8 soldiers None 3 British soldiers killed Warrenpoint ambush 27 August 1979 British Army 1 active service unit (ASU) 50 soldiers None 18 British soldiers killed1 vehicle destroyed1 British Army Wessex helicopter damaged Dungannon land mine attack 16 December 1979 British Army 1 ASU 1 mobile patrol None 4 British soldiers killed1 vehicle destroyed Glasdrumman ambush 17 July 1981 British Army ~7 volunteers 18 soldiers None 1 British soldier killed1 wounded 1989 Jonesborough ambush 20 March 1989 Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) 6 volunteers 2 constables(Harry Breen and Bob Buchanan) None Breen and Buchanan were both killed Operation Conservation 6 May 1990 British Army 1 ASU 1 Infantry section None 1 British soldier killed 1990 Lough Neagh ambush 10 November 1990 RUC 1 ASU 2 constables (Thomas Taylor and David Murphy)Later joined by 1 former Ulster Defence Regiment (UDR) soldier (Norman Kendall) and 1 civilian (Keith Dowey) None 4 killed Mullacreevie ambush 1 March 1991 British Army (UDR) 1 ASU 1 mobile patrol None 2 British soldiers killed2 wounded1 vehicle destroyed 1992 Cappagh ambush 12 May 1992 British Army 1 ASU British Army foot patrol None 1 British soldier lost his legs 1993 Fivemiletown ambush 12 December 1993 RUCBritish Army 2 ASUs 1 mobile patrol1 helicopter (follow-up operation) None 2 constables killed1 vehicle disabled1 British Army Lynx helicopter fired at in the follow-up operationKilleeshil ambush15 July 1994RUC1 ASU1 technical 1 mobile patrolNone3 constables wounded2 civilians wounded1 vehicle disabled
References