The crisis triggered by the hunger strikes of Provisional IRA and Irish National Liberation Army (INLA) prisoners in 1981 led to an increase in militant republican activity in Northern Ireland. British intelligence reports unveiled the IRA intentions of mounting illegal checkpoints and hijacking vehicles on the IRA-controlled roads in South County Armagh, near the Irish border. To counter it, the British Army deployed the so-called COPs (close observation platoons), small infantry sections acting as undercover units, a tactic introduced by Major General Dick Trant in 1977.
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| - The crisis triggered by the hunger strikes of Provisional IRA and Irish National Liberation Army (INLA) prisoners in 1981 led to an increase in militant republican activity in Northern Ireland. British intelligence reports unveiled the IRA intentions of mounting illegal checkpoints and hijacking vehicles on the IRA-controlled roads in South County Armagh, near the Irish border. To counter it, the British Army deployed the so-called COPs (close observation platoons), small infantry sections acting as undercover units, a tactic introduced by Major General Dick Trant in 1977.
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Strength
| - 18(xsd:integer)
- Up to 7 IRA members
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dbkwik:military/pr...iPageUsesTemplate
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Date
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Commander
| - Unknown
- Lance Corporal Gavin Dean
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Casualties
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Result
| - British Army operation thwarted
- IRA retained ability to set up roadblocks
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combatant
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Latitude
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Place
| - near Crossmaglen, County Armagh
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Conflict
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abstract
| - The crisis triggered by the hunger strikes of Provisional IRA and Irish National Liberation Army (INLA) prisoners in 1981 led to an increase in militant republican activity in Northern Ireland. British intelligence reports unveiled the IRA intentions of mounting illegal checkpoints and hijacking vehicles on the IRA-controlled roads in South County Armagh, near the Irish border. To counter it, the British Army deployed the so-called COPs (close observation platoons), small infantry sections acting as undercover units, a tactic introduced by Major General Dick Trant in 1977. On 6 May 1981, a day after the death of hunger-striker Bobby Sands, one IRA member from a three-man unit was arrested while trying to set up a roadblock east of the main Belfast-Dublin highway by 12 members of the Royal Green Jackets, divided in three teams. A second volunteer crossed the border, only to be arrested by the Irish Army. The third IRA man escaped, apparently injured. A total of 689 rounds had been fired by the soldiers.
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