This is a list of ambushes carried out by the Irish Republican Army against the British armed forces and police.

Irish Republican Army 1918 – 1923

Ambush Date Target IRA strength British strength IRA losses British losses
Soloheadbeg ambush 21 January 1919 Royal Irish Constabulary (RIC) 10 volunteers 2 constables
(James McDonnell and Patrick O'Connell)		 None McDonnell and O'Connell were both killed
Holywell Ambush 2 August 1920 British Army 20 volunteers 12–20 soldiers 1 wounded 3–10 wounded
Rineen ambush 22 September 1920 RIC
British Army		 50 volunteers 10 lorries of British troops 2 wounded 6 killed
7 wounded
Tooreen ambush 22 October 1920 British Army 30 volunteers 2 lorries of British troops None 3 killed
4 wounded
6 captured
Piltown Cross ambush 1 November 1920 RIC N/A 20 constables N/A 2 killed
6 wounded
Kilmichael Ambush 28 November 1920 Auxiliary Division (ADRIC) 36 volunteers 18 constables 3 killed 16 killed
1 wounded
Pickardstown ambush 6 January 1921 RIC (Black and Tans)
British Army		 50 volunteers 40 personnel 2 killed
2 wounded		 2 wounded
Clonfin ambush 2 February 1921 ADRIC 21 volunteers 19 constables None 4 killed
8 wounded
Dromkeen ambush 3 February 1921 RIC 40–50 volunteers 13 police constables 1 wounded 11 killed
Upton train ambush 15 February 1921 British Army 13 volunteers 50 soldiers 3 killed
2 wounded		 6 wounded
Coolavokig ambush 25 February 1921 ADRIC 62 volunteers 70 constables None 3 killed
Sheemore ambush 4 March 1921 British Army
RIC		 7 volunteers Unknown None 1 killed
6 wounded
Clonbanin ambush 5 March 1921 British Army 100 volunteers 40 soldiers None 13 killed
4–15 wounded
Burgery ambush 18–19 March 1921 RIC 20 volunteers 14, later 50 constables 2 killed 2 killed
2 captured
Crossbarry Ambush 19 March 1921 British Army
ADRIC		 104 volunteers 1,200 soldiers
120 Auxiliaries		 3-6 killed 10 killed
5 wounded
Headford Ambush 21 March 1921 British Army 32 volunteers 30 soldiers 2 killed 9 killed (British sources)
25 killed (IRA sources)
Scramoge ambush 23 March 1921 British Army
RIC		 39 9 None 4 killed
2 captured later killed
Tourmakeady ambush 3 May 1921 RIC (Black and Tans)
British Army		 60 volunteers 120 constables
600 soldiers		 1 killed
1 wounded		 4 killed
1 wounded
Kilmeena ambush 19 May 1921 RIC (Black and Tans) 41 volunteers 20–30 constables 4 killed
7 wounded		 3 killed
Carrowkennedy ambush 2 June 1921 RIC (Black and Tans) 45–50 23 None 8 killed
16 captured
Rathcoole ambush 16 June 1921 ADRIC 140 25 None 2 killed
14 wounded

Provisional Irish Republican Army 1969 – 1997

Ambush Date Target IRA strength British strength IRA losses British losses
Dungiven landmine and gun attack 24 June 1972 British Army 1 ASU 1 Army Convoy None 3 British soldiers killed
7 wounded
1 vehicle destroyed
1 vehicle damaged
Drummuckavall ambush 22 November 1975 British Army 12 volunteers 1 infantry section None 3 British soldiers killed
1 wounded
1978 Crossmaglen ambush 21 December 1978 British Army 4–5 volunteers 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 killed
1 vehicle destroyed
1 British Army Wessex helicopter damaged
Dungannon land mine attack 16 December 1979 British Army 1 ASU 1 mobile patrol None 4 British soldiers killed
1 vehicle destroyed
Glasdrumman ambush 17 July 1981 British Army ~7 volunteers 18 soldiers None 1 British soldier killed
1 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 2 off-duty RUC constables 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 killed
2 wounded
1 vehicle destroyed
1992 Cappagh ambush 12 May 1992 British Army 1 ASU British Army foot patrol None 1 British soldier lost his legs[1]
1993 Fivemiletown ambush 12 December 1993 RUC
British Army		 2 ASUs 1 mobile patrol
1 helicopter (follow-up operation)		 None 2 constables killed
1 vehicle damaged
1 British Army Lynx helicopter fired at in the follow-up operation

References

  1. ↑ Melaugh, Martin. "Cain: Chronology of the Conflict 1992". Conflict Archive on the Internet. Retrieved 21 February 2022.
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