<ARTICLE> 5 <CIK> 0001123453 <NAME> THE O'GARA COMPANY <PERIOD-TYPE> YEAR <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1997 <PERIOD-START> JAN-01-1997 <PERIOD-END> DEC-31-1997 <CASH> 0 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 0 <ALLOWANCES> 0 <INVENTORY> 0 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 0 <PP&E> 0 <DEPRECIATION> 0 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 0 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 0 <BONDS> 0 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 0 <OTHER-SE> 0 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 0 <SALES> 100,738,987 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 100,738,987 <CGS> 72,383,397 <TOTAL-COSTS> 89,051,760 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 2,932,674 <LOSS-PROVISION> 582,377 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 2,967,936 <INCOME-PRETAX> 5,381,928 <INCOME-TAX> 2,821,709 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 2,560,219 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> (193,875) <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 2,366,344 <EPS-BASIC> 0.39 <EPS-DILUTED> 0.39