With word passed round that the naval gunfire support (NGS) mission to support Coalition forces going ashore in Southern Iraq on March 21 would go ahead, Type 23 frigate HMS Marlborough moved north and assumed the duties of Scene of Action Commander and NGS Commander.

American troops were due to take the MABOT and KAAOT offshore oil terminals in the first phase of the assault, and as all went well the call came through that the requirement for NGS had been delayed.

Marlborough and her consorts – Type 22 frigate HMS Chatham, Type 23 frigate HMS Richmond and Australian Meko 22-class frigate HMAS Anzac – made their way to the firing area in the Khawr Abd Allah waterway (KAA) at high water in the middle of the night.

It was a delicate operation – at one point the depth below the sonar dome was down to just 1.6 metres, but all ships were in position by 4.30am and communications established with regimental fire co-ordinators and 148 Battery spotters on the ground.

The first call for fire to support 40 Commando RM on the Al Faw peninsula went to Anzac’s 5in gun at just past 6am, with further calls to all four ships to support Bravo Company on a military installation. Ships then fired against a bunker position in an adjacent position.

Finally, Marlborough, Chatham and Richmond fired against a further bunker complex in support of Delta Company’s advance through the date palm groves south east of Al Faw town.

The final engagement was at just before 5pm, after which 40 Cdo stopped to consolidate and await reinforcements before going on to clear the peninsula the following day.

Marlborough fell out of Action Stations at 12.30pm, and as visibility was poor – just two nautical miles – the insertion of 42 Commando had been delayed and air cover was limited.

Two American patrol boats, Firewood and Chinook, along with the US Coast Guard ship Adak, had established a patrol line two miles north of the Marlborough, and it was from there that Adak challenged and boarded a tug which was found to have more than 40 mines hidden with laying rails in a barge.

A boarding party from Marlborough helped investigate, and took video footage and still photographs to send back to operation commanders.

At first light on March 22 visibility had improved, and despite tricky conditions – shallow water, a two-knot tidal stream and strong winds – Marlborough promptly answered the first call for fire at 8.43am against an observation post and gun position. Anzac and Marlborough were in constant demand as their positions gave the best covering fire for Delta Company’s advance.

The final call came at just before 4pm, by which time a total of 17 fire missions had been executed, with 155 rounds of 4.5in and 5in shells used.

The accurate fire provided at near-maximum range, with friendly troops in close proximity, proved effective in not only destroying fixed positions, but also breaking Iraqi confidence and suppressing enemy activities at short notice.

The period of time between the call for fire and first shot away was typically well under two minutes in all four ships, and fire was available at all time from all ships.

The Battery Commander reported: ”Success on the Al Faw was due to the aggressive use of indirect fire support, especially the swift response from NGS ships which had a huge impact on the ground and shattering the enemy’s will to fight.”

US Rear Admiral Costello signalled the four ships as follows: “Congratulations to the warships HMS Marlborough, HMAS Anzac, HMS Chatham and HMS Richmond for your exceptional Naval Gunfire Support to the 40 Commando’s combat operations on the Al Faw peninsula.

“The superb ship handling displayed in maintaining station for 36 hours in restricted waters, strong currents and high winds, coupled with your accurate delivery of fire clearly demonstrated your absolute professionalism.

“Your well-tuned combat systems and highly-trained gun crews flawlessly completed 17 firing missions and delivered 155 rounds at maximum range with 40 Commando in close proximity.

“The speed in which you answered each call for fire provided the required support to ground forces and ensured success in the Al Faw peninsula operation.”

Rear Admiral Costello concluded: “The outstanding execution of this vital task should be a point of extreme pride for all your sailors and your respective navies.

“Special recognition goes out to the navigation, combat systems and gun crews of all ships, as well as Lt Cdr Craig Wood, Maj Peter Boyce, Maj Hugh Baker and the 148 Battery ground spotters.

“Your success in organising and executing the many complex facets of this operation, and the tenacity and courage displayed have earned all of you the heartfelt thanks of all nations of the coalition.”

At 6pm on March 22 the Battery Commander released NGS shipping and Chatham and Richmond withdrew to open water.

Marlborough waited until closer to high water, leaving at 11pm and passing the RN-led mine countermeasures force of five ships which were heading into the KAA waterway.

Anzac, having undertaken the first Australian NGS since Korea, volunteered to remain in the firing area overnight to provide cover, and she withdrew the following morning.

Once Marlborough had moved south she replenished from the USS Pecos before returning to her role as Scene of Action Commander and resuming surveillance and security operations in the KAA approaches.

With mines having been discovered on various tugs, barges and patrol craft in the area, all such vessels were subject to intense scrutiny – there was practically no fishing or commercial traffic at this stage, leaving the waters solely to the Coalition ships involved in the amphibious build-up and mine countermeasures (MCM) work.

The MCM effort had begun on March 22 with an airborne influence seep some 60 yards astern of Marlborough while she was on the gunline.

Conditions were variable, to say the least – on one day, 40-knot winds brought rain and electrical storms, and a sandstorm lasted all day.

Marlborough handed over Scene of Action command to HMS Richmond on March 27 and left to rendezvous with RFA Fort Austin, rafting up as the wind did not allow for a replenishment while under way. Type 42 destroyer HMS York stepped into the front line in the north to counter the threat of missiles.

With maritime operations having dropped back in the area, Marlborough was released by the UK Maritime Component Commander to undertake three days self-maintenance in Bahrain in preparation for resuming part of the original Naval Task Group 03 (NTG 03) deployment to the Far East and Australasia.

Once finished in Bahrain, she headed north once more to take on stores from RFA Fort Victoria, and to redistribute weaponry.

She then turned south and left the Arabian Gulf with a mixture of emotions – professional pride at a job well done tempered by the losses to the Royal Navy and Royal Marines – and a little guilt at leaving others working hard while the prospect of a prime deployment loomed.

But the general feeling was that the reward had been earned – prior to the stop in Bahrain, the ship had been consistently at sea for around 75 days.

As the ship prepared to leave the Joint Operating Area, a memorial service was convened and held on the flight deck out of respect and in memory of those who had dies in the conflict; with the White Ensign at half mast, the names of the fallen were read out and the sound of the Last Post faded out across the water, some 500 miles from land.

When HMS Marlborough was released from military operations in the Gulf, her programme was still unclear, but as she headed south the details were filled in – and it was confirmed that her next port of call would be the Seychelles, heralding the resumption of her NTG 03, which would take her past some of the most exotic coasts in the world.

Part 1: War and peace