Having spent the preceding weeks conducting boarding operations in support of UN sanctions, HMS RICHMOND went to Action Stations during the first phase of operations in the Northern Arabian Gulf (NAG) and played an active role in the events that ensued.

In the early hours of the 20th of March, the Ship’s Company closed up to Action Stations prior to the launch of Tomahawk Land Attack Missiles (TLAM) from sea-based units and remained in a high state of readiness whilst the ship closed the Iraqi coast in order to provide Naval Gunfire Support (NGS) to any subsequent ground attack.

During the earlier preparation and training phases of the deployment, the Ship’s Company had practised closing up to Action Stations in order to ‘fight the ship’ in conventional and non-conventional warfare scenarios.

Consequently the on watch Principal Warfare Officer (PWO), Lieutenant Commander MacKinnon, was able to broadcast to the Ship’s Company that “Condition One Zulu Alpha!” had been achieved within a matter of minutes.

Hence HMS RICHMOND had been secured to gas-tight as well as watertight integrity for the first time, outside of a training scenario, in the deployment.

Having closed the Iraqi coast in order to take up the pre-determined NGS holding position, it gradually became clear that the TLAM strikes were not the beginning of the major aerial offensive and the Ship’s Company, was allowed to stand-down from Actions Stations.

This occurred after ‘Action Messing,’ the process whereby the entire Ship’s Company passes sequentially through the main dining hall in order to receive sustenance.

This involves considerable effort on the part of the Ship’s catering department who, at short notice, have to provide a meal and beverage for over two hundred personnel.

Chief Steward Hartshorn has the job of counting everyone through and liasing with the chefs as to how much more food is required. After a night of expectation at the prospect of potential action, everyone enjoyed his or her sausage and bacon rolls and hot tea.

The Ship’s Company had proved its capability to achieve the necessary war fighting posture that would almost certainly be required again at short notice.

The remainder of the day was spent in Defence Watch posture (half the crew on watch at any time) that HMS RICHMOND has adopted in order to sustain operations in the NAG.

Later that day, intelligence reports suggested that full-scale operations against the Iraqi regime would commence within a matter of hours. Hence the call to “Action Stations” piped at 2200, on the night of Thursday 20th March did not come as a surprise.

Once again the Ship’s Company rapidly closed up as they had done only eighteen hours previously; this time, however, it would be for much longer and HMS RICHMOND would conduct offensive action.

The on watch PWO, Lieutenant Commander MacKinnon, kept the Ship’s Company informed of the progress of the military operations that were unfolding against the Iraqi regime.

HMS RICHMOND’S initial task was to ensure that she manoeuvred swiftly and safely to her pre-determined location in order to provide NGS. During our approach to the NGS position, Lieutenant Commander MacKinnon alerted us to a missile launch against the coalition taskforce that was assembling in the NAG.

Fortunately the Iraqi missile landed harmlessly in the sea and we did not have to use any of our anti-missile protection systems.

The task of closing the Iraqi coast involved concerted effort on the part of the navigation team, in conjunction with the sonar operators in the operation’s room, who were looking out for mines.

The Navigator, Lieutenant Hember, had to keep a very close eye on our progress, as HMS RICHMOND’S draught is over seven metres and the depth of water in the littoral waters of the NAG provided very little clearance and meant very constrained manoeuvring throughout.

In conjunction with the officers of the watch: Lieutenant’s Mason, Brown and Rowberry, Lieutenant Hember ensured that HMS RICHMOND took up its position to provide NGS for the Royal Marines as they conducted their assault on the Al Faw peninsula.

HMS RICHMOND’S position was in the Kawr’Abd Allah waterway, which forms the broad estuary from the strategic port of Um Quasr. HMS RICHMOND remained in this station for some forty-eight hours keeping her 4.5 gun ready for immediate action.

This task was extremely difficult and was one of the most demanding the bridge team have ever had to perform. In addition to the navigational hazards posed by the area being poorly charted and extremely shallow.

The bridge team also had to avoid underwater hazards such as an oil pipeline and contend with strong currents. Furthermore as HMS RICHMOND was operating within five miles of the Iraqi coast where she was at risk from land launched missiles and shore based artillery.

Further threats were posed by the possibility of attacks by Iraqi patrol boats or defensive mining operations that were yet to be cleared as HMS RICHMOND was operating ahead of the UK Mine Counter Measure Vessels (MCMV’s).

Nevertheless, despite these undesirable conditions HMS RICHMOND was able to ensure that her 4.5 gun was immediately available for action and ready to bring to bear against targets identified ashore. This professional achievement is an excellent example the Royal Navy’s ability to project sea based power ashore.

Having closed the Iraqi coast ahead of the MCMV’s, it was necessary to disperse non-essential personnel onto 1 deck and above.

This precaution was taken to ensure that as many of the Ship’s Company as possible were above the waterline lest HMS RICHMOND fell victim to an Iraqi mine.

Intelligence suggested Saddam Hussein’s arsenal contained a number of mines of varying types, placing HMS RICHMOND at risk of damage from ‘old fashioned’ contact mines and more sophisticated devices laid on the seabed.

Most of the Ship’s Company were able to seek shelter from this threat by moving above the waterline, however, some of the crew had to remain below decks in order to ensure that HMS RICHMOND continued to operating her machinery, weapons and sensors.

A few key personnel – the damage control officers and main machinery watchkeepers, under the command of the Marine Engineering Officer (MEO) Lieutenant Commander Moores – who under such circumstances also acts as the Action Nuclear, Biological, Chemical Damage Officer (ANBCDO) – bravely manned the all important Ship’s Control Centre (SCC) during this dangerous phase of the operation that lasted six hours.

In view of the potential threat from chemical and biological weapons, it was also necessary for the Ship Protection Officers, Lieutenant Brindley and Chief Traynor, to close up in the SCC in order to monitor the systems capable of detecting such an attack.

Other positions of potentially hazardous duty at this time were the operations room, which acted as the ‘nerve-centre’ for HMS RICHMOND, and the 4.5” Gun Magazine – both of which are located below the waterline. Fortuitously the calm manner of the cool headed operations officer, Lieutenant Commander Borbone, ensured that the personnel in both locations continued to function normally despite their potential vulnerability.

As the offensive continued, HMS RICHMOND was able to ‘multi-task;’ in addition to providing highly effective NGS, HMS RICHMOND provided force protection to other warships in the vicinity.

This was provided by the embarked Royal Marine contingent from the Fleet Protection Group. Commanded by Lieutenant Johnston, and ably supported by Corporals Haslam and Bader, HMS RICHMOND provided 24-hour force protection, with continuously manned jetpac-boats.

This task was co-ordinated by Lieutenant Shepherd, who also maintained communications between the bridge and the NGS co-ordinator ashore, and CPO(S) Black on the bridge. HMS RICHMOND’S highly effective gunnery, coupled with that from the other three ships on the ‘Gunline,’ was able to neutralise Iraqi military targets with the minimum number of rounds, ensuring the shore infrastructure and civilians remained safe.

This achievement echoes the Royal Navy’s seventh ‘Principle of War,’ – economy of effort, and was very much in keeping with the broader mission aim to use minimal force as necessary to bring about regime change in Iraq so that weapons of mass destruction can no longer threaten the free world.

In short, under the very capable command of Commander Keble, HMS RICHMOND played an important part in one of the opening phases of the war - the successful amphibious assault of the Al Faw peninsula.