The Report of the Iraq Inquiry

1202. Mr Hoon announced contingency preparations and the planned deployment of

a naval task group on 18 December.470

1203. At Cabinet on 19 December, Mr Hoon informed his colleagues that it was

“increasingly necessary to make visible preparations” and that “a naval task group led

by HMS Ark Royal would depart for exercises”. The US had not yet finalised its military

planning but it was “already building up a formidable force and would be ready to

use it”.471

1204. The Cabinet Conclusions contain no reference to the deployment of the ATG,

the deployment of a Royal Marine Commando Group, or the role they might play.

1205. Mr Blair said that “there would be an opportunity to discuss Iraq in the New Year”.

1206. Mr Straw’s report to Cabinet on 19 December, on Iraq’s declaration in response

to resolution 1441 and the next steps for the weapons inspectors, are addressed in

Section 3.6.

1207. In a minute on 30 December, primarily dealing with land options, Mr Hoon was

informed that: “Unless otherwise instructed, the Amphibious Task Group (ATG) will begin

to deploy from 16 January …”472

1208. The deployment of the ATG was announced on 7 January 2003.473

1209. The deployment of 3 Commando Brigade was seen as a way for the UK

to make a valuable contribution to the land campaign if transit through Turkey

was refused.

1210. When 3 Commando Brigade deployed into action, however, the landings

did not go entirely as planned. That is addressed in Section 8.

1211. Mr Hoon made a further statement on contingency preparations for military

operations against Iraq to Parliament on 18 December.474

1212. Mr Hoon reported that he had “authorised a range of steps to improve readiness”.

He also referred to the planned deployment of a naval task group in early 2003 to the

Gulf and Asia‑Pacific region for visits and exercises. That was “a routine deployment”

that happened about every three years, but it remained “available for a range of

potential operations if required”. The task group would be led by HMS Ark Royal and a

nuclear‑powered submarine would be “assigned to the group for part of its deployment”.

470 House of Commons, Official Report, 18 December 2002, columns 845‑6.

471 Cabinet Conclusions, 19 December 2002.

472 Minute Johnson to PS/Secretary of State [MOD], 30 December 2002, ‘Iraq: Update’.

473 House of Commons, Official Report, 7 January 2003, columns 23‑25.

474 House of Commons, Official Report, 18 December 2002, columns 845‑6.

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