The Report
of the Iraq Inquiry
14.
The MOD’s
account and analysis of the operation published in July 2003,
said:
“Our
maritime contribution to the Coalition was the first to be
announced, on
7 January
2003, and built on the standing Royal Navy presence in the Gulf.
Naval
Task Group
2003, led by HMS ARK ROYAL, which was already due to sail
that
month as a
routine deployment to the Gulf and Asia/Pacific regions, was
expanded
to a much
larger force totalling some 9,000 personnel. It included submarines
armed
with
Tomahawk cruise missiles and a significant amphibious capability
with the
helicopter
carrier HMS OCEAN, Headquarters 3 Commando Brigade Royal
Marines,
40 Commando
and 42 Commando (some 4,000 personnel), and hospital
facilities
in RFA
[Royal Fleet Auxiliary] ARGUS. This was the largest amphibious
force
deployed
since 1982 [the Falklands campaign]. The Task Group would provide
force
protection,
and conduct mine countermeasures operations as well as providing
vital
sea-based
logistics in support of joint force operations on
shore.”9
15.
Between March
and September 2003, a total of 38 vessels, including
three
submarines,
and 50 helicopters were deployed by the Royal Navy.10
16.
In relation to
ground forces, the MOD stated:
“On 20
January, the Defence Secretary announced the deployment of a
major
ground
force including Reservists, equipped with Challenger 2 tanks,
Warrior
armoured
infantry fighting vehicles, AS90 self-propelled guns, and a range
of
helicopters.
This force, which eventually totalled some 28,000, would be
the
largest
land force deployment since the Gulf Conflict in 1991 … At the
beginning
of operations,
16 Air Assault Brigade represented about half the Coalition’s
air
assault
capability, and 7 Armoured Brigade provided a significant
proportion of
its tank
forces.”
17.
On 6 March
2003, because of a delay in deployment of the US 4th Infantry
Division,
the MOD
expected that 1st (UK) Armoured Division would provide nearly 30
percent of
available
Coalition tanks in the early stages of the ground
campaign.11
18.
The army
deployment included elements from 38 different
units.12
19.
Describing the
deployment of the RAF, the MOD stated:
“The Royal
Air Force already maintained a presence of some 25 aircraft
and
1,000 personnel
in the Gulf, flying sorties over Iraq to enforce the No-Fly
Zones
and to
restrict the regeneration of Iraqi air and Integrated Air Defence
capabilities.
On
6 February the Defence Secretary announced that the RAF
contribution would
be
increased to around 100 fixed wing aircraft manned and supported by
a further
9
Ministry of
Defence, Operations
in Iraq – First Reflections, July
2003.
10
Ministry of
Defence, Operation
in Iraq: Lessons for the Future, December
2003.
11 Letter
Watkins to Manning, 6 March 2003, ‘Iraq: Options for Employment of
UK Land Forces’.
12
Ministry of
Defence, Operations
in Iraq: Lessons for the Future, December
2003.
6