Themes

Conflict and Change

• Introduction

• In Focus: 1900

• In Focus: World War One

• In Focus: Interwar

• In Focus: World War Two

• In Focus: Post War Conflict

• In Focus: Cold War Climate

• In Focus: Falklands and Beyond

  • Surface Fleet

  • Submarines

  • Royal Marines

  • Fleet Air Arm

• Special Exhibition: Falklands 25

Learning

• How To: Understand Propaganda

• Propaganda Image Galleries

• Education Project: Sea With Your Own Eyes

Sea service

Article highlights

• Marines of the fleet

• The Gulf War

The Gulf War

The Commandos did not deploy to the Gulf. The lightly equipped troops of the Corps were not best suited to the highly mobile armoured land war raging in the Gulf.

The Royal Marines main contribution to the Gulf War was at sea in their old role of ships’ detachments. Duties included boarding suspect ships, travelling by helicopter, then abseiling down in order to search a vessel.

They also manned the Javelin shoulder-launched surface-to-air missile and other Close-In Weapons Systems (CIWS) aboard ship. The Marines also provided mine lookout duties.

Additionally, the Corps provided all RFA ships and almost every headquarters with Royal Marine guards who would perform a variety of tasks.

It was the Royal Marines Band Service that provided one of the most essential Royal Marine contributions during the Gulf War.

The Commander in Chief Fleet’s Royal Marine Band was stationed on the hospital ship RFA Argus performing their wartime roles as medical orderlies and anti-chemical and biological warfare officers.

Royal Marine from HMS Gloucester's ship's detachment carrying out stop and search in the Gulf, 1991. (RMM)

UN sanctions on Iraq required the search of vessels whilst still underway. The Royal Marines Air Defence detachments and Protection Teams for boarding parties also joined the ships.

Lynx helicopters deployed Marines who would board the ship in order to search the vessel for Iraqi contraband.