10 NAVY NEWS, MAY 2007
● The White Ensign fl utters from one of HMS Cornwall’s RIBs during a boarding
operation shortly before 15 sailors and Royal Marines were seized by Iran
Picture: LA(Phot) Jannine Hartmann, FRPU Whale Island
‘This must not
happen again’
TWO wide-ranging
serving personnel voicing their Servicemen or women receiving machine-guns, rocket-propelled
inquiries have been
displeasure. payment for their stories. grenades and small arms on the
ordered into the capture
The entire affair has left the On both fronts – media handling Britons; they also rammed one of
Royal Navy, First Sea Lord and the capture of the 15 – Mr Cornwall’s sea boats.
of 15 sailors and Royal Admiral Sir Jonathon Band said Browne stressed in ordering the More Iranian craft began to
Marines from HMS
in a signal (see right) to the entire inquiries: “This must not happen gather around the Al Hanin and
Cornwall – and the media
Senior Service “bruised and again. the 15 realised that fighting their
“I have acted to put it right and way out was not an option as they
furore in Britain upon their
angry”.
Defence secretary Des Browne make sure we learn the lessons of
were outgunned and would have
release. told Parliament the decision to the whole episode. sparked an international incident.
The capture of the seven Royal allow the captives to sell their “The most important point in The Iranian forces boarded
Marine Commandos and eight RN stories if they wished had been all this is that we got our people the two RIBs, seized the sailors’
sailors by Iran in March sparked a taken “in good faith” by the back – safe, and on our terms.”
and marines’ weapons and began
major diplomatic incident between Navy as there had been a media Mr Browne has ordered two
escorting the craft to a naval base.
London and Tehran – resolved clamour to hear how the 15 had
distinct inquiries into the affair: GPS co-ordinates provided
when the Iranian president offered been treated in Iranian hands,
Royal Marine Lt Gen Rob
both by the sea boats’ Xeres
Britain an ‘Easter gift’. with “many offers” of cash made
Fulton will look at the
communications system, and by
But the decision to allow the to their families.
military aspects of boarding
Cornwall’s Lynx flying over the
captives to sell their stories to That decision, however, caused
operations in the Gulf to see
Al Hanin, proved incontrovertibly
the media upon their release over people to challenge and question
whether training, intelligence
that the sailors and commandos
Easter provoked even greater “the hard-won reputation of the
and equipment need
were 1.7 miles inside Iraqi waters
uproar, with politicians, veterans, Armed Forces,” and Mr Browne
overhauling;
when they were snatched.
media commentators and said he had forbidden any more
One senior officer, a high-
When the 15 reached Iran, they
ranking MOD civil servant
were blindfolded, stripped of all
and an independent media
their kit and interrogated, before
expert will look at what
being transferred to Tehran.
specialist legal advice
lessons can be drawn from
“We were stripped, dressed in
the media handling of the
pyjamas and spent the next few
incident, balancing protecting
nights in stone cells in isolation,”
to forces personnel
personnel involved and the
Lt Carman said.
reputation of the Armed
“We were interrogated most
Forces with the demands of
nights and presented with two
Suffered a Military Injury?
newspaper, television and the
options: If we admitted we had
We deal with all types of injury claim involving public’s right to know.
strayed we would be on a plane
back to the UK soon; if we didn’t,
the military.
As for the incident itself in we faced up to seven years in
We can assist you with your claim under the
the Gulf, the sailors and Royal prison.”
new AFCS and advise you on whether to Marines explained at a press
Lt Carman said the sailors and
pursue your claim in the civil courts under our conference at RM Chivenor what Royals had made a “conscious
‘no win no fee’ specialist military legal
had happened: decision” to give the Iranians
advice scheme.
The boarding party was information which was not
dispatched in two of HMS operationally-sensitive.
Police Interview/
Cornwall’s sea boats to conduct They were released by Iran
Courts Martial
a routine search of the Indian nearly a fortnight after their
merchant vessel Al Hanin. capture. The 14 men donned
Nigel Burn and Gilbert
contact
The cargo vessel was one of two-piece suits donated by their
Blades are well known for
Nigel Burn or Tean Butcher
Bank Street, Lincoln LN2 1DR
more than 60 boarded by the captors and the sole woman in
their Courts Martial
Tel: 01522 512345 between 9am - 5.15pm
Cornwall team, enforcing UN the team, LS Faye Turney, was
expertise throughout the
or for Military Discipline Matters only contact
resolutions, since the beginning dressed in modest Muslim garb
“Many people have questioned international incident.
UK and Europe. Nigel Burn Mob: 07775 860608 after 6pm of March. at a press conference with Iranian why we allowed ourselves to “Our team had seconds to make
As the team concluded its
www.wilkinchapman.co.uk
president, Mahmud Ahmadinejad. be taken in the first place and a decision and we believe that we
We can also advise on:
search of the Al Hanin, two speed “It was only then that we why we allowed ourselves to be made the right decision. We still
Employment Issues
boats were spotted rushing up to realised we were to be sent home,” shown on television by the Iranian believe this was the right thing
the merchantman.
Family Problems
said Lt Carman. authorities,” said Capt Air. to do.”
Capt Chris Air RM and Lt Felix “It goes without saying it was a “We tried reasoning with the Mr Browne stressed that “the
House Purchases
Carman ordered the boarding moment of huge elation.” Iranians, but our words fell on Iranians detained our personnel
Wills
party back to the RIBs, but by The 15 were eventually flown deaf ears. We were completely illegally” and that “there was no
the time everyone was aboard, the to RM Chivenor in Devon after surrounded and – in addition apology, there was no deal” to
A LEADING SPECIALIST IN MILITARY LAW British craft were hemmed in by emotional reunions with loved to the loss of life – any fight
effect the release of the 15.
the Iranians, who trained heavy ones and debriefings. back would have caused a major Comment, page 6marina
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