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Operation TELIC 20 Years On

Writer's picture: David SippittDavid Sippitt

On the 20th March 2003 British Armed Forces were mobilised as part of a US-led international coalition for the invasion of Iraq.


Operation TELIC was the name given for all British military operations in the Iraq War and 46,150 British servicemen and women were involved in the initial invasion, including 5,200 reservists.


A total of 179 British Armed Forces personnel or MOD civilians have died serving on Operation TELIC since the start of the campaign in March 2003.

Of these, 136 were killed as a result of hostile action.


This week we remember those that did not return

and those affected by that conflict.

 

Battle of Al Faw (2003)


The Battle of Al Faw was one of the first battles of the Iraq War; it took place March 20-24, 2003. One of the initial objectives of the Coalition campaign in Iraq was to capture the Gas and Oil Platforms ("GOPLATs") in the Al-Faw Peninsula intact before they could be sabotaged or destroyed by the Iraqi military.


This would prevent an ecological disaster similar to the 1991 Gulf War and enable a quicker takeover of Iraqi oil production.


The British Royal Marines' 3 Commando Brigade would also capture Umm Qasr at the same time so that its port, the only deepwater port in Iraq, could be used to bring in heavy military supplies once the Khawr Abd Allah waterway was cleared by the Mine Counter Measures Task group.


The United States Marine Corps placed 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit and US Navy SEAL units under the command of 3 Commando Brigade so that the Brigade had the necessary force to capture both targets


3 Commando Brigade, Royal Marines

40 Commando, Royal Marines

42 Commando, Royal Marines

29th Commando Regiment Royal Artillery

59 Independent Commando Squadron Royal Engineers

131 Independent Commando Squadron Royal Engineers

15th Marine Expeditionary Unit, United States Marine Corps

SEAL Teams 3, 8 and 10, Navy SBT 22


 

Role of Honour for those who served in

3 Commando Brigade Royal Marines



22 March 2003 - UK Landing Force Command Support Group

Major - Jason Ward RM

Captain - Philip Stuart Guy RM

Warrant Officer 2 - Mark Stratford RM

Colour Sergeant - John Cecil RM

Marine - Sholto Hedenskog RM

22 March 2003 - 29 Commando Regiment, Royal Artillery

Sergeant - Les Hehir RA

Lance Bombardier - Llywelyn Evans RA

22 March 2003 - 148 Commando Battery Royal Artillery

Able Seaman - Ian Seymour Royal Navy

 

30 March 2003 - 3 Commando Brigade, Royal Marines

Major - Steve Ballard RM

 

30 March 2003 - 9 Assault Squadron, Royal Marines

Marine - Christopher Maddison RM

 

6 May 2006 - 847 Naval Air Squadron, Commando Helicopter Force

Marine - Paul Collins RM

 

31 October 2003 - Special Boat Service, Royal Marines

Corporal - Ian Plank RM

 

12 November 2006 - 45 Commando, Royal Marines

Corporal - Ben Nowak RM

 

12 November 2006 - 539 Assault Squadron, Royal Marines

Marine - Jason Hylton RM


RIP



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rodplayford1955
rodplayford1955
25. März 2023

Rest easy Lads

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