ABSTRACT

This chapter examines the deployment of the Royal Navy's Armilla Patrol in the Gulf during the time of the Iran–Iraq War (1980–88). Although the Armilla Patrol did not represent a major commitment of British naval assets, its role in this conflict is significant. This small force, which usually consisted of no more than two frigates and a supply ship, played a crucial role in preserving the right of shipping to move freely through the Gulf. In addition, it also fulfilled a wider range of political and diplomatic objectives and consequently provides an interesting illustration of how naval power can effectively be used below the threshold of general war. Historically, navies have played an important role in being used as a political instrument; however, within the context of the post Cold War era, the significance of this activity has increased, particularly within the realm of ‘wars of choice’.