Slightly off thread, but I have just had a brilliant idea which might save the RN a load of hassle and grief in future.
The mission (I believe) is to prevent smuggling of weapons, terrorists, cheap cars etc into Iraq.
So - Instead of boarding incoming merchant ships at sea with all the palaver of whizzing around in rubber boats (and occasionally losing them and their crews to the Iranians,) why not wait until the ships arrive, and check them as soon as docked alongside? Nice solid quay, army can help,no doubt about which country you are in, seems like a winner. Not too many ports to cover in S. Iraq, I believe.
