HMS CHATHAM is in action in the Gulf, trapping fleeing Iraqi vessels in the Shatt Al 'Arab river and becoming the first British warship for 21 years to bombard a land target. GERRY BARTLETT reports

AS THE war started, the Royal Navy frigate was ordered into action. She moved rapidly after a surveillance team some miles inland spotted three Iraqi vessels leaving the area around the port of Basra, heading for the Gulf.

The mini fleet, which included a training frigate, an Osa patrol boat with powerful gun and missile stocks and a fast Bogomol patrol vessel, was spotted on Shatt Al 'Arab river.

Allied commanders feared the Iraqi vessels could be planning a last-ditch attack on the 150-ship coalition Naval Task Force or that senior military officers or members of Saddam Hussein's regime could be trying to escape in the face of a fast-moving allied invasion.

HMS Chatham, the closest RN ship to the Iraqi shore, moved fast to cover the mouth of the Shatt Al 'Arab and successfully stopped the Iraqi ships venturing out into the sea. The Bogomol was left crippled and smouldering after Chatham called an air strike.

Capt Michael Cochrane said: "There was a fear that the Iraqi vessels could come out for some sort of do-or-die mission against the task force. It was my job, as the commander of the group, to take whatever measures were necessary to ensure the safety of our ships."

HMS Chatham, fronted by a gun with a range of 12 miles, has also bombarded military bunkers and been chosen as the floating HQ of the American-planned Psychological Operations Division.

It broadcasts programmes dubbed Radio Free Iraq consisting of a mix of modern Middle Eastern music, messages of peace and warnings that the allies will use extreme force against those who do not surrender.

The Type 22 Frigate, with a crew of 260 male and female sailors is likely to be deployed in support of amphibious landings to take out Saddam Hussein's fast patrol boats threat,or protect troop landing ships with Sea Wolf anti-aircraft missiles in "point of defence" operations.

"The frigate, one of the finest state of the art vessels we have, is already action," a Royal Navy spokesman said. "With her weapons and capabilities, HMS Chatham could be used in a number of war roles."

Marine Sgt Simon Dack, 29, said his team of Royal Marines on board were well used to wielding weapons within missile range of Saddam Hussein.

Sgt Dack said: "We've done more than 90 boardings since December. We go out in two rigid inflatable boats, Sealion and Dolphin, and can be away from the ship for seven hours.

"The dhows, typically, do a mass breakout at dusk just when we're about to go to dinner, but in 15 minutes we're off the side and speeding off.

"We have had them do up to 68 dhows at once, and of those we boarded 26. Only one of the whole lot was what we call "a leaker", it got away. We just herded all the rest back to Iraq, like sheep."

Capt Cochrane added: "Chatham is a key ship in this area. We're extremely well equipped with sensors, and our beady eye can stretch a very long way to see who's where and who's doing what.

"We are at the sharp end here - and we're ready for the lot."

HMS Chatham is the fourth of the Batch 3 Frigates and she is the seventh ship to bear the name.