In March 2007 the UK Royal Navy (RN) suffered one of the most humiliating events in its recent history when 15 RN and Royal Marines personnel in two rigid hull inflatable boats (RIBs) were taken captive by Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy forces in the northern Arabian Gulf. The two RIBs, operating from the frigate HMS Cornwall, had been conducting boarding operations at the time. All 15 were eventually released, but the incident - given the name Operation 'Deacon' - was a national embarrassment, and deeply damaged the reputation of the RN. A subsequent Ministry of Defence inquiry identified serious weaknesses in intelligence, communications, doctrine, and training, and made a range of recommendations designed to prevent a repeat occurrence.
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