‘Gulf 15’ commander leaves post

The captain of HMS Cornwall - the frigate at the centre of the Iranian hostage crisis last year - has been removed from his post, the Ministry of Defence revealed today. Royal Navy Commander Jeremy Woods has been moved "to a post where his talents and experience can be used to best effect", the MoD said.

A Defence spokesman said the transfer was an "internal administrative matter", adding that the commander will keep his rank and continue to serve in the Royal Navy. The spokesman refused to say whether the transfer was connected to the kidnapping in March last year, when Iranian Revolutionary Guards captured seven Royal Marines and eight sailors from HMS Cornwall, who were operating a small search vessel in the Gulf between Iran and Iraq. Iran claimed the 15 crew had strayed into Iranian waters.

In addition to the kidnapping, the incident was a major embarrassment for the Navy after the captives appeared happy to be paraded before the world's media in outfits given to them by the Iranians and two of the group, Faye Turney and Arthur Batchelor, were allowed to sell their stories to the media.