Direct proof of use
The Type 23 / Duke-class frigate is directly documented in the 2003 Iraq War through HMS Richmond. The Royal Navy's HMS Richmond unit history identifies Richmond as the tenth of sixteen Type 23 Duke-class frigates and says that, with HMS Chatham, HMS Marlborough, and HMAS Anzac, she provided naval gunfire support for 40 Commando's amphibious assault on the Al Faw peninsula in Iraq.
A UK Ministry of Defence lessons chapter on the Al Faw peninsula operation separately names HMS Richmond, HMS Marlborough, HMS Chatham, and HMAS Anzac as the ships that provided naval gunfire during the bombardment before 42 Commando's planned helicopter insertion.
Sources: HMS Richmond | Royal Navy, UK MOD Lessons Chapter 3
Timeline
On the night of 20 March 2003, 3 Commando Brigade Royal Marines launched the Al Faw operation to seize Iraq's southern oil infrastructure and protect the mine-clearance route toward Umm Qasr. The Ministry of Defence account says the second 42 Commando landing was preceded by bombardment from artillery batteries and naval gunfire from Richmond, Marlborough, Chatham, and Anzac.
The Naval Historical Review account of HMS Marlborough's Iraq War deployment gives the next dated fire-support sequence for 21-22 March. It says Chatham and Richmond were instructed to move into firing positions, that all ships were on station by 0430, and that Marlborough, Chatham, and Richmond later fired against a bunker complex in support of Delta Company's advance near Al Faw town.
Sources: UK MOD Lessons Chapter 3, HMS Marlborough Iraq War Account
Operational role
Richmond's documented role was shipborne fire support for coalition ground forces during the invasion's Al Faw phase. The sources tie the Type 23 record to a named Royal Navy hull, a specific operation in southern Iraq, and the naval-gunfire task supporting Royal Marines rather than a broader surface-combat or missile-strike role.
The available accounts identify the operator as the Royal Navy and the side as United States and coalition forces. They document Richmond's presence and fire-support role, while the more detailed Marlborough account describes the coordinated gunfire-support pattern and states that 17 fire missions used 155 rounds of 4.5-inch and 5-inch ammunition across the participating ships.
Sources: HMS Richmond | Royal Navy, HMS Marlborough Iraq War Account
