I can’t believe that Iranian forces have captured Royal Navy sailors again.

I sailed through Iranian waters a few times myself during my years as a matelot, and tension always rose because of the number of Iranian FPB’s (Fast Patrol Boats) that came close to us. We always had to close to a high state of readiness whenever we went through the Straits of Hormuz on our way round to the Arabian Gulf.

This time it sounds even worse because if the reports are correct, the boarding team were in Iraqi territorial waters at the time, not Iranian. I can’t believe we let them get away with it. I know it may be out of proportion to potentially start a major international incident that could lead to war on the back of this, but what is the 4.5 inch gun on HMS Cornwall for!