Mr. Weinberger said the platforms had been used to mount small-boat attacks, to scout convoy movements and to fire on American helicopters.

During these convoy movements it works alongside military personnel from Fleet Protection Group Royal Marines and Atomic Weapons Establishment civilian staff.

More than 150 computers linked to outposts across Iraq feed three theater-size screens with details of combat actions, convoy movements and the weather.

This platform had been used to mount radar surveillance, to report on convoy movements, to launch small boat attacks against nonbelligerent shipping in the central gulf waters, and last week to fire at U.S. military helicopters.

But by giving Yorke the position of leading ship in the starboard column (and thus the pivot on which most convoy movements would be made) he had put theEmerald in the most vulnerable position of all if the French attacked with a squadron.

The "Target Practice" service is the most widely used option for the troops whose obligations involve convoy movement, as their stay is most likely to be less than 48 hours.

In order to achieve this, convoy movements were restricted to release their escorts.

It is as much of an aerial ballet as a convoy movement from ship to ground.

They left Ark Royal in September, before her sinking in October, and saw service supporting convoy movements to Jamaica.

The attacks, along with a fierce sandstorm last week and the congested convoy movements on the sparse highways here, have hampered the delivery of water, food, ammunition and other supplies to the troops.