In Training: British soldiers captured

-- "The Royal Navy said the men who were on a routine patrol in Iraqi waters, were understood to be unharmed."

They better damn well be unharmed.

** UPDATE: More information can be found in this Telegraph article.

-- "The party comprised eight Royal Navy soldiers and seven Marines, the MOD said."

I had already been told by Royal that there were Marine Commandos, but I wanted to find an article before I mentioned it.

Please pray for these soldiers and their family

AND Hot Air has a lot of info collected, and will be keeping an eye on the situation. Apparently the Iranians started wargames yesterday and it might have been a screw up - but how do you accidentally capture white guys with British accents? I can't imagine they are used to seeing Royal Marine Commandos during their fun exercises.

*** UPDATE #2
Newer article: Britain demands Iran free seized sailors

-- "The eight Royal Navy sailors and seven Royal Marines were part of a task force that protects Iraqi oil terminals and maintains security in Iraqi waters under authority of the U.N. Security Council.
The Cornwall's commander, Commodore Nick Lambert, said the frigate lost communication with the boarding party, but a helicopter crew saw Iranian naval vessels approach.

``I've got 15 sailors and marines who have been arrested by the Iranians and my immediate concern is their safety,'' he told British Broadcasting Corp. television.

Lambert said he hoped it was a ``simple mistake'' stemming from the long dispute between Iraq and Iran over demarcating their territorial waters just off the mouth of the Shatt al-Arab, a waterway that divides the two countries.

White House press secretary Tony Snow said the Bush administration was monitoring events. ``The British government is demanding the immediate safe return of the people and equipment and we are keeping watch on the situation,'' Snow said."

** UPDATE #3
HotAir has a new thread full of articles

The Iranians have 14 men and one woman, some have said/heard that they might be released in 2-3 days - let's hope that is the case!

An Independent article by Terri Judd who is the only reporter on the HMS Cornwall:
-- "The kidnapping stemmed from Thursday's events, when the barge tried to evade the sailors who decided to take a more forceful approach. They leapt on to the craft as it sped towards the buffer zone that separates Iraq and Iran's territorial waters. As the Royal Navy crew jumped aboard, the car traders tried to hide a box before tossing it over the side. The Marines half raised their SA80 rifles and ordered the barge to turn back. Ominously, they could see an Iranian Republican Guard boat circling nearby.
The suspected smugglers complied with the British orders and the crew returned to its rigid hull inflatable boats (rhibs) to continue its patrol, only to turn around and see the traders laughing in its direction.
Later that night, I joined them as they set off on their next patrol from HMS Cornwall - part of a "hearts and minds" offensive started by the British when they took over control of the task force three weeks ago. In the darkness the two rhibs were dwarfed by the giant, rusty hulk of the nearby Khawr Al Amaya oil platform. Minutes later they reached their destination, a row of dilapidated-looking Iraqi dhows populated with fishermen who make a living playing cat and mouse with the mammoth military operation which protects Iraq's vital oil assets.
Buoyed by the friendliness of the fishermen, the Royal Navy team was in high spirits. But exhausted after a 17-hour day, they were still irked at the laughter of the smugglers earlier that morning and decided, in consultation with senior officers, that the matter merited further investigation. The following day the 15 Marines and sailors set off from HMS Cornwall again
....
Above them Lieutenant Commander Phil Richardson and his crew were providing cover in a Lynx Mk 8 helicopter as they once again spotted the same ship offloading as many as 50 cars on to three barges. This time the larger vessel was compliant as the British crew mounted ladders. Confident the ship was being co-operative and that there was no other sign of trouble from across the border, the helicopter disappeared to continue its reconnaissance of the area.
But minutes later, half a dozen large Iranian Republican Guard Corps Navy fast-attack speedboats mounted with machine guns suddenly appeared and ambushed the British sailors as they returned to their two small rhibs. Soon as many as 15 to 20 boats encircled the trapped team.
Frequently the odd IRGCN patrol boat has been spotted dipping across the often disputed water border but polite, firm negotiations has always seen them depart. They have, according to Commodore Nick Lambert, the head of the coalition task force in the area, maintained "a healthy professional respect".
This time, however, he insisted, the Iranians were clearly half a mile into Iraqi waters around Marakkat Abd Allah and in vast numbers. Suddenly HMS Cornwall lost all communications with its crews and the Lynx was immediately dispatched back, only to find they had completely disappeared. Scanning the huddles of fishing boats, the pilot saw the crew of the merchant ship gesticulating urgently towards the mouth of the Shatt al Arab.
Immediately he spotted a large huddle of boats, clearly displaying Iranian flags. Far more disturbingly a Royal Navy ensign was among them and, upon closer observation, Lt Cmdr Richardson could see some of the British crew he knew only too well.
Briefly the pilot and his observer managed to make contact with the Republican Guard who said they had arrested the Britons for straying into Iranian waters before a cacophony of angry Iranian voices filled the airwaves and he lost contact.
To his horror, he watched as his colleagues were taken up the waterway and into a military base on the Iranian side. There were no signs of violence. The last he saw the British crew members they were standing, detained outside a building. The friends and colleagues of the missing personnel were left to contemplate the situation in stunned conversations across the ship."

The top cover disappeared?!! What the hell. What kind of tactic is that?
I've been told that the Lynx helo can only stay in the air for about 2 hours, and there are no back up helos in case the first Lynx has to leave or refuel. The helo going back to ship obviously was not the reason the top cover left, but the way the British are doing things probably needs a good review. Especially after being warned that Iran is on the look out for meat.