British Royal Marines have met stiff resistance during attempts to secure the vital Iraqi port of Umm Qasr.

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He was born in Dover, England, left home and began his military service with the British merchant marines as a teen.

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An Iranian news agency reports that 15 detained British sailors and marines will leave Iran by plane Thursday morning.

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From the British base, a twin-rotor helicopter ferries U.S. Marines and equipment to Camp Dwyer, another British base that now is also home to the U.S. Marines 24th Expeditionary Unit.

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On Tuesday, three American marines and a British security consultant were killed in separate attacks.

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And now, the U.S. Marines, American Marines, along with some British commandos, are battling for Umm Qasr, which is Iraq's big commercial port.

CNN: British secure position on Faw Peninsula

The British have taken the Al-Faw peninsula, the UK Royal Marines.

CNN: British secure position on Faw Peninsula

Whereas the American army and marines drew up a new manual on counter-insurgency in 2006, the British have yet to revise their doctrine.

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