TWO more ships are returning to Hampshire tomorrow after serving in the war with Iraq.

Royal Fleet Auxiliary landing ships RFA Sir Bedivere and RFA Sir Percivale will berth at Marchwood military port.

RFA Sir Bedivere left the UK on September 14 for exercises in the Gulf.

As events escalated the exercises turned into combat operations, with RFA Sir Bedivere acting as "mother" to the coalition minesweeper force.

When this task was done RFA Sir Bedivere took on the role of troop support ship, accommodating about 300 Royal Marines.

RFA Sir Percivale left Marchwood on January 15 as part of the amphibious task group. Once her troops had gone ashore she provided humanitarian support to local people fleeing the conflict area.

Marchwood witnessed emotional scenes last Sunday when hundreds of Hampshire-based soldiers returned home to their families after months in Kuwait and Iraq.

However, tomorrow's arrival is expected to be a more low-key affair as most of the RFA sailors live elsewhere in the UK.