History of the Royal Navy the GIUK gap. In the North Atlantic, the United Kingdom became engaged in a protracted dispute with Iceland over fishing rights. The Royal Navy, supported by tugs from the MAFF and British civilian trawlers, was involved in three major confrontations with the Icelandic Coast Guard from 1958 to 1976. These largely bloodless incidents became known as the Cod Wars, and ended with the recognition by Britain of Iceland's exclusive 200 nautical miles fishery zone. Chatham Naval Base was used for refitting nuclear submarines from 1963 but it closed in 1984. The most important operation conducted predominantly by the Royal Navy
Coast Guard Air Station Cape Cod 1979, a Pelican CG-1432 crashed into the sea while engaged in a medical evacuation of an injured seaman from a fishing vessel 180 miles southeast of Cape Cod. Names of personnel killed in the incident: Lieutenant Commander James Stiles (Aircraft Commander); Capt. G. Richard Burge (Canadian Forces Exchange Co-Pilot); Petty Officer 2nd Class John Tait (Avionicsman/Navigator); and Petty Officer 2nd Class Bruce Kaehler (Hospital Corpsman). The HH-3F Pelican continued in service until replaced by the HH-60 Jayhawk in the 90s. The last HH-52A Seaguard helicopters were transferred from CGAD Salem to CGAS Cape Cod in late 1970 and were phased