Despite her parent ship dodging mines and maintaining the air defence line as the closest non-US to Kuwait for the first 4 weeks of the 1991 War, "Cardiff"s Lynx helicopter, no. 335 of 815 NAS, saw more of the combat in the Gulf War than "Cardiff" actually did. On 24 January 1991, no. 335 spotted Iraqi minesweepers and landing craft going to support the Iraqi land operations of the Battle of Khafji. 335 attacked and sank one - the first successful British naval engagement of the war. Later that day, Qaruh Island was captured by coalition forces, becoming the first Kuwaiti territory to be liberated. Overnight five days later (30–31 January 1991) with Lynxes from "Gloucester" and "Brazen", no. 335 attacked at least two Iraqi missile firing fast patrol boats vessels exiting the Shatt Al Arab . "Cardiff" and 335 sank two more Iraqi ships in February. "Cardiff" and "Brazen" were relieved in mid February by Group Yankee, comprising , , and .