 They were re-equipped in February 1990 with the Sea King MK6 and on board "Ark Royal" were dispatched to the Eastern Mediterranean on 10 January 1991, with the intention of transiting the Suez Canal, so they would be in the Red Sea for Operation Granby – UK name for Desert Storm.However, the war started before they could transit the Suez Canal, and instead, Ark Royal, remained in the Eastern Mediterranean for the duration of the War.In January 1993, 820 were dispatched aboard and
RFA "Fort Grange" to support the British forces in Bosnia as part of Operation Grapple.