After the US invaded Iraq in 2003, Commodore Roger Girouard was given command of Task Force 151, comprising ships of allied nations who chose not to join the Iraq War but continued to support the War in Afghanistan. was the next Canadian ship slated to deploy to the theatre. However, Commodore Girouard requested "Iroquois" be sent instead, due to the vessel's flagship accommodations and better communications equipment. In order to accommodate the request, MARLANT reassigned "Fredericton"s helicopter and aircrew to "Iroquois", allowing the destroyer to sail on 24 February. However, on 27 February, the Sea King crashed into the ship's deck, forcing "Iroquois" to return to Halifax. The destroyer sailed with "Fredericton" on 5 March bound for the Persian Gulf, this time with no helicopter. "Iroquois" departed the theatre in June.