Forbes was given command of the patrol craft HMS "Kingfisher", the frigate HMS "Diomede", the frigate HMS "Chatham", and the aircraft carrier HMS "Invincible". He was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 1994 for his work in the Ministry of Defence on the Bosnian War. During his time in HMS "Invincible", he was awarded the Queen's Commendation for Valuable Service in 1996 following the ship's contribution to NATO's Operation Deliberate Force, the bombing campaign against the Serbs of Bosnia and Herzegovina.