Mine countermeasures operations in Operation Iraqi Freedom have been an unqualified success: the continued presence of U.S. naval forces in the northern Arabian Gulf prior to the outbreak of hostilities precluded Iraq's opportunity to sow mines in that area, early Special Operations Forces and Naval Special Warfare presence in the Khor Abd Allah (KAA) waterway captured a number of cleverly disguised Iraqi minelayers before they could sow their mines, and a well-organized and equipped team of U.S., U.K., and Australian minesweeping and explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) personnel successfully cleared mines in the KAA, thus allowing the early provision of humanitarian aid through the port of Umm Qasr. Writing the complete history of the operation will not be possible until the war is over and we have collected and analyzed lessons learned, but the following summarizes the operation to date.
Mine Countermeasures Squadron 3, serving as the combined task
group commander (CTG 55.4), commenced mine countermeasures (MCM)
operations within 12 hours of the start of combat operations ashore.
The Helicopter
Mine Countermeasures Squadron (HM)-14 airborne mine countermeasures
helicopters (MH-53Es)
flew sidescan sonar surveys of the KAA and conducted magnetic
and acoustic sweep operations while fighting continued a few miles
to the west in Umm Qasr. The surface MCM ships started up the
KAA while fighting was in progress on their starboard flank—Royal
Navy ships were conducting naval gunfire support for operations
on the Al Faw peninsula in close proximity to surface MCM ship
positions. Likewise, underwater MCM forces were starting to flow
into Umm Qasr and beginning dive operations while U.S. and Royal
Marines were suppressing counterattacks in the port area. Since
the USS
Inchon (MCS-12), the Navy's only mine warfare command and
support ship, had been decommissioned in July 2002, airborne mine
countermeasures operations were conducted from the USS
Ponce (LPD-15), serving as the interim mine warfare command
ship.
Surface mine countermeasures forces in the Persian Gulf consisted
of the four U.S. minesweepers permanently stationed in Bahrain
(the USS
Ardent [MCM-12], Cardinal
[MHC-60], Dextrous
[MCM-13], and Raven
[MHC-61]) and six U.K. minesweepers (HMS Blyth [M-111], Bangor
[M-109], Brocklesby [M-33], Grimsby [M-108], Ledbury [M-30], and
Sandown [M-101]) and their mother ship, the Royal Fleet Auxiliary
landing ship logistic Sir Bedivere (L-3004), which had deployed
several months earlier in anticipation of operations. Using data
from the MH-53 sidescan sonar surveys of the KAA, our ten Coalition
ships proceeded slowly up the waterway, investigating each contact.
Water conditions were challenging for mine-hunting operations:
the water was relatively shallow, acoustic conditions were poor
because of a muddy bottom, near-bottom visibility was limited
to nonexistent, and currents made diving operations and mine neutralization
vehicle operations difficult. Once a minelike object was located
precisely and classified by ships' sonars, remotely operated vehicles
or EOD divers were used to investigate and plant explosive charges
on the mine if appropriate.
In the meantime, U.S. forces interdicted several uniquely configured Iraqi minelayers while U.S. and Royal Marines secured the port of Umm Qasr, allowing U.S., U.K., and Australian EOD personnel to start clearing the port from the landward side. There was outstanding cover and deception by the Iraqi Navy. Only prompt action by the naval surface force commander allowed us to interdict more than 100 mines before the Iraqis put them in the water.
U.S. NAVY (RICHARD MOORE)
Coalition maritime interdiction and vessel board, search, and seizure teams from the patrol craft USS Chinook (PC-9) intercepted this Iraqi shipping barge and discovered dozens of camouflaged mines during the early hours of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Navy Special Clearance Team 1, established on 1 October 2002 from
the experimental Very Shallow Water detachment, operated from
the USS
Gunston Hall (LSD-44) before relocating ashore in Umm Qasr.
This team consists of Navy SEALS, Marine Corps Force Reconnaissance
divers, EOD divers, marine mammals, and the Navy's first operational
unmanned underwater vehicle (UUV) detachment. The team's wartime
role is to prepare covertly near shore areas for amphibious assaults,
so port clearance was well within its capabilities. The port clearance
was the result of outstanding cooperation between U.S., U.K.,
and Australian EOD personnel, plus Navy Special Clearance Team
1 and its mammals and UUVs. Reports of this first wartime deployment
of the REMUS UUV system indicate that it proved invaluable in
conducting surveys in the vicinity of Umm Qasr.
In addition to the publicized mine clearance operations in the
northern Arabian Gulf, Mine
Countermeasures Squadron 2 deployed to the Mediterranean with
the USS
Chief (MCM-14), Devastator
(MCM-6), Scout
(MCM-8), and Sentry
(MCM-3), a detachment of MH-53s from HM-15,
and several EOD detachments, embarking on the USS
Cleveland (LPD-7) to provide surface, airborne, and underwater
mine countermeasures capability in the vicinity of the Suez, ensuring
continued access to this vital sea line of communications.
Mine hunting and mine clearing is slow, tedious, and dangerous work, particularly in littoral areas with challenging environmental conditions. The overall Coalition mine countermeasures operations in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom were successful because of the training and dedication of our people, coupled with having the right equipment at their disposal. The U.S. Navy's investment in mine warfare is like an insurance policy: you don't want to spend too much, but you are glad you have it when you need it. In this case, our investment paid off.
Rear Admiral Ryan is Commander, Mine Warfare Command.
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