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Mine Countermeasures Exercise Sweeps Persian Gulf

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS071128-10
Release Date: 11/28/2007 3:13:00 PM

By Chief Mass Communication Specialist (SW) Craig Strawser, USS Wasp Public Affairs

USS WASP, At Sea (NNS) -- The U.S. Navy conducted a mine countermeasures exercise (MCMEX) Nov. 12-15 to demonstrate its ability to counter potential mine-laying and to maintain open sea lanes and anchorages in the region, an important mission of Maritime Security Operations (MSO).

The exercise brought together Mine Countermeasures Division (MCMDIV) 31, the "Blackhawks" of Helicopter Mine Countermeasures Squadron (HM) 15, USS Wasp (LHD 1) and USS Gladiator (MCM 11).

Cmdr. Scott Davies, commodore of MCMDIV 31, stressed the importance of teamwork in carrying out the MCM evolution.

"The MCM triad consists of air units, surface units and underwater units, all working together with an afloat command element," said Davies. "By forging these three branches of the MCM process into one cohesive team, COMCMDIV 31 is able to meet the U.S. 5th Fleet objectives of maintaining open sea lanes throughout the region."

During the exercise, HM 15's MH-53E helicopters towed MK-105 Magnetic Influence Minesweeping Systems, better known as "sleds," which are high-speed catamaran hydrofoil platforms. From the sleds, an electrically-charged cable streams and creates an electromagnetic field, which tricks mines into thinking it is a ship.

As part of the exercise, Wasp demonstrated its ability to launch and recover the sleds from its well deck. Once the sleds were launched, rigid hulled inflatable boats towed them away from the ship where they were then connected to a hovering MH-53E and towed in a notional mine threat area.

Gladiator, the surface element of the triad, provided real-time clearance information to the command staff aboard Wasp Davies said.

Davies added, MCM ships such as Gladiator conduct mechanical and influence sweeps of Sea Lanes of Commerce, or the "highways" used by commercial shipping traffic to move material around the world.

This is the sixth MCMEX in the Persian Gulf since 2007 in support MSO. It also supports the U.S. Naval Forces' new "Cooperative Strategy for 21st Century Seapower," which was rolled out in October by Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Gary Roughead.