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Mine Countermeasures Assets Clear Way for Humanitarian Relief

Navy NewStand

Story Number: NNS030331-04
Release Date: 3/31/2003 7:30:00 AM

By Photographer's Mate 2nd Class Robert Houlihan, Navy News Service

UMM QASR, Iraq (NNS) -- For weeks, U.S. and coalition Sailors and Marines from USS Ponce (LPD 15), Helicopter Mine Countermeasures Squadron (HM) 14 "Vanguards" and Commander Task Unit (CTU) 55.4.3 have been working long hours to clear the Khawar Abd Allah (KAA) river and the port of Umm Qasr, Iraq, of underwater mines.

CTU-55.4.3, which consists of U.S. Naval Special Clearance Team-1, Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Mobile Units 6 and 8, Fleet Diving Unit 3 from the United Kingdom, and a Clearance Dive Team from Australia, has been conducting deep/shallow water mine countermeasure operations to clear shipping lanes around Umm Qasr.

The multifaceted group have used a variety of methods, including MH-53E helicopters towing magnetic minesweeping sleds, trained marine mammals, unmanned underwater vehicles and EOD divers. These assets found and neutralized six mines in the previous 36 hours alone.

"This is just the beginning. We still have to make the entire port safe for operations," Ponce Commanding Officer Capt. Anthony O'Moore said. "Only a 200-yard channel has been cleared. With two-and-a-half weeks of work the channel will be widened to 400 to 1,000 yard wide where allowable."

Involved in the mine-sweeping efforts were mine coastal hunters USS Cardinal (MHC 60) and USS Raven (MHC 61); mine counter measure ships USS Dextrous (MCM 13) and USS Ardent (MCM 12); and amphibious dock-landing ship USS Gunston Hall (LSD 44).

Their hard work was rewarded March 28 when British Royal Fleet Auxiliary, Landing Ship Logistic RFA Sir Galahad (L 3005) pulled safely into Umm Qasr laden with tons of humanitarian aid to feed the people of Iraq and paving the way for the steady stream of aid to come.

"Sir Galahad's arrival is the culmination of the hard work of all the people doing their job," O'Moore said. "It is nice to see that our efforts can bring badly needed humanitarian aid to the Iraqi people."

Sir Galahad's cargo included more than 200 tons of water and foodstuffs, including rice, lentils, cooking oil, sugar and powdered milk. U.S. Agency for International Development officials have stated that the United States alone has pledged over 610,000 tons of food in the coming months.