The following is a brief summary of MCM assets committed during the Iraq War II, showing the dovetailing of both traditional MCM minesweepers and US helecopter assets.
Taken from USN Institute.
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.
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