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A U.S. Navy Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) specialist demonstrates EOD equipment used to find and neutralize mines. PHOTO BY PH2 ERIN A. ZOCCO, USN

The U.S. Navy contribution included MH-53E mine-hunting helicopters from Texas and Virginia and EOD divers from bases in Guam and California. The participation of the U.S. Navy Mine Countermeasures Command and Control ship USS Inchon (MCS 12) in this exercise marked its first deployment to the Western Pacific. The USS Inchon, the only mine counter-measures command and control ship that embarks mine hunting helicopters, employed its capability for refueling and replenishing at sea to allow the USS Patriot (MCM 7) and USS Guardian (MCM 5) to remain on station during the exercise, while other ships had to return to port to refuel and take on supplies. The Patriot and Guardian are based in Japan. The Inchon also provided a cohesive tactical command and control picture of the operation, a capability unique to this ship.

During initial unit-level training, regional ships and crews practiced safety procedures and learned how each navy performed mine counter-measures operations. During the tactical phase, ships, helicopters and EOD personnel practiced the actual location, identification, and neutralization of exercise mines.