They got off just in time. The Revolutionary Guard, hearing an aeroplane overhead, decided to engage it. It was an American C-130 gunship, and it made short work of sinking the gunboat. Nobody knows what happened to the remaining members of its crew, but the three who had abandoned ship floated out to sea for a while before being picked up by the US cutter, Adac, and telling what they knew to coalition forces.
Mine clearance is a hi-tech business. The British minesweepers are made of plastic so that they do not set off magnetic mines. A sonar detects a possible threat and a remote vehicle is sent out to have a look. If it turns out to be a mine the vehicle places a charge, retreats, and then explodes it.
The minesweepers and the Sea Stallion helicopters can also tow a sledge-like array that sends out a magnetic signal and makes lots of noise to destroy magnetic and acoustic devices.
At Umm Qasr, which was the scene of intense fighting between Iraqi and coalition forces this week, divers will be used to clear mines below the quays.
According to Captain Peter Jones, the naval commander of the task unit, ports are the most difficult areas to clear. "They are full of detritus and rubbish, much of which gives a similar reading to mines," he said.
"It is always a tricky business."
Two American-trained dolphins -- which the US navy insists must be called mammals -- will also be used in the clearance of the harbor; the mark 8, which is trained to sniff out mines above the bottom, and the mark 7, which is adept at finding mines buried under silt and mud.
It is expected that the RFA Sir Galahad landing ship will be the first supply vessel to enter the port, some time today, with 232 tonnes of humanitarian aid on board. It will enter the harbor through a 30m to 100m channel that has been cleared of mines.
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