Nimbus Star
Nimbus Moon
Nimrod Spar

Operations Nimbus Star and Nimbus Moon involved the clearance of mines and other unexploded ordnance from the Suez Canal and its approaches by US and allied forces during the 1973 Arab-Israeli conflict. In reaction to the Middle East crisis between Israel and Egypt in October 1973, USS Iwo Jima (LPH-2) deployed fully loaded, more than a month early, and with only five days notice. While deployed, she participated in Task Force 65 NIMBUS STAR / NIMBUS MOON, an operation to clear mines from the Suez Canal. In May 1974 a twelve-plane detachment of RH-53D Sea Stallions from NAS Norfolk's Helicopter Mine Countermeasures Squadron TWELVE [HM-12] began minesweeping the Suez Canal as part of Project NIMBUS STAR. Clearance of Suez Canal for mines and unexploded ordnance completed by Joint Task Force on 20 December 1974. When mine clearing operations were completed, the Suez Canal and associated lakes were considered 99% clear of active mines.