Operation Nimbus Star involved the clearance of naval mines and unexploded ordnance from portions of the Suez Canal and its approaches[1] The U.S. Navy amphibious assault ship USS Iwo Jima (LPH-2) (later relieved by USS Inchon (LPH-12)) deployed more than a month early with only five days notice, and became the flagship of "Task Force 65" to clear mines from the Suez Canal.

When this first phase of the operations, known as "Nimbus Star", was finished on 3 June 1974, Sea Stallions from HM-12 and the minesweeping support crews from the Mobile Mine Countermeasures Command at Charleston, South Carolina, had swept a total of 7600 linear miles in about 500 hours of on-station time.

While the Americans were prohibited from actual ordnance operations, they accompanied the Egyptians in the diving boats, serving as on-scene advisors.

Linked with a precise radio navigation system, the sonar made highly accurate charts of the canal bottom.

The ordnance that was discovered, ranging from hand grenades to 907 kg bombs, was usually destroyed in place with explosive charges.

The final stage of the operation was "Nimrod Spar", removing ten designated wrecks from the canal channel.

Additional salvage assets including two large heavy cranes and two heavy-lift craft were brought to the canal zone.

They then proceeded to the northern end of the Great Bitter Lake to salvage the dredge 15 September, the only wreck slated for reuse.