The MH-53 helicopter, known as the “Sea Dragon,” has a range of 650 nautical miles, without refueling, which makes the Mediterranean and Arabian Sea accessible from both far away bases and ships.  A crewmember takes a walk around the aircraft to ensure a safe and successful flight.  During Operation IRAQI FREEDOM (OIF), the MH-53 was used primarily for Airborne Mine Countermeasures (AMCM), with a secondary mission of shipboard delivery.  Mine hunting and mine clearing operations were very successful during OIF.