Editing Minesweeping (section)

{{Short description|Practice of removing explosive naval mines}}
{{For|the removal of land mines|demining}}
{{use dmy dates|date=July 2022}}
{{use British English|date=July 2022}}
[[File:MH-53E Sea Dragon towing sled.jpg|thumb|An [[CH-53E Super Stallion|MH-53E]] from [[HM-15]] tows a minesweeping sled while conducting simulated mine clearing operations.]]
[[File:USS Tide sinking.jpg|thumb|Minesweeper {{USS|Tide|AM-125|6}} after striking a mine off [[Utah Beach]], 7 June 1944. Note her broken back, with smoke pouring from amidships.]]

'''Minesweeping''' is the practice of removing explosive [[naval mine]]s, usually by a specially designed ship called a [[minesweeper]] using various measures to either capture or detonate the mines, but sometimes also with an aircraft made for that purpose. Minesweeping has been practiced since the advent of naval mining in 1855 during the [[Crimean War]]. The first minesweepers date to that war and consisted of British rowboats trailing [[Grappling hook|grapnel]]s to snag the mines.<ref>Howard S. Levie, ''Mine Warfare at Sea'' (1992), p. 119.</ref>