Editing Operation Prime Chance (section)

==Overview==
The two operations were intertwined—[[United States Army]] helicopters flew nighttime search-and-destroy missions from Navy [[Oliver Hazard Perry-class frigate|frigates]] and [[Spruance-class destroyer|destroyers]] and from two leased barges in the northern [[Persian Gulf]]. [[United States Navy SEALs|Navy SEALs]] and [[United States Navy EOD|explosive ordnance disposal]] operated from the barges as well. But while Earnest Will was the widely publicized reaction to [[Kuwait]]i pleas for help, Prime Chance was secret.<ref name="nightstalkers"/>

The army helicopters flew at night, slipping to and from navy flight decks under cover of darkness. The helicopter pilots often flew some {{convert|30|ft|m}} above the water, and became the first to use [[Night vision device|night vision goggles]] and [[forward looking infrared]] devices in combat. Tactics included using [[MH-6 Little Bird]]s as spotters for the more heavily armed [[MH-6 Little Bird#Variants|AH-6s]] for barge-launched missions, and using the warship's radar and that of their [[SH-60 Seahawk]] helicopters for the same purpose on ship-launched efforts.<ref name="nightstalkers">{{cite web|url=http://www.nightstalkers.com/history/4.html|title=Night Stalker History – Operations Earnest Will and Prime Chance|publisher=Nightstalkers.com|access-date=19 May 2011|archive-url=https://archive.today/20020615003730/http://www.nightstalkers.com/history/4.html|archive-date=15 June 2002|url-status=dead}}</ref>