Lieutenant Commander Gregory Chapman served as the executive officer onboard the USS Ardent in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) during 2003 and 2004. Joining the ship in April 2003, after they had been operating in support of OIF for a month, Chapman had to deal with the leadership challenge of replacing a very popular officer while figuring out the morale and operating rhythm of the Ardent. Being onboard a minesweeper, he explains at some length what the various missions of a minesweeper are and how they carry them out, including use of the SQQ-32 variable depth sonar and the SLQ-48 mine neutralization system. Also embarked aboard Ardent during his tour was a detachment from an explosive ordnance disposal mobile unit which greatly enhanced the ship's flexibility. "Having them does give us more flexibility," says Chapman. "They're more reliable than a remote system. You get a body down there that's capable of making a decision by himself, he can get better angles on the object and better visibility on the object." For the first part of his tour, the Ardent and three other American minesweepers based out of Bahrain, along with four British minesweepers, were tasked with clearing mines from the Khawr Abd Allah and Khawr Az Zubayr to allow humanitarian shipping access to the Iraqi cities of Um Qasr and Az Zubayr. They were aided in this mine hunting by Helicopter Mine Countermeasures Squadron 14 embarked on the amphibious landing ship Germantown. Throughout their operations in Iraqi waters, they relied on allies, either Kuwait Naval Base or the RFA Sir Bedivere, for the majority of their logistical support. While other minesweepers positively eliminated mines, according to Chapman, "My sonar guys are pretty convinced that they blew up fishing traps or refrigerators." Although it never materialized, a constant concern during these operations was that proximity to the shore made them vulnerable to small arms or RPG fire. In the spring of 2004 the maritime security of Iraq's oil platforms became an issue, moving the Ardent to a different mission. He notes that the threat was real, as shown by the deaths of several sailors from the Firebolt when they tried to intercept an explosive-laden dhow. He states that an enormous challenge, especially during minesweeping operations which involved nearly everyone, was crew fatigue, and that ship's operations had to be carefully planned to prevent dangerous situations. In August 2004, they carried out a new Navy initiative by swapping crews with another minesweeper in Ingleside, Texas.

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