Feature 3 | MINE COUNTERMEASURES


Mine countermeasures: fighting the forgotten killer


In a world where naval operations are dominated by network centric warfare, electro-magnetic and electro-optical sensors, missiles and air power it is easy to overlook the hidden killer, the mine, but mines are ignored at navies’ peril. Only last year, the British minehunters HMS Brocklesby and Bangor discovered mines off Misrata and Tobruk in Libya.


A demolition charge explodes during an MCM exercise.


(MCM) fleet. Recent examples include the Saab Underwater Systems’ Double Eagle ROV, which acts as a propelled variable- depth sonar, fitted with the Thales Underwater Systems TSM 2022 Mk III sensor, and used in conjunction with the same hull-mounted sensor in upgraded Tripartite minehunters. Remote-controlled MCM vessels are


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also now commonplace, including the German Navy’s Seehund radio-controlled drone minesweepers, which have been in service since the 1980s, with up to four controlled by one ship in the Troika system. Likewise, Sweden uses the Self-propelled Acoustic Magnetic (SAM) catamaran magnetic and acoustic


Warship Technology May 2012


emotely operated vehicles (ROVs) have become the workhorse of the modern mine countermeasures


minesweepers, which have also been sold to Japan, while Australia, China and Tailand are also known to use this technology. This form of technology represents a new approach to the problem of MCM. For its part, the US Navy has placed


great emphasis upon airborne MCM with helicopters initially acting as minesweepers; although, these are now being extended to the minehunting role using sidescan sonars and blue-green laser mine-detection sensors. While these MCM assets can respond quickly to a newly detected, or suspected, threat and are clearly able to deploy strategically more rapidly than dedicated mine countermeasures vessels (MCMVs), this is offset by their low endurance and limited lives due to airframe deterioration. However, in February it was


announced Japan would be enhancing its helicopter force with blue-green lasers.


Disposable assets Another new tool in the MCM arsenal is the lightweight (30-50kg) ROV with fibre-optical umbilical. They are easier to deploy than conventional ROVs, have longer range (3000m) and, because they are cheaper, they are disposable, being guided to the mine-like object by the ship, then acquiring it with on-board sonar and destroying it with a built-in shaped charge. Te growing success of these systems is demonstrated by the fact that Atlas’ Seafox, which is available in both classification and destructor versions, saw Tailand become its 10th customer late last year. Developments in robot technology in support of the offshore oil industry


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