Modern mine warfare is changing, and trials are under way in Bahrain with autonomous systems to adapt how minehunting is done.
RFA Stirling Castle, known as ‘the minehunting mother ship,’ will host several of these systems, operated by the Royal Navy.
This advancement allows for broader coverage of sea areas while minimising risks to personnel.
Why does the UK clear mines in the Gulf?
The Gulf region is home to one of the busiest shipping lanes in the world – the Strait of Hormuz – and keeping it mine-free is essential to ensure the flow of oil and trade.
Since 2006, the UK has strategically positioned itself in the Gulf to address the menace of mines, which serve as a fast and inexpensive means for nations to control vast maritime areas, disrupt vital shipping lanes, or inflict damage on maritime vessels.
What is Operation Kipion?
The UK Mine Countermeasures Force comes under the umbrella of Operation Kipion, the UK’s commitment to promoting peace and stability around the Gulf.
It typically involves three minehunters based permanently in the region and, as well as looking for mines, the ensure the safe flow of oil, gas and trade.
The minehunters are led by the commander of the UK Mine Countermeasures Force, who is based on a Royal Fleet Auxiliary landing ship dock.
The force also has an escort ship with Royal Marines from 42 Commando on board, maritime security specialists with board and search expertise, all of which are supported by the UK Naval Support Facility in Bahrain.
How are mines neutralised?
The minehunter ships hunt for mines, using sonar to detect objects on the seabed and then use a remotely operated system called Sea Fox to dispose of them.
When a mine is detected, there are two options to deal with it.
It can either be targeted by a remotely operated vehicle with an explosive charge that would cause a controlled explosion.
Or if the visibility is poor, the task falls on to a team of specialist EOD (Explosives Ordnance Disposal) divers.
“Minehunters are some of the smallest vessels within the Royal Navy,” Commanding Officer of HMS Bangor Lieutenant Commander Andrew Platt said.
“My ship’s company is just 40 people. In that, I’ve got engineers, mine warfare experts, chefs, divers. And that team really comes together in order to deliver our equipment and operations,” he added.
How do autonomous mine-hunting systems work?
Harrier is an Uncrewed Minesweeper System. At 11 metres long it is designed to detect underwater threats in the challenging weather conditions found in the Gulf.
The three coil boats attached to it are designed to trick a mine into thinking there’s a ship on the surface.
The mine then detonates – it’s a quicker way of neutralising a minefield.
The heat and dust make the Gulf region one of the more difficult environments to operate in.
However, Richard Hurman, Commander of the UK Mine Countermeasures Force believes that if the Royal Navy can operate in the Gulf, they can operate anywhere.
“As we know all too well at the moment, mines are being used in the Black Sea and nations are utilising them in order to close off sea areas and deny the enemy,” Cdr Hurman said.
“We have that ability to be able to sustain operations, to clear channels as quickly as possible in order to keep the movement of commercial and military shipping through any particular region as quickly as possible.
“With heat, dust and environmentals, it makes it a difficult environment to operate in, so if we can operate here, we can operate pretty much anywhere else in the world,” he added.
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