Coastal minehunter
Encyclopedia
Coastal Minehunters are ships that are designed to find, classify, and destroy moored and bottom mines
from vital waterways. Coastal minehunters are generally smaller and with lower sea-keeping and endurance than ocean going minehunter
s. They are usually tasked with keeping a fixed high value choke point
s clear of mines, such as the approaches to military ports and harbours. In a Cold War
context it was especially important to protect those ports used by a nation's ballistic missile
submarines.
in that mine sweepers are used against older magnetic mines that are moored just below the surface. Minehunters are designed to seek out mines and destroy them individually, particularly against more advanced modern mines, which sit on the seabed and can be programmed to target specific vessel types (see CAPTOR mine
). To do this they have mine hunting sonar
and can act as motherships and support craft for ROV
s and combat divers
. However in some circumstances many minehunters can also destroy less advanced magnetic moored mines in the traditional manner.
Naval mine
A naval mine is a self-contained explosive device placed in water to destroy surface ships or submarines. Unlike depth charges, mines are deposited and left to wait until they are triggered by the approach of, or contact with, an enemy vessel...
from vital waterways. Coastal minehunters are generally smaller and with lower sea-keeping and endurance than ocean going minehunter
Minehunter
Minehunters are mine countermeasure vessels that actively detect and destroy individual naval mines. Minesweepers, on the other hand, clear mined areas as a whole, without prior detection of mines...
s. They are usually tasked with keeping a fixed high value choke point
Choke point
In military strategy, a choke point is a geographical feature on land such as a valley, defile or a bridge, or at sea such as a strait which an armed force is forced to pass, sometimes on a substantially narrower front, and therefore greatly decreasing its combat power, in order to reach its...
s clear of mines, such as the approaches to military ports and harbours. In a Cold War
Cold War
The Cold War was the continuing state from roughly 1946 to 1991 of political conflict, military tension, proxy wars, and economic competition between the Communist World—primarily the Soviet Union and its satellite states and allies—and the powers of the Western world, primarily the United States...
context it was especially important to protect those ports used by a nation's ballistic missile
Submarine-launched ballistic missile
A submarine-launched ballistic missile is a ballistic missile capable of delivering a nuclear warhead that can be launched from submarines. Modern variants usually deliver multiple independently targetable reentry vehicles each of which carries a warhead and allows a single launched missile to...
submarines.
Operation
Minehunters differ from mine sweepersMinesweeper (ship)
A minesweeper is a small naval warship designed to counter the threat posed by naval mines. Minesweepers generally detect then neutralize mines in advance of other naval operations.-History:...
in that mine sweepers are used against older magnetic mines that are moored just below the surface. Minehunters are designed to seek out mines and destroy them individually, particularly against more advanced modern mines, which sit on the seabed and can be programmed to target specific vessel types (see CAPTOR mine
CAPTOR mine
The CAPTOR is the United States Navy's primary anti-submarine naval mine. This deep-water mine is laid by ship, aircraft or submarine, and is anchored to the ocean floor. When its sonar detects a hostile submarine, the CAPTOR launches a Mark 46 torpedo.The name CAPTOR is short for enCAPsulated...
). To do this they have mine hunting sonar
Sonar
Sonar is a technique that uses sound propagation to navigate, communicate with or detect other vessels...
and can act as motherships and support craft for ROV
Remotely operated vehicle
A remotely operated vehicle is a tethered underwater vehicle. They are common in deepwater industries such as offshore hydrocarbon extraction. An ROV may sometimes be called a remotely operated underwater vehicle to distinguish it from remote control vehicles operating on land or in the air. ROVs...
s and combat divers
Clearance Diver
A clearance diver was originally a specialist naval diver who used explosives underwater to remove obstructions to make harbours and shipping channels safe to navigate, but later the term "clearance diver" was used to include other naval underwater work...
. However in some circumstances many minehunters can also destroy less advanced magnetic moored mines in the traditional manner.
Coastal minehunter classes
- The US Navy Osprey-classOsprey class coastal minehunterOsprey-class coastal minehunters are designed to find, classify, and destroy moored and bottom naval mines from vital waterways. They use sonar and video systems, cable cutters and a mine detonating device that can be released and detonated by remote control...
coastal minehunters. - The Royal NavyRoyal NavyThe Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
Sandown class minehunterSandown class minehunterThe Sandown class is a class of minehunter originally built for the British Royal Navy). Sandown-class vessels also serve with the Royal Saudi Navy and the Estonian Navy...
.
See also
- Western ApproachesWestern ApproachesThe Western Approaches is a rectangular area of the Atlantic ocean lying on the western coast of Great Britain. The rectangle is higher than it is wide, the north and south boundaries defined by the north and south ends of the British Isles, the eastern boundary lying on the western coast, and the...