Need for Speed
Mine Countermeasures Principals Remain Unchanged
Recent events have highlighted the “need for speed” in maritime warfare – and no, we are not talking about the release of Top Gun Maverick.
In a recent report the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) has reported that de-mining of Ukraine ports may take months. “Even if the ports wanted to reopen tomorrow it would take some time until ships could enter or depart,” Peter Adams, special advisor on maritime security at the IMO, said in an interview. “Completely removing sea mines in the port areas would take several months.”
It is clear that the fundamentals of Mine Counter Measures (MCM) remain the same. Deployed mines take months to clear with dedicated ships and uncrewed systems. Concepts that mines can be cleared “in stride” will be sorely tested by the reality of mine warfare. Sea mines have featured in every conflict since World War 2 and again feature in the conflict in the Ukraine. The reality of mine warfare is that a toolbox approach is required and that specialised MCM ships, such as the Huon Class Minehunter Coastal, will continue to be required for long term clearance operations such as those that are the reality in the Ukraine ports.
Meanwhile, at the other end of the speed spectrum, uncrewed systems such as the MARTAC T38 Fleet Class “Devil Ray” and T12 Uncrewed Surface Vessels (USV) offer unprecedented capability for high-speed maritime operations. With a cruise speed of 35-60 kts and cruise range of 750-500 nm the MARTAC T38 provides the capability to rapidly insert stores, other uncrewed assets, or surveillance packages at an extended range from a task group. The burst speed of 80 kts provides a capability not seen before in USV. Recent demonstrations at exercise Autonomous Warrior 2022 have successfully shown the utility of these systems.
Read More
De-Mining Ukraine’s Ports May Take Months
Floating Mines Hit Danube Ship Traffic
RAN debuts new high-speed uncrewed surface vessel
