BATTLE OF THE ALLROUNDERS - INTER NA TION AL FOR UM FOR MAR I TIME POW ER - THREAT REALITY CALLS FOR MORE ADVANCED MINE COUNTERMEASURES VESSELS ...
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ISSN 0722-8880
$ 28,00/ E 17,50
NO. I/2021
Vol. XLII
INTERNATIONAL FORUM
FOR MARITIME POWER
BATTLE OF THE
ALLROUNDERS
THREAT REALITY CALLS FOR MORE ADVANCED
MINE COUNTERMEASURES VESSELS
Littoral Operations – Cover Story
The Indonesian Navy is about to receive two modern mine
Feature
countermeasures vessels aimed at replacing TRIPARTITE type
vessels that were commissioned in the late 1990s.
(Artist impression: Abeking & Rasmussen)
Stefan Nitschke
No capability, no action
Essentials of mine countermeasures vessel technology
Part I
Naval fleets around the globe are To make certain areas mine free or even for a new class of high-performance, high-
continuing to invest in modern mine mine-safe, the principal challenge is to reduce mobility MCMVs, offering a more robust
the time it takes to find, identify and eliminate mine countermeasures capability than the cur-
countermeasures vessel technology. them. Both advanced MCMVs and unmanned rent inventory of 1990-era platforms.
The EMEA (Europe, Middle East and technology – remotely operated vehicles Another naval power in the Baltic, the
Africa) region plus Asia are poised to (ROVs) and other extended standoff ordnance Finnish Navy’s main acquisition was the three-
procure 33.5 percent of Western-built detection methodologies – are playing a cru- ship strong Katanpää class of Intermarine-
vessels of different classes, sizes and cial role to combat the threat. Robotics are built minehunters that were acquired under the
capability in the timeframe 2019- able to rapidly dismantle mine threats while MCMV 2010 programme. Their principal fea-
2030, according to industry sources. minimizing the risk of exposing personnel to ture is the broad variety of MCM systems they
lethal minefields. This was one of the conse- can embark, the wide range of tasks they are
Naval Forces reflects upon selected quences in the NATO’s orientation towards a able to perform and their full interoperability
programmes. Part II in March will strong unmanned component, adding to the with EU and NATO forces in the case they
be devoted exclusively to unmanned capability of traditional MCM methods. participate in international missions. The
mine countermeasures platforms. Katanpää class design offers much more po-
tential for wider international use than origi-
Wake-up call nally envisioned.
Threat is reality To comply with its commitment to the de- In October 2014, the Algerian National
Sea mines and other underwater explosives, fensive role in an extremely complex ma- Navy signed a contract with Orizzonte Sistemi
varying in size, shape, operational mode and ritime environment most typical of the Baltic Navali as prime contractor and Intermarine
lethality, are classed as asymmetric threats Sea, the Germany Navy, for instance, is keen (as a subcontractor) for one single MCMV
and may be asynchronous weapons since their to maintain an advanced MCM capability in plus an option for a second vessel based on
action typically occurs long after they were the 2020s. The demand for a successor of the the Katanpää class design. Commissioning of
emplaced. Locating, identifying, classifying, current purpose-built MCMVs is an urgent the first unit, named El-Kasseh 1 (501), took
defusing and neutralising them is a tough task. one. The fleet of eight Type 332 (Frankenthal place on 30 September 2017. Equipped with a
Naval fleets in many countries, over decades, class) minehunting vessels presently assigned Gaymarine Pluto Plus remotely-operated mine
were operating mine countermeasures vessels to Flotilla 1 (Einsatzflottille 1) is subject to a disposal vehicle and a Klein Marine Systems
(MCMVs) of different classes, sizes and capa- constant reassessment and orientation to new towed side-scan sonar, the vessel features a
bility to cope with the threat. In many coun- threats. Official sources related to the Bundes- monohull design, constructed from compo-
tries, the current inventories of MCMVs, need wehr’s WTD 71 (Wehrtechnische Dienst- site materials. These advanced materials offer
to be modernised or even replaced with new stelle 71) located in Eckernförde claim that improved shock resistance against underwater
classes of vessels in the 2020s. Most of which their growth margin for further upgrading is explosions. Another feature is her diesel-elec-
were built in the 1980s and 1990s. limited. Proposals received from industry call tric power plant, with the prime movers con-
NAVAL FORCES I/2021 31
Littoral Operations – Cover Story Littoral Operations – Cover Story
sian Navy. Another variant, the Schütze class, f Six modern minehunters will be delivered
Feature
Feature
was built in the 1960s for the Federal Ger- to the Belgian Naval Component and six to
the Royal Netherlands Navy, each fitted
man Navy; the last units were exported in the with the complete drone system consisting
1970s to Brazil. Belonging to the Aratù class, a total of more than a hundred underwater,
five units with a displacement of 245 tonnes surface and aerial drones entirely dedicated
to mine warfare missions.
are still in active service, proving their high- (Artist impression: Belgium Naval & Robotics)
quality design and craftsmanship.
A&R’s expertise in the field of monohull
MCMVs in particular is the result of a decade-
long process of research and development. Monohull vs multihull
The Ministry of Defence (MoD) in Jakarta, In- A&R is also known for unconventional
donesia, recently opted for a 62m long design options. The code word is SWATH (small
from A&R based on the proven design of the waterplane twin-hull) as offered in the mid-
German Navy’s Frankenthal class. Two vessels 2000s to the Latvian Navy. The SWATH
are to be delivered to the Indonesian Navy, platforms on offer range in length from 20m
replacing two TRIPARTITE type MCMVs to 70m, with the larger designs well-suited to
(Pulau Rengat class) that were commissioned act as a ‘mother ship’ for unmanned systems.
in 1988. The vessels are made of non-magnetic In September 2006, Latvia selected a develop-
steel (NMS). Production is now in progress; ment of the A&R 25-m pilot boat for a class
on 26 November 2020, steel for the first unit of five multipurpose boats, which it ordered
was cut. NMS was first used in the 1980s for the following year. They were the first new
On 26 November 2020, steel for the first mine countermeasures vessel the German Navy’s Hameln class (Type 343) surface assets ordered for the Latvian Navy.
based on the German Navy’s Frankenthal class was cut for the Indonesian Navy. and later for the Frankenthal class (MJ 332), Three vessels were constructed at the A&R
(Photo: Abeking & Rasmussen)
Thomas Haake, A&R’s sales director navy, shipyard and delivered to Riga Shipyard in
explained. The same was the Alanya class for Latvia, while the remaining two vessels were
the Turkish Naval Forces. Vessels of all three constructed in Latvia, with A&R delivering
sisting of a pair of 1,000-kW (kilowatt) MTU History lessons are crucial classes have been built by A&R. material packages.
8V-396-TE74 engines, while final drive comes A&R has since continuously developed and Keeping in mind modularity and multi-
from two Voith Schneider cycloidal drives, de- German shipbuilders in particular look back improved this type of MCMVs, which have functionality, concept tests of a side-scan so-
livering a speed of up to 13 knots and a range to a long history of designing, constructing and become larger with a length of about 62m and nar module have been performed, achieving
as of up to 1,500 nautical miles. outfitting conventional MCMV hulls with an a width of 11 metres. The propulsion system decent results; the Skrunda class vessels might
array of manned/unmanned systems. Among is a standard configuration of two shafts with become an important element of the MCM ca-
them is Abeking & Rasmussen (A&R), which controllable pitch propellers, electric loiter pability of [the] Naval Flotilla in the future,”
Left: The Holm class multi-role craft
HDMS Saltholm (MSD 6) was refitted is based in Lemwerder near Bremen, and is drives and MAN V175 diesel engines. Mine- the commander of the Patrol Boat Squadron,
as part of the MCM DNK between supplier of the German Navy plus many other hunting is based on a hull-mounted sonar 3D-laser-welding system, Thomas Haake ex- it is purely a commercial design that can be Commander JG Peteris Subbota, told Naval
2011 and 2012. fleets over decades. The first wooden mine- (HMS), ROV and mine-clearance divers; but plained. The advantage of this cutting-edge fitted with varying mission modules, allowing Forces in 2011. The SWATH technology in-
Centre: As flagship of NATO’s SNMCMG1,
the patrol frigate HDMS Thetis (F 357) sweepers were built as early as WWI. In 1930, autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) are technology is clear: low thermal distortion for a unique modular design for the spectrum novated by A&R is more expensive than other
was fitted with the MCM DNK C3 “R 2”, A&R’s hull number 2655, was the pro- also envisaged. The MCM equipment is sup- and high-precision, particularly for reliable of deployments, from patrol and surveillance existing technologies; but, as it gives the
module. totype of German minesweepers for decades. plied by Teledyne Reson, a leading provider and resilient welds. A&R is also promoting to MCM. The platform can be fitted with a necessary stability with a smaller hull length,
Right: The containerised C3 module
is designed according to Several hundred units were built in different of high-quality underwater acoustic solutions. its latest design, the APEX Protector, offer- modular deck plus a flight deck for unmanned the cost of building such a ship is comparable
the ‘plug-and-play’ concept. variations and exported; in the mid-1950s, the For the production of the hulls, A&R is ing a platform for different or varying combat helicopter drones or vertical replenishment to the cost of building a catamaran and more
(Photos: Guy Toremans) Pulau Rau class was delivered to the Indone- also using its modern, in-house developed intensities. Designed as a monohull platform, (VERTREP) operations. economical than ordering a single-hull ship.
32 NAVAL FORCES I/2021 NAVAL FORCES I/2021 33
Littoral Operations – Cover Story
Seeking full-scale protection against e way forward to increase stand-off distance an influence minesweeping gear, a clearance for the new minehunters designed by Naval
sea mines, naval fleets draw on robotic
Feature
Feature
between MCM units and the threat, ranging diving store and containers for accommoda- Group, including computer networks, elec-
technologies fitted to modern MCM platforms.
Pictured is the minehunting equipment fitted from sea mines to the growing number of ting MCM equipment. As of September 2019, trical installations, propulsion or combat sys-
to Finnish Navy Katanpää class MCMVs waterborne explosives. An interesting mine the MCM DNK ‘toolbox’ was made up of two tems, as well as those of all drones developed
including the Kongsberg Hugin 1000 AUV (left) disposal tool effective against floating and Holm class multi-role craft: HDMS Hirsholm by ECA Group, all of which are key elements
and Saab’s Double Eagle Mk2 ROV (right).
(Photo: Guy Toremans) drifting mines is Atlas Elektronik’s Cobra (MSD 5) and HDMS Saltholm (MSD 6); four of the vessels. This review also focused on the
ystem. It can be fitted to the re-usable SeaFox optionally-manned Minor Standard Vessels systems of systems that provide mission ma-
AUV offering an EOD capability from surface (MSF 1, 2, 3 and 4); a C3 container; a clea- nagement, communication and cybersecurity,
SWATH platforms can remain within the to a depth of 300 metres. rance diver container; an administrative con- as well as on the fitment of drone systems.
“comfort zone” much longer, since ship stabi- Naval preference is to use robotics for rapid tainer; and an additional container for stores,
lity benefits enormously from the catamaran- deployments to an operational area. The next spare parts and a team of eight officers, eight
type hull concept, thereby increasing the step is unmanned MCM platforms as exempli- petty officers and 16 ratings.
Conclusion
crew’s capabilities, according to A&R. fied by Atlas Elektronik UK’s (AEUK) Atlas The Belgian-Dutch minehunter project The demand for newer MCMVs with capa-
Modularity makes these boats multifunc- Remote Capability Integrated Mission Suite achieved a major systems functional review bility upgrades is an urgent one since many
© 2021 Mönch Verlagsgesellschaft mbH
tional. The Latvians acquired the boats pri- (ARCIMS). The concept offered to the Royal milestone last year. Exactly one year after the fleets operate 1980- and 1990-era vessels,
marily as patrol boats, for a combination of Navy (RN) was described as a next-generation notification of the contract, the Belgium Naval which are becoming near-obsolescent. While
patrol, constabulary and search-and-rescue. unmanned MCM solution. What makes the & Robotics (BNR) team achieved a new con- the new-generation of MCMVs may face com-
The service envisaged a later upgrade to an and to maintain and all of them have relatively remain high on the agenda of should it comes system suited for complex MCM tasks is its tractual milestone on 23 May 2020. The over- pletely new challenges in the future, unmanned
explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) and MCM large crews. to the introduction of successor classes in the capability of being deployed and operated all programme calls for the delivery of twelve systems (robotics) are about to transform
equivalent as their part of the Baltic Sea hosts 2020s, for example, in Belgium, France, the from the shore and from an MCMV. minehunters fitted with modern drone sys- MCM missions. The next step is unmanned
plenty of unexploded underwater weapons, Netherlands and the United Kingdom. Other NATO countries’ concepts of tems (toolbox) to the Royal Netherlands Navy MCM, with naval preference to use unmanned
taking into account, however, that the EOD or
Unstoppable rise of As to the increasing significance of un- operation could be a ‘blue print’, however. (RNlN) and the Belgian Naval Component. At platforms for rapid deployments to an ope-
MCM role would not have to be fulfilled at
unmanned systems manned systems, a major influencer and As an example, the core of the MCM Den- the height of the COVID-19 crisis, the BNR rational area. An example is Elbit Systems’
the same time as, say, patrol or diving support Seeking full-scale protection against sea traditional supplier to many navies is Atlas mark (MCM DNK) concept is a containerized teams reached the new milestone within the Seagull unmanned surface vehicle (USV),
or SAR. The Latvian Navy currently operates mines, many navies draw on robotic techno- Elektronik, which expects future cooperation IMCMS C3 system, which is supplemented framework of the two services’ mine warfare an advanced platform that already roved its
five ex-Dutch TRIPARTITE Coastal Mine- logies fitted to their MCMVs. ROVs and other between AUVs and ROVs (tethered and auto- by a variety of containerized systems such as project, which validates the functional and ar- multi-mission capability during a series of at-
hunters (MHCs). All are expensive to operate extended standoff ordnance detection methods nomous) in MCM missions as an important Atlas Elektronik’s SeaOtter and SeaFox AUVs, chitectural studies of all the systems relevant sea testing campaigns in recent years. NAFO
The Algerian National Navy
has commissioned the first
of two Intermarine-built mine
countermeasures vessels,
El-Kasseh 1 (501),
on 20 June 2017.
(Photo: Giorgio Arra)
34 NAVAL FORCES I/2021 NAVAL FORCES I/2021 35
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