Mine Countermeasures Ships - MCM

Last updated: 21 Aug 2020

Point of Contact
Naval Sea Systems Command
Office of Corporate Communication

(SEA 00D)
Washington, D.C. 20376

(202) 781-4123

Description
Ships designed to clear mines from vital waterways.

Background
In the early 1980s, the U.S. Navy began development of a new mine countermeasures (MCM) force, which included two new classes of ships and minesweeping helicopters. The vital importance of a state-of-the-art mine countermeasures force was strongly underscored in the Persian Gulf during the eight years of the Iran-Iraq war and in Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm in 1990 and 1991.

Avenger class ships are designed as mine sweepers/hunter-killers capable of finding, classifying and destroying moored and bottom mines. Avenger (MCM 1) was decommissioned on September 30, 2014. Defender (MCM 2) was decommissioned Oct. 1, 2014. Guardian (MCM 5) was stricken from service in 2013. There remain 11 MCMs in current service to the fleet.

These ships use sonar and video systems, cable cutters and a mine detonating device that can be released and detonated by remote control. They are also capable of conventional sweeping measures. The ships are of fiberglass sheathed, wooden hull construction.

General Characteristics

Ships:

USS Sentry (MCM 3), Manama, Bahrain

USS Champion (MCM 4) Decommissioned Aug. 25, 2020

USS Devastator (MCM 6), Manama, Bahrain

USS Patriot (MCM 7), Sasebo, Japan

USS Scout (MCM 8) Decommissioned Aug. 26, 2020

USS Pioneer (MCM 9), Sasebo, Japan

USS Warrior (MCM 10), Sasebo, Japan

USS Gladiator (MCM 11), Manama, Bahrain

USS Ardent (MCM 12) Decommissioned Aug. 27, 2020

USS Dextrous (MCM 13), Manama, Bahrain