NAVYPEDIA

Photo

Guardian 2002

Ships

No	Name	Yard No	Builder	Laid down	Launched	Comm	Fate
MCM1	Avenger		Peterson Builders, Sturgeon Bay	3.6.1983	15.6.1985	12.9.1987	stricken 9.2014
MCM2	Defender		Marinette Marine	1.12.1983	4.4.1987	30.9.1989	stricken 10.2014
MCM3	Sentry		Peterson Builders, Sturgeon Bay	8.10.1984	20.9.1986	2.9.1989	in service (2019)
MCM4	Champion		Marinette Marine	28.6.1984	15.4.1989	8.2.1991	in service (2019)
MCM5	Guardian		Peterson Builders, Sturgeon Bay	8.5.1985	20.6.1987	16.12.1989	wrecked 17.1.2013
MCM6	Devastator		Peterson Builders, Sturgeon Bay	9.2.1987	11.6.1988	6.10.1990	in service (2019)
MCM7	Patriot		Marinette Marine	31.3.1987	15.5.1990	18.10.1991	in service (2019)
MCM8	Scout		Peterson Builders, Sturgeon Bay	8.6.1987	20.5.1989	15.12.1990	in service (2019)
MCM9	Pioneer		Peterson Builders, Sturgeon Bay	5.6.1989	25.8.1990	7.12.1992	in service (2019)
MCM10	Warrior		Peterson Builders, Sturgeon Bay	25.9.1989	8.12.1990	7.4.1993	in service (2019)
MCM11	Gladiator		Peterson Builders, Sturgeon Bay	7.5.1990	29.6.1991	18.9.1993	in service (2019)
MCM12	Ardent		Peterson Builders, Sturgeon Bay	22.10.1990	26.11.1991	18.2.1994	in service (2019)
MCM13	Dextrous		Peterson Builders, Sturgeon Bay	11.3.1991	20.6.1992	9.7.1994	in service (2019)
MCM14	Chief		Peterson Builders, Sturgeon Bay	19.8.1991	12.6.1993	5.11.1994	in service (2019)

Technical data

Displacement standard, t	1145
Displacement full, t	1333
Length, m	64.8 wl 68.4 oa
Breadth, m	11.9
Draught, m	3.42 (hull)
No of shafts	2
Machinery	MCM1, 2: 4 Waukesha L-1616 diesels MCM3-14: 4 Isotta-Fraschini ID36SS 6V-AM diesels
Power, h. p.	MCM1, 2: 2600 MCM3-14: 2280
Max speed, kts	13.5
Fuel, t	diesel oil
Endurance, nm(kts)
Armament	2 x 1 - 12.7/90, 2 SLQ-48 MNS UUV, SLQ-37(v)3 minesweeping array (A Mk 2, A Mk 4(V), A Mk 6(B) acoustic and M Mk 5, M Mk 6, M Mk 7 magnetic minesweeping arrays), SLQ-38 (Type 0 Size 1) mechanical minesweeping gear, 2 RIBs for mine-disposal divers
Electronic equipment	MCM1-5: SPS-66(v)9, SPS-55 radars, SQQ-30, WQN-1 sonars, SYQ-13 CCS MCM6-14: SPS-66(v)9, SPS-55 radars, SQQ-32(v)3, WQN-1 sonars, SYQ-13 CCS
Complement	83

Graphics

Project history

These are wooden-hulled craft with glass fibre superstructures. Reportedly they suffered from severe electromagnetic interference problems, and the hull had to be lengthened 2.1m due to changes in weight. There were also engine problems (Avenger had hers installed wrong way round). The MCMs are lineal descendants of the earlier MSOs. They carry both a mine neutralization vehicle (SLQ-48) and standard influence and mechanical sweeps.

From the late 1960s onwards there were several projects for more or less sophisticated new minesweepers, as mine countermeasures technology became more and more elaborate. By the early 1980s it was primarily a matter of locating mines on the seabed, using high-definition sonar (currently SQQ-14), and then destroying mines one by one (minehunting). Success requires, among other things, a very high degree of navigational accuracy. Meanwhile, the function of the minesweepers has been a matter of some controversy. For example, with the appearance of deep-water ASW mines such as CAPTOR, there was a call for deep-water sweepers particularly adapted to keeping the approaches to ballistic submarine bases clear of Soviet mines. On the other hand, the Soviet fleet continued to threaten US ports and coastal waters with more conventional forms of mine warfare; and there is still the threat of mining to stop amphibious assaults - a threat which will abate somewhat as the United States shifts to air-cushion vehicles for such assaults.

A new programme for mine countermeasure (MCM) ship construction began in the 1970s, and the CNO approved a 1640t, 80.8m, 18kt ship m November 1976. In early 1977 nineteen were planned for construction in FY79-FY82. Its primary purpose would have been to counter deep-water ASW mines, and it was abandoned as too expensive. A new design, closely based on that of the existing ocean minesweeper (MSO), was substituted. The first unit, USS Avenger (MCM1), was ordered on 29 June 1982, under the FY82 programme.

The MCM was envisaged as the high end of a high-low mix of minesweepers, the lower end of which would consist of a combination of coastal minehunters (MSH) and mobilised civilian craft as well as rninesweeping helicopters. As in the case of her predecessors, Avenger uses a variable-depth sonar (SQQ-30, an improved SQQ-14) for minehunting. Deep mines will be neutralised by remote-control vehicles, operated from an automated CIC, which will plot mine locations with the assistance of a precise integrated navigation system SSN-2(V) PINS.

Modernizations

1990-1992, Sentry, Champion: - SQQ-30 sonar; + SQQ-32(v)3 sonar

1994-1997, Sentry, Champion, Guardian, Devastator, Patriot, Scout, Pioneer, Warrior, Gladiator, Ardent, Dextrous, Chief: - SYQ-13 CCS; + SYQ-15 CCS

2012-2016, Sentry, Champion, Devastator, Patriot, Scout, Pioneer, Warrior, Gladiator, Ardent, Dextrous, Chief: - 2 SLQ-48 MNS UUV, SSQ-32(v)3 sonar; + 2 Seafox/Archerfish MNS UUV (SLQ-48 EMNS countermine system), AMAS acoustic minesweeping gear, SSQ-32(V)4, Klein sonars

late 2010, Gladiator: + 1 x 1 - 25/75 Mk 38

late 2010s, many: - SPS-55 radar; + SPS-73 radar

Naval service

Guardian ran aground 17.1.2013 off the coast of the Philippines suffering heavy damage and was stricken next month.