Minehunter

 ( Ship Types ) 

A minehunter is a naval ship that seeks, detects, and destroys individual . , on the other hand, clear mined areas as a whole, without prior detection of mines. A vessel that combines both of these roles is known as a mine countermeasures vessel (MCMV).

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Description A minehunter uses an imaging sonar to detect and classify targets and then sends out divers or remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) to inspect and neutralise the threat, often using small explosives that are detonated remotely.

As minehunters will often be operating in close proximity to mines, they are designed so as to reduce their own acoustics and magnetism signatures,

John J. Holmes (2025). 9781598292480, Morgan & Claypool Publishers. ISBN 9781598292480

MAGNETIC SILENCING REQUIREMENTS FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF NONMAGNETIC SHIPS AND CRAFT (METRIC), Department of Defense two common forms of trigger for mines. For example, they are often soundproofing by mounting machinery on or by using quiet diesel-electric, low magnetic electric motors and usually have a wood, fiberglass or non-ferrous metal hull, or are degaussing to reduce magnetic signature.Design Guide and Requirements for Equipment to Achieve a Low Magnetic Signature, Ministry of Defence.

Minehunters are generally small, shallow-draught vessels, as they are often called upon to work in enclosed bodies of water such as or . As manoeuvrability in such areas is critical the Voith-Schneider is commonly used, allowing the engine thrust to be transmitted in any direction. A number of modern vessels use catamaran to provide a large, stable working platform with minimal underwater contact; this reduces draught whilst lowering acoustic transmission and reducing the fluid dynamics generated by the moving hull that may otherwise detonate mines with a hydraulic pressure trigger.

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Coastal minehunter Coastal minehunters are ships that are designed to find, classify, and destroy moored and bottom naval mine from vital waterways. Coastal minehunters are generally smaller and with lower sea-keeping and endurance than oceangoing minehunters. They are usually tasked with keeping fixed high-value 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.

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Operation Minehunters differ from in that minesweepers are used against older 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 ROVs and Clearance diver. However, in some circumstances many minehunters can also destroy less advanced magnetic moored mines in the traditional manner.

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Coastal minehunter classes

• The US Navy coastal minehunter
• The Royal Navy
• The Finnish Navy coastal minehunter

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See also

• Minesweeper
• List of mine warfare vessels of the United States Navy
• Bedok-class mine countermeasures vessel
• Projekt 206FM-class minehunter
• AN/WLD-1 RMS Remote Minehunting System

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