According to US military specialized publication War Zone, the USS Chief and USS Pioneer, both Avenger-class minesweepers, docked at Ao Makham port in Thailand on the morning of 13/4. Their next destination remains unclear.
Last weekend, the US Naval Institute's (USNI) news site reported that the two ships received orders to proceed to the area of operations of the US Central Command (CENTCOM), which oversees US military activities in the Middle East.
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The USS Pioneer departed Singapore on 10/4. Photo: X/WarshipCam |
CENTCOM declined to comment on the information. The US Pacific Fleet has not released details regarding the ships' movements.
The USS Chief and USS Pioneer are among the last 4 Avenger-class minesweepers in the US Navy's inventory. All are currently stationed at Sasebo base in Japan. This force is slated for decommissioning by 2027, concluding over three decades of service.
On 3/4, the USS Tulsa, a littoral combat ship (LCS) configured for minesweeping missions, transited the Strait of Malacca westbound; its current whereabouts are unknown. Another LCS, the USS Santa Barbara, appeared to be moving in the Indian Ocean on 19/3. These are two of the 3 minesweeping LCS ships previously stationed in the Middle East, but they withdrew to Singapore just days after the conflict erupted.
"The 4 Avenger-class ships and the LCS vessels recently arrived in Singapore account for the majority of the mine countermeasures force the US Navy deploys globally", assessed Joseph Trevithick, an editor at War Zone.
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The USS Chief departed Singapore on 10/4. Photo: X/WarshipCam |
The USS Santa Barbara and USS Tulsa are significantly more modern than the Avenger class. When configured for mine countermeasures, they carry advanced equipment such as unmanned underwater vehicles and helicopter-mounted mine hunting systems.
"However, many questions remain about the LCS class, including whether they are capable enough to replace the Avenger-class minesweepers, which were specifically designed for mine countermeasures", Trevithick stated.
Trevithick pointed out that these movements of minesweeping ships in Southeast Asia follow the US military's announcement to deploy additional forces to the Middle East to counter mines deployed by Iran.
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Strait of Hormuz. Graphic: AP |
"Mine countermeasures are slow, complex, and carry significant risks even in secure environments. The danger to minesweeping forces in the Strait of Hormuz is far greater, especially if the US declares a blockade of Iranian ports and conflict escalates", Trevithick remarked.
Nguyen Tien (According to War Zone, AFP, AP, USNI)
