Ensdorf-class minesweeper

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M1098 Siegburg.jpg
M1098 Siegburg, at the Kiel Week 2007
Class overview
Name: Type 352 Ensdorf class
Builders:
Operators:  German Navy
Preceded by: Hameln class
Built: 1999-2001
Completed: 5
Laid up: 5
General characteristics
Type: Minesweeper
Displacement: 650 tonnes
Length: 54.40 m (178.5 ft)
Beam: 9.20 m (30.2 ft)
Draft: 2.84 m (9 ft 4 in)
Propulsion:
Speed: 18 knots (33 km/h; 21 mph)
Complement: 45
Sensors and
processing systems:
  • Navigation radar
  • Hull-mounted DSQS-11 mine-detection sonar
Armament:

The five minesweepers of the German Navy's Type 352 Ensdorf class are former Type 343 Hameln-class minesweepers that have been upgraded with the Troika Plus system.

Design

The Ensdorf class have three modes to clear mine fields:

  • Troika Plus: This system employs up to four remote controlled Seehund ("Seal") drones which perform the sweep. The drones are small unmanned boats that can simulate the acoustic and magnetic signatures of bigger ships to trigger mines. Their small size and special construction let them survive the effects of exploding mines unharmed.
  • Mine hunting: Mines detected with the hull-mounted sonar can be identified and exploded with expendable Seefuchs (Seafox) ROVs.
  • Classical minesweeping: Against moored mines the classical minesweeping using towed wire cutters to cut the anchors of mines can be conducted.

The Ensdorf class replaced the Type 351 Lindau-class minesweepers in service with the German Navy.

Seehund ROV

Three Seehund ROVs

The Seehund ROV can be controlled remotely or manually by an onboard crew (usually 3) for maneuvering in harbours or in training (the Seehund is too large to be carried by Ensdorf-class vessels). A life raft is carried for this reason. Seehunds are 25 m (82 ft) long with a displacement of 99 t. They are propelled by a Schottel Z-drive which gives them a maximum speed of 9–10 kn (17–19 km/h; 10–12 mph).

Ship list

Pennant
number
Name Call
sign
Commissioned
M1094 Ensdorf DRFN 16 October 1990
M1093 Auerbach/Oberpfalz DRFR 7 May 1991
M1092 Hameln DRFO 29 June 1989
M1090 Pegnitz DRFT 8 March 1990
M1098 Siegburg DRFL 26 July 1990

Notes: The ships were not decommissioned for their rebuilding to Type 352, so the listed dates are the ones of their commission as Type 343. Auerbach/Oberpfalz is one single name.

The ships currently belong to the 5. Minensuchgeschwader (5th Mine Sweeping Squadron) based in Kiel at the Baltic Sea.

ROVs

Number Commissioned Mothership
1 5 May 1981 M1092 Hameln
2 5 May 1981 M1092 Hameln
3 5 May 1981 M1092 Hameln
4 4 March 1982 M1093 Auerbach/Oberpfalz
5 4 March 1982 M1093 Auerbach/Oberpfalz
6 4 March 1982 M1093 Auerbach/Oberpfalz
7 17 September 1981 M1098 Siegburg
8 17 September 1981 M1098 Siegburg
9 17 September 1981 M1098 Siegburg
10 11 November 1981 M1098 Siegburg
11 11 November 1981 M1092 Hameln
12 11 November 1981 M1090 Pegnitz
13 24 May 1982 M1090 Pegnitz
14 24 May 1982 M1090 Pegnitz
15 24 May 1982 M1090 Pegnitz
16 7 November 1983 M1094 Ensdorf
17 7 November 1983 M1094 Ensdorf
18 7 November 1983 M1094 Ensdorf

The Seehunde ROVs were taken from the six decommissioned Type 351 class, which means that they are older than their motherships.

References

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