On April 14, 2 US Navy minesweepers were believed to be moving from Asia westward, raising suspicions of heading to the Middle East amid escalating tensions.
According to sources from some military websites, the USS Chief and USS Pioneer, of the Avenger class of mine hunting ships, have docked at Ao Makham port in Thailand, but the next destination has not been announced.
Information from the USNI news site of the US Naval Institute said that these 2 ships have received orders to go to the combat area of the Central Command (CENTCOM), the unit in charge of US military operations in the Middle East. However, CENTCOM declined to comment, while the US Navy Command in the Pacific has not yet provided details about the ships' journey.
USS Chief and USS Pioneer are 2 of the last 4 Avenger-class mine hunting ships still in operation, all built at Sasebo base in Japan. These ships are expected to be decommissioned in 2027 after more than 3 decades of service.
At the same time, the coastal combat ship (LCS) USS Tulsa with a minesweeping mission, moved across the Strait of Malacca towards the northwest but its current location is unknown.
Another ship, the USS Santa Barbara, was also recorded moving in the Indian Ocean earlier. These are 2 of 3 LCS minesweepers that were stationed in the Middle East but retreated to Singapore shortly after the conflict broke out.
4 Avenger-class ships and LCS ships in Singapore currently account for the majority of the US Navy's naval minesweeping capabilities globally. According to some experts, USS Santa Barbara and USS Tulsa are significantly more modern, as they can carry equipment such as unmanned submarines and anti-mine systems mounted on helicopters.
However, there are still many doubts about the possibility that LCS ships will completely replace the Avenger class, which is specially designed for minesweeping missions.
The ship deployment moves took place after the US military announced an increase in forces to the Middle East to deal with the threat of naval mines deployed by Iran. Mr. Trevithick, editor of the military magazine War Zone, said that naval mine clearance is slow, complex and potentially risky even in safe conditions, while the environment in the Strait of Hormuz is much more dangerous in the context of the risk of escalating conflict.
