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03 July 2023
by Michael Fabey
USS
Charleston
conducted the first set of overseas mine-countermeasures operations.
(US Navy)
The littoral combat ship (LCS) USS Charleston (LCS 18) recently completed the first set of overseas mine-countermeasures (MCM) training missions during a 26-month forward deployment in the Western Pacific, US Navy (USN) officials confirmed.
“The emphasis was showing we have the mission package capable of doing MCM not just inside US waters, but doing it outside US waters in conjunction with other units,” Commander Matthew Knuth, Charleston commanding officer, said on 21 June during a media roundtable briefing about the deployment.
The LCS MCM mission package and AN/AQS-20 sonar mine detection sets achieved initial operational capability (IOC), USN officials confirmed on 1 May.
“We used components of the [MCM] mission package,” Cdr Knuth added, citing specifically the Airborne Laser Mine Detection System (ALMDS) and the Airborne Mine Neutralization System (AMNS) used by the ship’s MH-60S Seahawk helicopter.
Charleston also flew the MQ-8C Fire Scout unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) during the operations, Cdr Knuth said.
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