From April 7 to 15, the Republic of Korea and United States navies conducted a joint mine warfare exercise in the waters east of Pohang. First launched in 2014, this year marks the 10th iteration of the joint ROK-US mine warfare drill.
The training involved the ROK Navy’s 52nd Mine Warfare Squadron and the U.S. Navy’s Mine Countermeasures Squadron 7. The exercise focused on improving combined operational procedures, command and control of mine warfare, and operating manned and unmanned mine countermeasures assets.
Participating assets included the ROK Navy’s mine-laying ships Nampo (MLS-II, 3,000-ton class) and Wonsan (MLS-I, 2,600-ton class), mine-hunting ships (MHC, 450-ton class), minesweepers (MSH, 730-ton class), the submarine rescue ship Cheonghaejin (ASR-I, 3,200-ton class), submarines, and Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) teams. The U.S. Navy deployed the mine countermeasures ship USS Warrior (SMCM, 1,300-ton class), MH-53E mine countermeasure helicopters, and the Expeditionary Mine Countermeasures Unit. In total, ten naval vessels and three helicopters from both navies participated.
Throughout the exercise, the ROK and U.S. navies conducted realistic mine warfare training, including the laying of defensive and protective mines both on the surface and underwater; mine detection and identification using mine countermeasures ships, helicopters, and unmanned underwater vehicles (UUVs); deployment of mine-clearing equipment; mine disposal using mine disposal vehicles (MDVs); and underwater mine detonation by EOD teams.
Colonel Lee Taek Seon, commander of the 52nd Mine Warfare Squadron, stated, “Through nine days of comprehensive mine warfare training, the ROK and U.S. navies enhanced their operational capabilities while also identifying valuable lessons to guide the future development of mine warfare.” He added, “We will continue realistic mine warfare training to strengthen further our ability to protect key ports and maritime transportation routes in times of contingency.”
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