A new minehunting and disposal system that has seen action in Ukraine will be part of the Royal Navy’s arsenal in the Strait of Hormuz.
The leading-edge submersible remote-controlled-vehicle, battle-proven in Ukraine, is part of a range of minehunting and disposal systems, plus other autonomous equipment, loaded aboard RFA Lyme Bay in Gibraltar so she can serve as a mine warfare mothership.
The ship sailed this week for a potential multi-national mission to the Strait of Hormuz.
Royal Navy said its divers will use the new mine disposal system should they encounter mines in the Strait of Hormuz.
Specialists from the Diving Threat and Exploitation Group have undergone rapid-fire training over the past few weeks, mastering the Video Ray Defender-Viper system – a portable submersible capable of finding, identifying and safely destroying underwater devices.
Tested extensively in European waters and already used by Ukrainian forces, the Royal Navy said it is particularly suited to dealing with buoyant mines which ‘sit’ just below the surface of the ocean, detonating when they are struck by passing shipping.
“A fundamental principle of Explosive Ordnance Disposal is to use remote means whenever possible, so if we have this tech, we need to use it,” explained Lieutenant Commander James Carpenter, Commanding Officer, Delta Squadron.
On front-line operations, the divers will work in tandem with the Royal Navy’s Mine Threat Exploitation Group, which will use its leading-edge sonar systems to pinpoint the location of a suspected device, leaving the divers to handle neutralising it.
Two of the systems, comprising the distinctive yellow/black Defender remotely operated vehicle, Viper, which literally nails a demolition charge to a mine, and Tornado, a firing system which ensures the detonation takes place at a safe distance, are aboard RFA Lyme Bay.
Controlled from a heavy-duty laptop either in a small Royal Navy boat, or from a small command centre set up in a shipping container or compartment on a ship, Defender-Viper can be steered manually or make its own way to its target following pre-set co-ordinates.
It provides a constant video and sonar feed back to the operator, while software onboard the Defender helps to maintain its position in the water.
Then it is carefully manoeuvred into position and Viper is fired with tremendous force into the mine, attaching the weapon to it while the Defender retreats back leaving Viper behind – rather like a barb from a bee.
Unravelling the firing cable as it goes, the submersible withdraws to a safe distance until the operator fires the weapon, shouting: “Standby to fire!… Firing now!” and the charge detonates.
Meanwhile Defender is hauled back to its mother craft, hauled out of the water and prepared for its next mission.
