Tag Archives: USS Sentry (MCM 3)

MCM Torch Passed in the Arabian Gulf (Again)

Posted on by Leave a comment

The four recently decommissioned 224-foot U.S. Navy Avenger-class Mine Countermeasures ships — the former USS Devastator, USS Dextrous, USS Gladiator, and USS Sentry — have departed Bahrain aboard the 65,000-ton Norwegian-flagged merchant heavy-lift vessel Seaway Hawk, marking their final voyage through the Arabian Gulf.

Seaway Hawk was escorted by USS Canberra (LCS 30), one of the three-pack of newly MCM-optimized Independence-class ships– the others being USS Santa Barbara (LCS 32) and Tulsa (LCS 16)-– that are currently forward-deployed to Bahrain, replacing the legacy Avenger-class ships that have served in Task Force 55 for over 30 years.

This isn’t the first time 5th Fleet MCM has passed the torch in the region with generational changes. Several circa-1950s wooden-hulled 120-foot Aggressive-class ocean minesweepers, including the USS Adroit (MSO-509) —subject of an upcoming Warship Wednesday —the USS Impervious (MSO-449), and the Leader (MSO-490), were deployed to the Persian Gulf beginning in 1990, notably supporting Operations Earnest Will, Desert Shield, and Desert Storm.

Before that, the old ‘phib USS Okinawa (LPH-3) had operated Navy RH-53D Sea Stallion minesweeping helicopters in the Gulf during Operation Ernest Will, and six small minesweeping boats (4 x 57-foot MSBs and 2x 36-foot MSLs) of Mine Group Two, Mine Division 125, had arrived in the region on USS St. Louis (LKA-116) and USS Raleigh (LPD-1) in the summer of 1987.

Mine Division 125 personnel watch as a yard crane lifts the minesweeping boat MSB 16 from the Cooper River. The boat will be placed on a skid for loading into the well deck of the amphibious transport dock USS Raleigh (LPD 1). August 1, 1987. MSGT Dave Casey, USAF. 330-CFD-DF-ST-88-03132

These brownwater boats were later augmented by the Aggressive class bluewater boats USS Fearless (MSO-442), Inflict (MSO-456), and Illusive (MSO-448), towed by USS Grapple (ARS-53) to the region. The epic nearly 10,000-mile journey began on 6 September 1987 and lasted roughly eight weeks, arriving in the Gulf of Oman on 2 November 1987. Upon arrival, the Inflict discovered and destroyed the first underwater contact mines in the northern Persian Gulf countered by an American minesweeper since the Korean War.

The salvage ship USS Grapple (ARS 53) tows the ocean minesweepers USS Inflict (MSO 456), USS Fearless (MSO 442), and USS Illusive (MSO 448) to the Persian Gulf to support US Navy escort operations. September 1, 1987 PH2 C. Duvall. 330-CFD-DN-ST-88-01143

The ocean minesweeper USS INFLICIT (MSO 456) heads towards the Persian Gulf to support US Navy escort operations, 9/1/1987

Big Iron secures from the Persian Gulf Watch

Posted on by Leave a comment

An MH-53E Sea Dragon, attached to the “Blackhawks” of Helicopter Mine Countermeasures Squadron (HM) 15, idles on the flight deck of the world’s largest aircraft carrier, USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78), December 12, 2024. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Maxwell Orlosky)

The “Blackhawks” of Helicopter Mine Countermeasures (HM) Squadron Fifteen are steadily prepping to end their 38-year run as an RH-53A/D and MH-53E Sea Dragon squadron.

Its sister squadrons, “The World Famous Vanguard” of HM-14 and the reserve airborne mine countermeasures (AMCM) squadron, the “Golden Bears” of HM-19, were decommissioned in 2022 and 1994, respectively.

With the Sea Dragon slated to retire in FY27, ending the Navy’s AMCM program, which began in 1971 when 15 well-worn CH-53As were acquired from the Marines and rebuilt as RH-53As, the ‘Hawks have shut down “Big Iron,” Det II (DET2), the longstanding four-aircraft AMCM deployment to Bahrain. HM-14 established the first permanent forward-deployed AMCM detachment in Manama in 1999.

The last flight of Det II occurred on 31 August 2025.

It should also be pointed out that the first of four Bahrain-deployed Avenger-class mine countermeasures ships, USS Dextrous (MCM-13), was decommissioned this week as well. The other three will soon follow.

231023-N-EG592-1261 ARABIAN GULF (Oct. 23, 2023) The Avenger-class mine countermeasures ship USS Dextrous (MCM 13) sails in the Arabian Gulf during small boat operations. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Jacob Vernier)

As for USN mine assets in the Gulf after that happens, where Iran has a huge arsenal of 5,000-6,000 sea mines (potentially including advanced EM-52 rocket-propelled, rising mines from China), well, there may be an LCS with a MCM Mission Package (“we promise they work”) or maybe an MH-60 with an Archerfish kit.

Maybe.

Mines Below, indeed.

So long, Dex!

Posted on by 2 comments

The 5th Fleet has kept four 224-foot Avenger-class mine countermeasures ships forward deployed on the line in Manama, Bahrain, since the late 1990s. Now, their 25+ year watch is ending.

USS Dextrous (MCM-13), which has been in the Persian Gulf since August 1997, has just received word that she will decommission on 3 September, wrapping up her career just four months past her 31st birthday, which is relatively old for any warship, especially one of fiberglass/wood composite construction.

“Dex” recently sailed in formation with the other three Bahrain-based Avengers– USS Sentry (MCM-3), Devastator (MCM-6), and Gladiator (MCM-11), and they look great.

The motto of the Dextrous is ” No One Goes Before Us.”

Once the last of the Avengers leaves the fleet in 2027– just two short years from now– the Navy will not have a single dedicated minesweeper for the first time since USS Lapwing (AM-1) was commissioned in 1918.

Probably a mistake.

Likewise, the fleet’s final dedicated HM (Helicopter Mine Countermeasures) Squadron, the “Blackhawks” of HM-15, will say goodbye to their beloved MH-53E Sea Dragons in 2027, and the final “Dragon Drivers” were minted last November.

The service’s 20~ operational MH-53E Sea Dragons, four of which are forward deployed to Bahrain, will leave the fleet in FY27.

The service’s counter-mine solution moving forward will be surface and subsurface drones operating from a few rotating LCS hulls and some Archerfish-equipped MH-60Ss.

At least there goes the theory.

The Navy earlier this year said it has four Mine Countermeasures (MCM) Mission Package (MP) sets “supporting LCS deployments in the 5th Fleet Area of Responsibility (AOR) and follow-on MCM MPs will support 7th Fleet operations by the end of FY 2027.”

Mine Units Earn MCU

Posted on by Leave a comment

ARABIAN GULF. A formation of Avenger-class mine countermeasure ships USS Devastator (MCM 6), USS Gladiator (MCM 11), USS Sentry (MCM 3), and USS Dextrous (MCM 13) maneuver in the Arabian Gulf, July 6, 2019. (U.S. Navy photo by Lt. Antonio Gemma Moré/Released)190706-N-HV841-002

The Chief of Naval Operations has advised the SECNAV has issued a Meritorious Unit Commendation for the MCM units of Bahrain-based Task Force 52 in ’21-23, a period that included a historic 5,000-mile transit from the Arabian Gulf to the Red Sea– the first time the voyage was completed in seven years for U.S. Navy mine countermeasures ships.

The MUC:

For meritorious achievement from October 2021 to June 2023. The personnel of Commander, Task Force FIVE TWO distinguished themselves through unprecedented performance that enabled the world’s largest mine countermeasures task force to achieve unparalleled results in support of mine warfare initiatives in the U.S. FIFTH Fleet area of operations. During this period, Commander, Task Force FIVE TWO led the development and execution of 65 multi-national mine countermeasures exercises that employed assets and personnel from 60 partner nations.

Their efforts resulted in the successful operational employment of eight mine countermeasure ships, one MH-53E helicopter detachment, two expeditionary mine countermeasures companies, and one mine hunting unit. Additionally, due to the decommissioning of legacy mine countermeasure platforms, they created hybrid Mine Countermeasures Mission Packages, utilizing next-generation unmanned systems and legacy mine countermeasure platforms, ultimately transforming into the U.S. Navy’s only trans-regional mine countermeasures task force.

The hybrid Mine Countermeasure Mission Packages provide a full spectrum of detect-to-engage mine warfare capability in support of U.S. Central Command and U.S. national objectives in the FIFTH, SIXTH, and SEVENTH Fleets. By their truly distinctive accomplishments, unrelenting perseverance, and unfailing devotion to duty, the officers and enlisted personnel of Commander, Task Force FIVE TWO reflected credit upon themselves and upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.

//SIGNED//

L. M. Franchetti

Admiral, US Navy