Sandown class

Service And Conflict Use

1. Mar 1, 1989

   First ship commissioned

   HMS Sandown entered Royal Navy service, beginning the class's minehunter career.

   Sources: Sandown Class - Archived 2/2003 - Forecast International

2. Mar 28, 2003

   Umm Qasr route cleared

   Coalition mine countermeasures forces including Sandown-class ships cleared mined waterways so humanitarian shipping could reach Umm Qasr during Operation Iraqi Freedom.

   Sources: USNI Mine Countermeasures a Success

Sandown class Images

Related Weapon Systems

Naval SystemsFrankenthal class minehunterMinehunter classThe Frankenthal class is a German Navy minehunter class built by Lürssen, Abeking & Rasmussen, and Krögerwerft for precise mine countermeasures in shallow waters. Bundeswehr data describe a non-magnetic steel hull, Seefuchs underwater drones, mine-laying rails, and a 27 mm MLG fit on the 54.4-meter MJ332 boats.

Naval SystemsHunt class mine countermeasure vesselMine countermeasures vessel classThe Hunt class is a British mine countermeasures vessel class built primarily by Vosper Thornycroft, with some hulls built by Yarrow Shipbuilders, for Royal Navy mine-hunting and clearance work. Royal Navy sources describe the ships as using high-definition sonar, clearance divers, and the SeaFox mine disposal system, and the class also served with the Hellenic Navy and Lithuanian Naval Force.

Naval SystemsAntarès classSonar towing vessel classThe Antarès class is a three-ship French Navy sonar-towing vessel class built by SOCARENAM in Boulogne-sur-Mer for seabed surveillance and mine-warfare support. The 28-meter vessels tow DUBM41B sonars, support training and public-service missions around Brest, and are being withdrawn as SLAM-F autonomous mine-warfare vessels replace the class.

Naval SystemsD'Estienne d'Orves-class / A69 type avisoAviso / light corvette classThe D'Estienne d'Orves-class, also known as the A69 type aviso, is a French-built light corvette class ordered for coastal anti-submarine defence and later used for escort and overseas presence missions. The class used diesel propulsion, reached 23.5 knots, and originally carried Exocet missiles, a 100 mm gun, torpedoes, and a 375 mm rocket launcher.

Naval SystemsEnsdorf class mine-countermeasure vesselMine-countermeasure vessel classThe Ensdorf class is a German mine-countermeasure vessel class rebuilt by Lürssen from five Hameln-class hulls into Type 352 drone-control boats for the Troika Plus system. The class combines mine-sweeping remote boats, mine-detection sensors, and a later peacetime role as training and presentation vessels in the 3 Minesweeper Squadron.

Naval SystemsÉridan class minehunterMinehunter classThe Éridan class is the French Navy's national subclass of the Tripartite minehunter family, built at Arsenal de Lorient and fitted for precise mine countermeasures with hull sonar and PAP 104 vehicles. French Navy material describes the class as a specialist platform for detecting, identifying, and neutralizing submerged mines, with use as a precursor for amphibious and naval-air operations.

Sources