Kiwi
10-20-2008, 08:23 AM
NAVY SEARCHES JERVIS BAY
The Royal Australian Navy’s (RAN) Clearance Diving and Mine Countermeasure Task Group has today descended on Jervis Bay, New South Wales, to conduct the Fleet Training Activity Dugong 08.
HMA Ships Gascoyne and Diamantina, along with Clearance Diving Teams One and Four are taking part in the annual training activity aimed at refining the RAN’s mine hunting procedures and techniques. As an integrated force, they will be tasked to search the local waters for simulated mine-like objects and implement measures to dispose of them safely and efficiently.
“Training in activities such as Dugong is essential for our people to maintain proficiency, standards and safety in all core mine warfare and clearance diving operations,” said Commander of the Mine Warfare and Clearance Diving Task Group, Commander Dean Schopen, RAN.
The principal role of mine hunters is to keep Australia’s trade ports and waterways free from the threat of mines. The Task Group will use high frequency sonar to search for, detect and classify mine-like objects. Once detected, clearance divers or a remote controlled mine disposal vehicle will identify and if necessary, neutralise mines.
As part of the exercise, Royal New Zealand Navy REMUS Autonomous Underwater Vehicles that are fitted with side-scan SONAR, will identify obstacles in very shallow water. Clearance Divers will then conduct searches of these areas in order to re-acquire and identify mines. They will also conduct more traditional harbour search and clearance operations in a combined mission with divers from the USN.
A comprehensive environmental plan had been prepared and implemented for Dugong 08. No mines will be detonated in the water during the exercise.
Source: Department of Defence (Australia)
I was reading this today and thought oh my god, there are still mines floating around out there. And the answer is yes, even some dating back since ww2.
The navy at the time bumped extra mines off the coast after the war to use them up. :(
I don't think that was the wisest choice there.
Just goes to prove there is many things we don't know about.
The Royal Australian Navy’s (RAN) Clearance Diving and Mine Countermeasure Task Group has today descended on Jervis Bay, New South Wales, to conduct the Fleet Training Activity Dugong 08.
HMA Ships Gascoyne and Diamantina, along with Clearance Diving Teams One and Four are taking part in the annual training activity aimed at refining the RAN’s mine hunting procedures and techniques. As an integrated force, they will be tasked to search the local waters for simulated mine-like objects and implement measures to dispose of them safely and efficiently.
“Training in activities such as Dugong is essential for our people to maintain proficiency, standards and safety in all core mine warfare and clearance diving operations,” said Commander of the Mine Warfare and Clearance Diving Task Group, Commander Dean Schopen, RAN.
The principal role of mine hunters is to keep Australia’s trade ports and waterways free from the threat of mines. The Task Group will use high frequency sonar to search for, detect and classify mine-like objects. Once detected, clearance divers or a remote controlled mine disposal vehicle will identify and if necessary, neutralise mines.
As part of the exercise, Royal New Zealand Navy REMUS Autonomous Underwater Vehicles that are fitted with side-scan SONAR, will identify obstacles in very shallow water. Clearance Divers will then conduct searches of these areas in order to re-acquire and identify mines. They will also conduct more traditional harbour search and clearance operations in a combined mission with divers from the USN.
A comprehensive environmental plan had been prepared and implemented for Dugong 08. No mines will be detonated in the water during the exercise.
Source: Department of Defence (Australia)
I was reading this today and thought oh my god, there are still mines floating around out there. And the answer is yes, even some dating back since ww2.
The navy at the time bumped extra mines off the coast after the war to use them up. :(
I don't think that was the wisest choice there.
Just goes to prove there is many things we don't know about.