Ensdorf-class minesweeper

The five minesweepers of the German Navy's Type 352 Ensdorf class are former Type 343 Hameln-class minesweepers that have been upgraded with the Troika Plus system.

M1098 Siegburg, at the Kiel Week 2007
Class overview
Name: Type 352 Ensdorf class
Builders:
Operators:  German Navy
Preceded by: Hameln class
Built: 1999-2001
Completed: 5
Laid up: 5
General characteristics
Type: Minesweeper
Displacement: 650 tonnes
Length: 54.40 m (178.5 ft)
Beam: 9.20 m (30.2 ft)
Draft: 2.84 m (9 ft 4 in)
Propulsion:
Speed: 18 knots (33 km/h; 21 mph)
Complement: 45
Sensors and
processing systems:
  • Navigation radar
  • Hull-mounted DSQS-11 mine-detection sonar
Armament:

Design

The Ensdorf class have three modes to clear mine fields:

  • Troika Plus: This system employs up to four remote controlled Seehund ("Seal") drones which perform the sweep. The drones are small unmanned boats that can simulate the acoustic and magnetic signatures of bigger ships to trigger mines. Their small size and special construction let them survive the effects of exploding mines unharmed.
  • Mine hunting: Mines detected with the hull-mounted sonar can be identified and exploded with expendable Seefuchs (Seafox) ROVs.
  • Classical minesweeping: Against moored mines the classical minesweeping using towed wire cutters to cut the anchors of mines can be conducted.

The Ensdorf class replaced the Type 351 Lindau-class minesweepers in service with the German Navy.

Seehund ROV
Three Seehund ROVs

The Seehund ROV can be controlled remotely or manually by an onboard crew (usually 3) for maneuvering in harbours or in training (the Seehund is too large to be carried by Ensdorf-class vessels). A life raft is carried for this reason. Seehunds are 25 m (82 ft) long with a displacement of 99 t. They are propelled by a Schottel Z-drive which gives them a maximum speed of 9–10 kn (17–19 km/h; 10–12 mph).

Ship list
Pennant
number		 Name Call
sign		 Commissioned Decommissioned
M1094EnsdorfDRFN16 October 199031 July 2014
M1093Auerbach/OberpfalzDRFR7 May 199117 December 2015
M1092HamelnDRFO29 June 198911 December 2014
M1090PegnitzDRFT8 March 1990
M1098SiegburgDRFL26 July 1990

Notes: The ships were not decommissioned for their rebuilding to Type 352, so the listed dates are the ones of their commission as Type 343. Auerbach/Oberpfalz is one single name.

The ships currently belong to the 5. Minensuchgeschwader (5th Mine Sweeping Squadron) based in Kiel at the Baltic Sea.

ROVs
Number Commissioned Mothership
15 May 1981M1092 Hameln
25 May 1981M1092 Hameln
35 May 1981M1092 Hameln
44 March 1982M1093 Auerbach/Oberpfalz
54 March 1982M1093 Auerbach/Oberpfalz
64 March 1982M1093 Auerbach/Oberpfalz
717 September 1981M1098 Siegburg
817 September 1981M1098 Siegburg
917 September 1981M1098 Siegburg
1011 November 1981M1098 Siegburg
1111 November 1981M1092 Hameln
1211 November 1981M1090 Pegnitz
1324 May 1982M1090 Pegnitz
1424 May 1982M1090 Pegnitz
1524 May 1982M1090 Pegnitz
167 November 1983M1094 Ensdorf
177 November 1983M1094 Ensdorf
187 November 1983M1094 Ensdorf

The Seehunde ROVs were taken from the six decommissioned Type 351 class, which means that they are older than their motherships.

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References
    • "Hohlstablenkboot ENSDORF-Klasse". Deutsche Marine. Retrieved 4 August 2008.
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