According to posts by local observers on social media, the mine countermeasure ships withdrawn from the Middle East by the U.S. Navy have already arrived in Philadelphia, where they will be dismantled in accordance with the service’s plans. In particular, the vessels were transported aboard the cargo ship M/V Seaway Hawk, which was photographed while entering Delaware Bay on March 9.
It should be recalled that the vessels the U.S. Navy intends to scrap are the USS Devastator (MCM-6), USS Dextrous (MCM-13), USS Gladiator (MCM-11), and USS Sentry (MCM-3), all of them belonging to the Avenger-class mine countermeasures ship and loaded aboard the aforementioned cargo vessel on January 9. These platforms were part of a fleet of fourteen ships in total, which entered service between 1987 and 1994.
Briefly recalling some of the known characteristics of this class, each vessel displaced around 1,300 tons within a length of 224 feet. As for their primary mission prior to retirement, it focused on detecting and neutralizing mines deployed by an adversary (including submerged ones). For this purpose, they were equipped with specialized sonar and a radar capable of detecting mines laid on the surface. Complementing these capabilities, the ships were fitted with a sweep system that emitted acoustic and magnetic signals to facilitate the detonation of certain types of mines at a safe distance, as well as small submersibles used to neutralize threats located on the seabed.
It should also be noted that the upcoming scrapping operations will be carried out by the company Sealift Inc., which had already been contracted by the United States Navy last year for the task in exchange for approximately $7 million. According to the U.S. Navy, this decision responds to plans to transition toward more modern combat platforms, which in turn requires redirecting the resources previously allocated to the aging Avenger-class vessels. In the words of United States Naval Forces Central Command (NAVCENT): “These efforts support continued fleet readiness and the responsible transition of legacy platforms, while maintaining operational momentum and mission effectiveness across the maritime domain.”
Finally, while the United States continues its offensive against Iran with two Carrier Strike Groups already deployed in the region, it should be noted that the force will continue to maintain naval mine countermeasure capabilities in the Middle East following the retirement of the Avenger class. In particular, the U.S. Navy stated that these responsibilities will be assumed by ships of the Independence-class littoral combat ship equipped with specialized modules for this type of mission, including a towed sonar and new unmanned surface vehicles fitted with the aforementioned mine-sweeping systems. As an illustrative example, it is worth recalling the deployment of the USS Canberra (LCS-30), which, with these modifications, was deployed to Bahrain in 2025.
Cover image: Andy Wyrick
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