Ensdorf-class minesweeper

M1098 Siegburg, at the Kiel Week 2007
Class overview
Name:	Type 352 Ensdorf class
Builders:	Lürssen Abeking & Rasmussen
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:	2 × MTU 16V 538 TB91 diesel engines, 2240 kW each 2 × Renk PLS 25 gearboxes 2 × propeller shafts driving controllable pitch propellers
Speed:	18 knots (33 km/h; 21 mph)
Complement:	45
Sensors and processing systems:	Navigation radar Hull-mounted DSQS-11 mine-detection sonar
Armament:	2 × Bofors 40mm/L70 dual-purpose gun (to be upgraded to 2 Mauser MLG27 27 mm remote-controlled autocannons) FIM-92 Stinger surface-to-air missiles (MANPADS) Mine-laying capabilities (60 mines)

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.

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

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

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

References

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