Largest Minesweeper in Vietnam Upgraded with Robot

14 September 2020

Upgraded minesweeper HQ 851 or HQ 852 of the Vietnamese Navy (all photos : KienThuc)

After a long time of use, recently the 851 and 852 minesweeper of the Vietnam People's Navy have been modernized, equipped with modern robotic systems, increasing the ability to clear mines, seaport protection.

In the article "Deputy Captain who is passionate about scientific research", the Navy Information Newspaper, ship 852, Squadron 314, Brigade 161, Navy Region 3 has been upgraded with modern technology integration into year 2016. 

Ship 852 was one of two minesweepers (torpedo boat if using Sino-Vietnamese word) that was supported by the Soviet Union in 1980 and 1981. In which the 852 was transferred in June 1981, which had the old name MT-221, entered into the Soviet Navy on August 31, 1970. The other, bearing version 851, was delivered in 1980 and was formerly known as Mina, on the service of the Soviet Navy on December 31, 1970.

The two ships were built under the 266 Rubin minesweeper project with the hull made of steel with very low magnetism. The ship has a standard displacement of 519 tons, full load 560 tons, 52.1m long, 9.4m wide, 2.65m draft, and travel speed 16 knots/h.

The ship was equipped with the most modern clearance systems of the time such as TEM-2, BKT, PAUT, AT-3, ShZ-1M. Of course, after more than 40 years of service, it is clear that the equipment of the 851 and 852 inevitably degraded, outdated compared to modern mines. That is the reason why the 852 ship is modernized and equipped with new technologies to ensure combat ability in the new situation.

One of the notable enhancements applied to the 852 is the addition of the Pluto Plus UUV robot system, manufactured by Gaymarine Electronics Group of Italy. The robot is designed for mines clearance with a time of up to 2-6 hours underwater, and a travel speed of 6 knots.

Pluto Plus is made of materials with low magnetic interference and emits very little operating noise to avoid triggering magnetic or acoustic mines, it can be controlled via a fiber optic cable or Wireless connection on duty.

Pluto Plus's dedicated equipment includes a digital camera along with three sonar devices to identify and detect objects below 300 meters, an upgraded variant of Pluto Plus called Pluto Gigas expands, gets a working depth of 600 m.

Notably, in terms of armament, the 852 ship, before the transfer, was able to replace one of the two AK-230 CIWS turrets with a 2M-3M 25mm double barrel cannon, while the 851 still retained two AK- 230 CIWS. In addition, according to the manufacturer's equipment configuration, the ship also has two MTU-4 anti-aircraft missile platforms with 9K34 Strela-3 missiles (16 results), submersible bomb rails with 36 BGDs, can be sprayed, dragged with 10 results to carry.

In addition to the Project 266 ships, Vietnam currently has two other minesweeper, including the 86x ships of Project 1265 Yakhont and Project 1258 Korund. According to Russianships network, the Soviet Union transferred to Vietnam 4 ships of Project 1265 in the period 1985-1990. The ships have a full load displacement of 460 tons, 49m long, speed 14 knots/h, equipped with a variety of mines and ERW weapons such as GTK-2, AT-6, PEMT-4.

Like ships 851 and 852, the project series 1265 has been self-modernized by Vietnam since 2019. In the photo, the 861 ship during the launch ceremony after major repair at the X51 Hai Minh factory. The ship has been replaced with almost the entire skeleton and wood hull, the outer hull of the ship is glued with multi-layered composite material.

In addition to the torpedo function, Project 1265 ships are also equipped with weapons for self-defense including: CIWS AK-230M cannon, 2M-3M 25mm cannon and anti-aircraft missile launchers MTU-4.

In the photo is a coastal minesweeper project 1285 Korund of the Vietnam Navy. According to Russianship network, the Soviet Union provided to Vietnam with these 3 ships in October 1979 (ship 816) and 2 ships in December 1986 (ships 871 and 872). The vessel has a displacement of 91 tons, is 26m long, works well in the area of ​​the coast and rivers with the main task of clearing mines.

(KienThuc)