Fgs Siegburg is a Ensdorf class
minesweeper class mine hunter
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.
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.
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 (Auerbach/OPV) is one single name.
The ships currently belong to the 5. Minensuchgeschwader (5th Mine
Sweeping Squadron) based in Kiel at the Baltic Sea.
She is seen here alongside in Leith 27th April 2012
Ships unofficial mascot - it looks like a character from the Angry Bird game destroying a mine
