US Navy USS Gladiator MCM 11 has conducted Mine Countermeasure Surface Warfare Advanced Tactical Training.

According to information published by the U.S. Central Command on October 22, 2020, Bahrain based mine countermeasures ship USS Gladiator (MCM 11) assigned to U.S. 5th Fleet, Task Force (CTF) 52, recently completed a multi-day Mine Countermeasure (MCM) Surface Warfare Advanced Tactical Training (SWATT) exercise with embarked mine warfare trainers on October 9, 2020.
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USS Gladiator (MCM 11) Avenger-class mine countermeasures ship steams off the coast of Bahrain. (Picture source U.S. Central Command)

SWATT is the surface forces premiere advanced tactical training exercise designed to increase combat capability, lethality, and interoperability of the surface force across all domains.

Naval Surface and Mine Warfighting Development Center (SMWDC) leads SWATT events for carrier strike group cruiser destroyers (CRUDES), amphibious ready groups (ARGs), littoral combat ships (LCS), and MCMs. SMWDC’s Commander is also the Navy’s Global Mine Warfare Commander, equipped with a Mine Warfare (MIW) Battle Staff, enhancing a critical capability for the Navy that provides for safe transit of commercial, U.S., and coalition ships.

During SWATT exercises, experienced, expert trainers lead afloat staffs and shipboard teams through training events designed to increase the competency and confidence of individuals and ships watch teams. MCM SWATT is a 10-day event and provides dedicated in-port and at-sea training for MCM ships. During the in-port phase for Gladiator’s SWATT, senior mentors and trainers helped crews conduct a comprehensive review of MIW related administration as well as pre-operational equipment checks. During the at-sea phase, crews received over-the-shoulder mentoring from experts while conducting mine sweeping, mine hunting, and mine neutralization operations against training mines in the Arabian Gulf.

The team of trainers that embarked Gladiator for the exercise included Lt. Cmdr. Ryan Easton, a MIW Warfare Tactics Instructor (WTI), and five senior enlisted MIW subject matter experts.

The USS Gladiator (MCM-11) is an Avenger-class mine countermeasures ship of the United States Navy. She was commissioned in September 1993 during a ceremony at Naval Station Newport, R.I. A total of 14 Avenger mine countermeasures vessels were commissioned between 1987 and 1994 and are in service with the US Navy. The vessels were built by Marinette Marine Corporation, based in Marinette, Wisconsin, and Peterson Ship Builders, also of Wisconsin.

The Avenger class ships are designed as mine sweepers/hunter-killers capable of finding, classifying, and destroying moored and bottom mines. She is equipped with mine disposal systems that include the ATK (Alliant Techsystems) SLQ-48 remotely operated mine disposal system and the EX116 mod 0 remotely operated vehicle (ROV) mine neutralization system supplied by ATK and Raytheon. These ships use sonar and video systems, cable cutters, and a mine detonating device that can be released and detonated by remote control. They are also capable of conventional sweeping measures. The ships are of fiberglass sheathed, wooden hull construction.

The USS Gladiator is powered by four ID 36SS6V diesel engines supplied by Isotta Fraschini of Milan, Italy. She can reach a maximum speed of 14 knots (16 mph; 26 km/h).  She has a crew of 81 people including 6 officers and 75 sailors. 

The USS Gladiator is armed with two M2HB Browning .50-caliber heavy machine guns, two M60 7.62 mm machine guns, and two Mk 19 grenade launchers.