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2026-04-11 Syria-Lebanon-Iran

Iran can't find or remove its own mines in Strait of Hormuz

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Posted by Skidmark 2026-04-11 08:57|| E-Mail|| Front Page|| [1821 views ] Top
File under: Govt of Iran

1 We've sunk most/all of their dedicated mine layers and mine sweepers. Even if Iran was willing to cooperate, which is up in the air right now, they won't be of much use.

So the burden of mine sweeping will fall on the US, since I don't think many of Gulf nations have a large number of mine sweepers and the bulk of our so called European allies won't help.

For the few that might help, we'll have to provide logistical support for them, due to their limited endurance.

Posted by Chantry 2026-04-11 09:22|| 2026-04-11 09:22|| Front Page Top

2 Thales UK - UK Deploys New Autonomous Minehunting System ‘Adventure’ to Neutralize Naval Mine Threats.

Video found at this link.

Posted by Besoeker 2026-04-11 09:23|| 2026-04-11 09:23|| Front Page Top

3 Since so many people use the words loosely with out citation, here is one:

"Under Hague Convention VIII, any mode of sea minelaying prior to or after an armed conflict has initiated is subject to the principles of effective surveillance, risk control and warning. In addition, feasible measures of precaution shall be taken for the safety of peaceful navigation. Deduced from articles 3 and 5 of the Hague Convention VIII, the principle of effective surveillance specifically requires minelaying parties to record minefield locations and test that mines have been programmed or tethered correctly."

Posted by Procopius2k 2026-04-11 10:36|| 2026-04-11 10:36|| Front Page Top

4 ^ ZOMG! Iran is violating Conventions, Rules, and Treaties? Like invading an Embassy and taking hostages? When did this start?

Posted by Frank G 2026-04-11 10:43|| 2026-04-11 10:43|| Front Page Top

5 A lot of people to include the Rant used the word 'war crime' but never could cite what made it such outside of their own proclivity. I'm sure those who screamed taking out bridges and infrastructure was a 'war crime' will now jump on this. Nah.

Posted by Procopius2k 2026-04-11 11:39|| 2026-04-11 11:39|| Front Page Top

6 This explains a lot about why nothing was moving despite ceasefire - not simple intransigence, but inability and lost awareness due to combat losses. We killed many of the people who put them in place and took out the places where any records were kept. It also might explains the curious tolerance Trump seemed to be showing for non=compliance .

Posted by NoMoreBS 2026-04-11 14:44|| 2026-04-11 14:44|| Front Page Top

7 I'll add that IIRC the US left much of the mine sweeping to our allies, while the US focused more on blue water force projection centered around a carrier and it's escorts. This left the US with aging and pending retirement Avenger class minesweepers which where forward deployed to critical areas, helicopter mine sweeping and the fingers crossed hope that the littoral frigates can be useful in the mine sweeping role.

Posted by Chantry 2026-04-11 15:56|| 2026-04-11 15:56|| Front Page Top

8 Minesweepers: where Annapolis graduates careers go to a dead end.
There's a reason we made our NATO allies specialize in minesweeping.
They're supposed to be doing this.
We sank Iran's minesweepers on purpose. requiring the losing side to remove all their mines is a standard move.
Someone in DC WANTED this outcome. It's genius if you think about it. China is going to suffer and Iran gets the blame!
Blame-shifting is a great move. I vote for more of this.
We engineer events so that two enemy nations get angry with each other while we sit on the sidelines and laugh at the suffering!

Posted by Cretle Fleregum5456 2026-04-11 16:15|| 2026-04-11 16:15|| Front Page Top

9 Do we have any of the helicopter towed anti-mine sled left? Mk-105 or whatever they might call it these days? Cause those could be right handy about now.

Posted by Difar Dave 2026-04-11 19:36|| 2026-04-11 19:36|| Front Page Top

10 I was thinking more of a Mullah Party Boat, complete with steel rudder and heavy metallic hull?

Posted by Frank G 2026-04-11 19:53|| 2026-04-11 19:53|| Front Page Top

11 Russia and China have very large minesweeping fleets.

Russia won't be willing to help because high oil prices are what they want.

China on the other hand should be willing to participate for it's own good.

Posted by Lord Garth 2026-04-11 22:51|| 2026-04-11 22:51|| Front Page Top

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