WATERS SOUTH OF THE KOREAN PENINSULA, Republic of Korea -- USS Warrior (MCM 10) successfully concluded a mine countermeasure exercise with the Republic of Korea (ROK) Navy, March 29.

The exercise, designed to enhance the MCM warfare capabilities of both navies, was held, March 19-29, off the coast of the southern city of Chinhae.

"It's important to have a strong surface capability in order to hunt and neutralize those threats if called upon, and that is what we are doing with our ROK partners," said Lt. Cmdr. Bill Carroll, Warrior's commanding officer.

Carroll stated that Warrior and other MCM class ships give navies the ability to detect mines with sonar, disable them with neutralization vehicles, and sweep  Search for mines mechanically, acoustically and magnetically.

During the exercise, Warrior simulated and used inert mines, but in real world operations an MCM would receive information from various sources and be sent to a specific body of water where the mines are suspected to be located. The ship then begins to search, or hunt, the designated area for mines.

"It starts in operations department," said Chief Mineman Miguel Torres, leading chief petty officer for Warrior's operations department. "We are involved from preparation to neutralization, and the data we gather helps the ship determine the best way to operate."

"After our sonar teams locate possible mines, we classifying them by size [and] shape, and deck department prepares the mine hunting equipment," added Torres.

MCM platforms like Warrior are equipped with an ANSLQ-48 Mine Neutralization Vehicle (MNV) which is used to disable mines by either cutting the mooring chain on moored mines causing them to float to the surface, or by cracking the mine's casing which allows seawater to enter and render the electronics useless.

MCM's also have explosive ordinance disposal (EOD) lockers for EOD teams if necessary.

"I have a lot of trust in the crew and they have a lot of trust among themselves and in leadership to get the job done," said Carroll. "In the four ships I've served on, I have never seen a crew come together like this and work together so well. Everyone understands the importance of our mission, of mine countermeasure warfare, and everyone is dedicated to it and our ROK partners."