UK's Merlin trains with HMS Hurworth
The British Royal Navy’s 824 Naval Air Squadron’s Merlin Mk2 anti-submarine helicopter has operated with the Hunt-class Mine Countermeasures Vessel (MCMV) HMS Hurworth in a series of training exercises, the navy announced on 6 July.
The training was carried out to familiarise HMS Hurworth with aviation procedures and allow crew to practice winching techniques as part of the vessel's Operational Sea Training (OST) prior to deployment.
Together the Merlin Mk2 and Hunt-class vessels provide the UK's anti-mine warfare capabilities.
HMS Hurworth is one of the Royal Navy's eight dedicated MCMVs. The vessels combine the roles of minesweeper and minehunter in one hull, and are outfitted with the Type 2193 sonar - capable of detecting and classifying objects the size of a football at a distance of up to 1,000 metres - and the NAUTIS 3 command system.
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