The Independence class LCS USS Canberra, in front, sails together with the M/V Seaway Hawk carrying the decommissioned Avenger class on January 20, 2026. USN

The War Zone reports, “U.S. Navy Minesweepers Assigned To Middle East Have Been Moved To Pacific.”

It remains to be seen how long the USS Tulsa and USS Santa Barbara will remain in Malaysia, and where they might sail after they depart. Where USS Canberra is currently is still unknown, as is whether any additional mine countermeasures configured ships are on the way to the Middle East.

For the moment, at least, a substantial portion of the Navy’s minesweeping capacity in the region, amid a major conflict with an opponent experienced in mine warfare, is now thousands of miles away in a completely different part of the world.

They also report continued difficulty with the mine countermeasures systems being used on Independence class Littoral Combat Ships.

With plans to begin escorting merchant ships through the Straits of Hormuz I expect the six Webber class WPCs will have a role, but I also expected these ships to have a role as well, perhaps providing close escort to high priority vessels given their RAM missile launchers and 57mm Mk110 gun mounts.

PACIFIC OCEAN (May, 12, 2022) – An AGM-114L Longbow Hellfire missile launches from the Surface-To-Surface Missile Module (SSMM) aboard Independence-variant Littoral Combat Ship USS Montgomery (LCS 8). The missile exercise was the first proof of concept launch of the Longbow Hellfire missile against land-based target. (U.S. Navy photo by Lt.j.g. Samuel Hardgrove)

They may also have vertical launch Hellfire, which has proven effective against both low altitude subsonic air and surface targets.

Gun Mission Module by Northrop Grumman

They do not seem to have been equipped with the 30mm Mk 46 mounts, which would be useful against both unscrewed surface and air attack systems.

Helicopters operating from these ships could also be effective against several threats.

I suppose they may be being reequipped for the escort role.