US mine-capable warships seen in Malaysia while Gulf tensions escalate

Two US Navy Independence-class Littoral Combat Ships (LCS), the USS Tulsa and USS Santa Barbara, both configured for mine countermeasures, have been spotted in port in Malaysia, thousands of miles from their previous deployment in the Middle East. 

The ships were last forward-deployed to Bahrain to replace decommissioned Avenger-class mine hunters. Their appearance in Malaysia comes amid heightened tensions in the Strait of Hormuz, where Iranian attacks have disrupted commercial shipping, TWZ reports.

A spotter photographed the vessels at the North Butterworth Container Terminal in Penang, Malaysia. Defense reporter Mike Yeo highlighted the significance of these sightings, though US officials have not clarified why the ships were sent so far east.

Both LCSs are equipped with a mine countermeasures mission package, including towed mine-hunting sonar, Common Unmanned Surface Vehicles (CUSVs) with mine-sweeping gear, and MH-60 Sea Hawk helicopter-mounted detection and neutralization systems. Military officials have long debated whether metal-hulled LCSs are adequate replacements for purpose-built Avenger-class mine hunters, which had fiberglass-coated wooden hulls to minimize magnetic signatures.

The Independence-class LCSs’ larger size and multi-mission design improve self-defense capabilities but limit how close they can safely operate in mined waters. Previous briefings indicate that mine-clearing operations with these ships remain slow, complex, and vulnerable to failure. As one officer noted, “LCS was designed as a multi-mission platform… all of these other missions reduce time for the ship and Minemen to gain proficiency in MCM [mine countermeasures].”

The US has reported ongoing Iranian attempts to lay mines in the Strait of Hormuz, a strategic chokepoint, and is actively targeting mine-laying assets. However, officials say US warships are unlikely to begin escorting commercial vessels through the waterway for weeks due to risks and limited mine-clearing assets.

The current locations of the USS Canberra and any additional mine countermeasures-equipped ships remain unknown. For now, a significant portion of the Navy’s minesweeping capability intended for the Middle East is deployed thousands of miles away, highlighting potential operational challenges amid escalating regional conflict.

By Vafa Guliyeva