South China Sea Exercises

Formation Strikes Through the Minefield! A Close Look at a Naval Minesweeper Flotilla's Formation Coordinated Anti-Mine Training

编队出击破雷阵！直击海军某扫雷舰大队舰艇协同反水雷训练

PLA Daily (解放军报) 21 May 2026

Summary

The Taishan and Kaiping, minesweepers assigned to a Southern Theater Command Navy flotilla, conducted a coordinated anti-mine exercise in early summer involving surface mine engagement with main guns, underwater mine detection by sonar, and mine destruction using remotely operated gear. The exercise documents a cross-vessel, cross-equipment coordination problem the flotilla is actively working through — specifically integrating different minesweeper types into a unified anti-mine workflow — and the flotilla leader's explicit reference to validating 训法战法 confirms this was a methods-testing iteration rather than a routine proficiency drill. Southern Theater Command's mine countermeasures capacity is directly relevant to any Taiwan Strait or South China Sea contingency where adversary mining of approach lanes would be a credible threat.

Translation

In early summer, the Taishan and Kaiping vessels of a minesweeper flotilla under the Southern Theater Command Navy formed up and sailed to a designated sea area, where a combat-realistic anti-mine training exercise got underway.

"Suspected 'floating mine' detected!" While underway, the formation encountered a "surface threat" and rapidly reduced speed, adjusted formation, and maneuvered into a favorable firing position. The main gun rotated, locking tightly onto the elusive target drifting among the waves. "Bang! Bang!" In a flash, several rounds struck the target with precision, columns of water erupting from the sea surface in an instant, and the surface "threats" were cleared in their entirety.

Personnel observing sea surface conditions. Photo by Liu Pilu

Main gun firing. Photo by Liu Pilu

Upon arriving at the training minefield, the sonar station aboard the Kaiping was first to detect an underwater target. After comprehensive analysis and confirmation of target information, the command post immediately ordered the Kaiping to conduct mine-destruction operations. The mine-hunting team leader operated with composure as the mine-hunting gear was lowered into the water, and under the precise remote control of the operator, it closed in step by step on the seabed target.

"Deploy mine-destruction charge!" At the commander's order, the charge was precisely delivered to the target area, and the mine was successfully neutralized.

Personnel conducting careful operations. Photo by Liu Pilu

Mine detonation. Photo by Liu Pilu

"This training tempered the coordinated anti-mine capability across different vessel types and different equipment, and the formation's minesweeping training methods and combat methods (训法战法) were further validated," said a flotilla leader. Going forward, they will continue to construct battlefield environments under conditions of increased difficulty and rigor, further honing the force's anti-mine combat capability.

Damage control and firefighting training underway. Photo by Liu Pilu

Original Chinese

初夏时节，南部战区海军某扫雷舰大队台山舰、开平舰组成编队奔赴某海域，一场实战化反水雷训练就此拉开战幕。 “发现疑似‘浮雷’！”航行途中，编队遇到“水面威胁”，迅速减速调整队形，占据有利射击阵位。主炮旋转，紧紧锁定浪间飘忽的目标。“砰！砰！”电光石火间，数发炮弹精准扑向目标，海面上瞬间腾起阵阵水柱，海面“威胁”被悉数清除。官兵观察海面情况。刘丕禄摄主炮射击。刘丕禄摄抵达训练雷区，开平舰声呐战位率先发现水下目标。经综合研判，确认目标信息后，指挥所立即命令开平舰实施灭雷作业。猎雷班班长沉稳操控，猎雷具被吊放入水，在操作手精准遥控下，快速向海底目标一步步逼近。 “投放灭雷炸弹!”指挥员一声令下，炸弹被精准投放至目标区域，水雷被成功扫除。官兵认真操作。刘丕禄摄水雷引爆。刘丕禄摄 “此次训练淬炼了不同舰型、不同装备之间的协同反水雷能力，编队扫雷训法战法得到进一步检验。”该大队领导表示，下一步，他们将继续从难从严构设战场环境，进一步磨砺部队反水雷作战能力。开展损管灭火训练。刘丕禄摄