Mild disappointment ensues upon seeing this 51-meter long military ship, which one might expect to be more imposing.
The rear deck of the “Verseau” is a congested area reserved for multiple maneuvers, leaving little room for sailors to move around. The deployment of zodiacs to rescue a man overboard, or launching remote-controlled mini submarines tasked with mine destruction, are some of the missions of this military vessel. The “Verseau’s” primary mission is to neutralize underwater mines. To achieve this, small “P.A.P 104” submarines are designed to destroy detected mines by dropping an explosive charge. Divers can also be deployed following the detection of a suspicious object by the sonar located under the front hull of the ship.
The only means of defense on the ship is located on the front deck, thanks to its machine gun. The rest of the space is occupied by the anchor reel and bags of carbonic foam to prevent any fire outbreak. In case of fire, the crew reacts quickly because the “Verseau” has a hull made of glass/resin composite and fiberglass, materials that are not very fire-resistant.
Inside the ship, it resembles that of submarines, with numerous airlocks and safety doors. It is possible to descend to three levels; the last one is partly reserved for machinery. The first two levels contain sailors’ cabins, a kitchen, a sonar imaging and submarine control observation room, security equipment areas in case of problems, etc.
To conclude, returning to the open air, heading to the bridge. This is the room that contains all the navigation equipment such as maps, radar, turbine control levers, and other control computers.
History and Characteristics of the “Verseau”
The “Verseau” is a tripartite-type minehunter, meaning it was built in collaboration between France, the Netherlands, and Belgium. It entered service in 1988 and belonged to the Belgian Navy until it was decommissioned in 1993. It was then purchased by the French Navy in 1997.
Like all minehunters, this military vessel has three main missions: detection, identification, and neutralizing of mines, guiding other boats under the threat of mines, and cataloging wrecks.
The crew, under the command of Lieutenant Commander Mathieu Cherriere, consists of about forty people including 3 officers, 32 non-commissioned officers, 5 mine clearance divers, and 1 onboard diver.
