Two more Pentekonters are to be converted to the minesweeping variant later this year. P110 Orpheus and P118 Aeschylus will receive the modifications. The DDS have planned to do this for a few months but currently have a shortage of available patrol assets due to heavy commitments with the Crayfish and Knight exercises.
However the minesweeping flotilla is also under strain with 4 of the 6 ships now on exercises and of the 2 remaining 1 is receiving a refit meaning there is only 1 minesweeper available should there be an emergency. The release of patrol assets from current commitments and a change in the patrol cycle due later this year will relieve pressure on the patrol pool and allow 2 Pentekonters to be spared.
Both of the Pentekonter classes will be renumbered later this year to remove the gaps introduced into the number sequences because of reassignments and battle losses.
