What is the designation for a Mine Countermeasures Ship?

The designation for a Mine Countermeasures Ship is MCM. This classification is specifically utilized to identify vessels constructed for the purpose of detecting, locating, and neutralizing sea mines. Mine Countermeasures Ships play a vital role in ensuring safe navigation in maritime environments where naval mines pose a threat to both military and commercial vessels.

This designation emphasizes the ship’s specialized functions, differentiating it from other types of vessels that may have entirely different missions and capabilities. For instance, the other designations such as LCM (Landing Craft Mechanized) and SSGN (Guided Missile Submarine – Nuclear) relate to different ship classes with specific operational roles within the naval structure, while MSM (Mine Sweeper) could infer a broader category, but it does not specifically employ the widely recognized MCM designation.