Osprey-class minehunter
 | This article includes a list of references, related reading, or external links, but its sources remain unclear because it lacks inline citations. (November 2008) |
 USS Raven in the Persian Gulf, 2004
| |
| Class overview | |
|---|---|
| Name | Osprey |
| Builders | list error: <br /> list (help) Intermarine USA Avondale Shipyard |
| Operators | list error: <br /> list (help) U.S. Navy (former) Hellenic Navy Egyptian Navy Lithuanian Navy Turkish Navy Taiwan Navy |
| Succeeded by | Avenger-class |
| In commission | 1993 - 2007 |
| Completed | 12 |
| Active | list error: <br /> list (help) 2 with Hellenic Navy 2 with Egyptian Navy 2 with Lithuanian Navy 2 with Turkish Navy 2 with Taiwan Navy 2 to be Transffered to Indian Navy |
| General characteristics | |
| Type | Coastal minehunter |
| Displacement | 893 tons (804 metric tons) full load |
| Length | 188 ft (57 m) |
| Beam | 36 ft (11 m) |
| Draft | 12 ft (3.7 m) |
| Propulsion | list error: <br /> list (help) 2 × diesels (800 hp ea.) 2 ×Voith-Schneider (cycloidal) propulsion systems |
| Speed | 10 knots (19 km/h) |
| Endurance | 15 days |
| Complement | 5 officers, 46 enlisted |
| Sensors and processing systems | list error: <br /> list (help) •AN/SLQ-48 mine neutralization equipment •AN/SQQ-32 minehunting sonar •AN/SYQ-13 navigation/command and control •AN/SSQ-94 on board trainer |
| Armament | 2 × .50 caliber machine guns |
Osprey-class coastal minehunters are designed to find, classify, and destroy moored and bottom naval mines from vital waterways. They use sonar and video systems, cable cutters and a mine detonating device that can be released and detonated by remote control. Osprey class are the world's second largest minehunters (surpassed by the Royal Navy's 60-metre (200 ft) Hunt class minehunters) to be constructed entirely of fiberglass and designed to survive the shock of underwater explosions. Their primary mission is reconnaissance, classification, and neutralization of all types of moored and bottom mines in littoral areas, harbors and coastal waterways. The ships are equipped with a high definition, variable-depth sonar, and a remotely-operated, robotic submarine used to neutralize mines.
Construction
Twelve minehunter ships were built for the U.S. Navy by Northrop Grumman Ship Systems (formerly Litton Avondale Industries) of New Orleans and Intermarine of Savannah. The ships were commissioned between 1993 and 1999.
The ships of this class were named after various types of birds except for MHC-58 Black Hawk, which was named for Black Hawk, a chief of the Sauk American Indian tribe.[1]
Decommissioning
All of these ships were decommissioned in 2006–07. The Hellenic Navy received two of the Osprey-class coastal mine hunters from the US Navy: MHC-52 Heron, renamed Calypso and MHC-53 Pelican, renamed Euniki. Two more were transferred to the Egyptian Navy: MHC-60 Cardinal, renamed al Shareen and MHC-61 Raven, renamed al Faruq. On April 29, 2008 the President was authorized by Congress (in the Consolidated Natural Resources Act of 2008) to transfer by grant MHC-58 Black Hawk to Turkey. The sale of MHC-55 Oriole and MHC-59 Falcon to Taiwan as well as MHC-62 Shrike to Turkey was also authorized.
It was reported on 29th September, 2010 in Indian Media that the US Sanate has approved the sale of MHC-56 Kingfisher & MHC-57 Cormorant to Indian Navy.[2] [3]
Ships
| Ship | Hull No. | Builder | Commissioned– Decommissioned |
NVR Page |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Osprey | MHC-51 | Intermarine USA | 1993–2006 | MHC51 |
| Heron | MHC-52 | Intermarine USA | 1994–2007 | MHC52 |
| Pelican | MHC-53 | Avondale Shipyard, Westwego | 1995–2007 | MHC53 |
| Robin | MHC-54 | Avondale Shipyard | 1996–2006 | MHC54 |
| Oriole | MHC-55 | Intermarine USA | 1995–2006 | MHC55 |
| Kingfisher | MHC-56 | Avondale Shipyard, Gulfport | 1996–2007 | MHC56 |
| Cormorant | MHC-57 | Avondale Shipyard, Gulfport | 1997–2007 | MHC57 |
| Black Hawk | MHC-58 | Intermarine USA | 1996–2007 | MHC58 |
| Falcon | MHC-59 | Intermarine USA | 1997–2006 | MHC59 |
| Cardinal | MHC-60 | Intermarine USA | 1997–2007 | MHC60 |
| Raven | MHC-61 | Intermarine USA | 1998–2007 | MHC61 |
| Shrike | MHC-62 | Intermarine USA | 1999–2007 | MHC62 |
See also
- Lerici class minehunter - The Italian ship design on which the Osprey class was based
References
- PEO Ships: Mine Warfare
- Federation of American Scientists: MHC 51 Osprey Coastal Mine Hunters
This article includes information collected from the Naval Vessel Register, which, as a U.S. government publication, is in the public domain. The entry can be found here.
External links
- Osprey Class Coastal Minehunter, USA
- GlobalSecurity.org: MHC 51 Osprey Coastal Mine Hunters
- NavSource.org: Coastal Minesweeper/Coastal Minehunter Index
