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Osprey-class minehunter

Ship class

Field	Value
section1	{{Infobox ship/image
image	USS Raven MHC 61 Persian Gulf.jpg
image_caption	in the Persian Gulf, 2004
section2	{{Infobox ship/class overview
name	Osprey class
class_before
class_after	None
built_range	1991–1995
in_service_range	1993–present
in_commission_range	1993–2007 (US Navy)
total_ships_completed	12
total_ships_scrapped	6
section3	{{Infobox ship/characteristics
type	Coastal minehunter
displacement	881 LT (full load)
length	188 ft
beam	36 ft
draft	7 ft
power	*2 × Isotta Fraschini ID36 SS8V-AM diesel engines
*{{cvt	1600	hp	lk	on}}
propulsion	*2 × Voith-Schneider vertical axis (cycloidal) propulsion systems
speed	12 kn
range	1,500 nmi
endurance	15 days
complement	5 officers, 4 non-commissioned officers, 42 enlisted
sensors	*AN/SYQ-13 navigation/command and control
EW	*AN/SLQ-48 mine neutralization equipment
armament	*2 × .50 caliber machine guns

Intermarine USA
Avondale Shipyard
(former)
2 with Hellenic Navy
2 with Egyptian Navy
2 with ROC (Taiwan) Navy
1600 hp
2 × Variable-pitch propeller
AN/SPS-64(V)9 surface search radar
AN/SPA-25G shipboard radar repeater (transistorized)
AN/WSN-2 stabilized gyrocompass
AN/SSQ-94 on board trainer
AN/SQQ-32 minehunting sonar
1 × Stinger missile launcher

The Osprey class are a series of coastal minehunters designed to find, classify, and destroy moored and bottom naval mines from vital waterways.

Their design is based on the second series of the Italian Lerici-class, built in La Spezia by Intermarine between 1990 and 1996. Eight vessels were built in the Intermarine shipyard located in Savannah, while the remaining four have been built by a second-source shipyard under a Technology Transfer and Licence Agreement.

They use sonar and video systems, cable cutters and a mine detonating device that can be released and detonated by remote control. The Osprey class are the world's second largest minehunters (surpassed by the Royal Navy's 60 m s) 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.

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.

The 12 ships are 187 ft long, 34 ft wide, and 70 ft tall. When carrying a full load they displace 904 t. They have four decks, and have a complement of five officers, four chief petty officers, and 42 enlisted men. They are armed with two .50 caliber machine guns. All of the major equipment is suspended from the main deck in glass-reinforced plastic holders, so that in the event of an undersea explosion, it will not be damaged.

They use an AN/SLQ-53 deep sweep mine countermeasures system. They also use an AN/SQQ-32 Variable Depth Sonar, which is tethered to the front of the bridge, to detect and identify mines using multiple ping processing. Two AN/UYK-44 computers are also used to classify and detect mines. For surface radar purposes, an AN/SPS-64(V)9 is used. They also use the AN/SLQ-48 mine neutralization system, which is tethered to the ship by a 1.07 km long cable. They have two AN/UYQ-31 operator data terminals, which are identical.

They are propelled by two Isotta Fraschini ID 36 SS 8V AM diesel engines which drive generators feeding two Voith Schneider cycloidal propellers generating 1,600 hp. They have a max speed of 12 kn, and a maximum operational range of 1,500 nmi.

Decommissioning

All of these ships were decommissioned in 2006–07. The Hellenic Navy received two of the Osprey class from the US Navy: , renamed Calypso and , renamed Euniki. Two more were transferred to the Egyptian Navy: , renamed al Sedeeq (MHC-521) and , renamed al Farouk (MHC-524). The sale of and to the Republic of China was also authorized.

The U.S. General Services Administration (GS) announced in April 2014 that hull numbers MHC-51, 54, 56, 57, 58, and 62 were up for auction to be sold as an entire lot for "dismantlement purposes only." This contradicted earlier information announcing the sale of some of these vessels to foreign operators. The minehunting role of this class is to be taken over by Littoral Combat Ships equipped with the Mine Counter-Measures Module.

Ships

Ship	Hull No.	Builder	Commissioned–
Decommissioned	NVR
Page	Fate
	MHC-51	Intermarine USA	1993–2006	Sold for scrap 2014.
	MHC-52	Intermarine USA	1994–2007	Sold to the Hellenic Navy, renamed as HS Kalypso (M 64)
	MHC-53	Avondale Shipyard, Westwego	1995–2007	Sold to the Hellenic Navy, renamed as HS Evniki (M 61)
	MHC-54	Avondale Shipyard	1996–2006	Sold for scrap 2014.
	MHC-55	Intermarine USA	1995–2006	Sold to the Republic of China (Taiwan) Navy
	MHC-56	Avondale Shipyard, Gulfport	1996–2007	Sold for scrap 2014.
	MHC-57	Avondale Shipyard, Gulfport	1997–2007	Sold for scrap 2014.
	MHC-58	Intermarine USA	1996–2007	Sold for scrap 2014.
	MHC-59	Intermarine USA	1997–2006	Sold to the Republic of China (Taiwan) Navy
	MHC-60	Intermarine USA	1997–2007	Sold to the Egyptian Navy, renamed as al Sedeeq (MHC-521)
	MHC-61	Intermarine USA	1998–2007	Sold to the Egyptian Navy, renamed as al Farouk (MHC-524)
	MHC-62	Intermarine USA	1999–2007	Sold for scrap 2014.

Notes

References

Federation of American Scientists: MHC 51 Osprey Coastal Mine Hunters
26 Mar 2014 MHC 51, 54, 56, 57 58, 62 are on GSA auction web site for "DISMANTLEMENT" out of Beaumont, TX. http://gsaauctions.gov/gsaauctions/aucindx/

References

(1993). "Report on Survey of U.S. Shipbuilding and Repair Facilities". U.S. Department of Commerce, Maritime Administration..
Marriott, Leo. (2001). "The Vital Guide to Modern Warships". Airlife.
"USS Osprey (MHC-51) Minehunter".
"Osprey Class".
(August 6, 2012). "Osprey Minehunters for ROC Navy". Armed Forces International.
(8 April 2014). "LOT OF MHCS FOR DISMANTLEMENT".

Info: Wikipedia Source

This article was imported from Wikipedia and is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Content has been adapted to SurfDoc format. Original contributors can be found on the article history page.

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