Osprey-class minehunter
 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  Republic of China 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 ROC(Taiwan) Navy 2 to be Transferred 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.
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 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 Sedeeq (MHC-521) and MHC-61 Raven, renamed al Farouk (MHC-524). On April 29, 2008 the President of the United States was authorized by the United States 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 Republic of China (aka Taiwan) as well as MHC-62 Shrike to Turkey was also authorized as part of a supply package including F-16 multirole combat jet upgrade kits, Patriot missiles and Black Hawk helicopters.[2]
The Congress of the USA approved the transfer on September 10, 2008, of the MHC-51 Osprey and MHC-54 Robin to the Hellenic Navy.[3]
It was reported on 29 September, 2010 in Indian Media that the US Senate has approved the sale of MHC-56 Kingfisher & MHC-57 Cormorant to the Indian Navy.[4][5]
Ships
| Ship | Hull No. | Builder | Commissioned– Decommissioned |
NVR Page |
Fate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Osprey | MHC-51 | Intermarine USA | 1993–2006 | MHC51 | Sale approved to the Hellenic Navy |
| Heron | MHC-52 | Intermarine USA | 1994–2007 | MHC52 | Sold to the Hellenic Navy, renamed as HS Kalypso (M 64) |
| Pelican | MHC-53 | Avondale Shipyard, Westwego | 1995–2007 | MHC53 | Sold to the Hellenic Navy, renamed as HS Evniki (M 61) |
| Robin | MHC-54 | Avondale Shipyard | 1996–2006 | MHC54 | Sale approved to the Hellenic Navy |
| Oriole | MHC-55 | Intermarine USA | 1995–2006 | MHC55 | Sold to the Republic of China Navy |
| Kingfisher | MHC-56 | Avondale Shipyard, Gulfport | 1996–2007 | MHC56 | Sale approved to the Indian Navy |
| Cormorant | MHC-57 | Avondale Shipyard, Gulfport | 1997–2007 | MHC57 | Sale approved to the Indian Navy |
| Black Hawk | MHC-58 | Intermarine USA | 1996–2007 | MHC58 | Sold to the Turkish Navy |
| Falcon | MHC-59 | Intermarine USA | 1997–2006 | MHC59 | Sold to the Republic of China Navy |
| Cardinal | MHC-60 | Intermarine USA | 1997–2007 | MHC60 | Sold to the Egyptian Navy, renamed as al Sedeeq (MHC-521) |
| Raven | MHC-61 | Intermarine USA | 1998–2007 | MHC61 | Sold to the Egyptian Navy, renamed as al Farouk (MHC-524) |
| Shrike | MHC-62 | Intermarine USA | 1999–2007 | MHC62 | Sold to the Turkish Navy |
See also
- Lerici class minehunter - The Italian ship design on which the Osprey class was based
References
- ^ MHC 58 Black Hawk
- ^ "Osprey Minehunters for ROC Navy". Armed Forces International. August 6, 2012, 7:05AM BST.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ "GovTrack: S. 3052 [110th]: Text of Legislation, Reported in Senate". Govtrack.us. 1999-02-22. Retrieved 2009-08-24.
- ^ US Senate OKs transfer of two minehunters to India
- ^ US senate approves sale of 2 Osprey-class minehunters to India
- 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
