- Osprey class coastal minehunter
"Osprey"-class
coastal minehunter s are designed to find, classify, and destroy moored and bottomnaval mine s 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. They are the first large mine countermeasures ships built in theUnited States in nearly 27 years. "Osprey" class are the world's largest mine hunters to be constructed entirely offiberglass 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
US Navy by Northrop Grumman Ship Systems (formerly Litton Avondale Industries) ofNew 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.
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". On April 29, 2008 the President was authorized by Congress (in the Consolidated Natural Resources Act of 2008) to transfer by grant MHC-56 "Kingfisher" and MHC-57 "Cormorant" toLithuania , and MHC-58 "Blackhawk" toTurkey . The sale of MCH-55 "Oriole" and MCH-59 "Falcon" toTaiwan as well as MCH-62 "Shrike" toTurkey was also authorized.This class of ships was succeeded by the more capable "Avenger"-class mine countermeasures ships.hips
References
* [http://peoships.crane.navy.mil/mine/mine_osphrey_mhc.htm PEO Ships: Mine Warfare]
* [http://www.fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/ship/mhc-51.htm Federation of American Scientists: MHC 51 Osprey Coastal Mine Hunters]
*NVR|http://www.nvr.navy.mil/nvrships/s_MHC.htmExternal links
* [http://www.naval-technology.com/projects/osprey/ Osprey Class Coastal Minehunter, USA]
* [http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/ship/mhc-51.htm GlobalSecurity.org: MHC 51 Osprey Coastal Mine Hunters]
* [http://www.navsource.org/archives/11/04idx.htm NavSource.org: Coastal Minesweeper/Coastal Minehunter Index]
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