- Hunt class MCMV
The Hunt class is a class of thirteen
mine countermeasure vessel s (MCMV) of theRoyal Navy . They combine the separate role of the traditional minesweeper and that of the activeminehunter in one hull. They have a secondary role as fisheriespatrol vessel s.They are some of the largest warships ever built out of
glass reinforced plastic (second only to the Osprey class) and are the last in operation to use theNapier Deltic diesel engine . All were built byVosper Thornycroft in Woolston except HMS "Cottesmore" and "Middleton", which were built byYarrow Shipbuilders Limited on theRiver Clyde . HMS "Quorn" was the last ship of the class launched.The capabilities of the remaining eight vessels of the Hunt Class have been significantly enhanced by the installation of
Sonar Type 2193 and the NAUTIS 3 command system. The performance of Sonar 2193 exceeds that of any other mine hunting sonar in service in the world today and is capable of detecting and classifying an object the size of a football up to 1,000 metres [ [http://www.thalesgroup.co.uk/thales_corporate/press-room/pressreleases/royal-navys-most-advanced-minehunting-sonar-enters-service.cfm Thales Group press release on minehunting sonar] ] . In late 2007 HMS "Chiddingfold " used Seafox, the Royal Navy's new mine disposal system, during Exercise Neptune Warrior off Scotland. Seafox is described by the MOD as "state of the art fire and forget system, capable of destroying mines in depths of up to 300 metres".hips
References
External links
* [http://www.royal-navy.mod.uk/static/pages/463.html Royal Navy Hunt class page] .
* [http://www.btinternet.com/~warship/Today/hunt.htm Hunt class MCMV] unofficial page.
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