 USS Raven in the Persian Gulf, 2004 | |
| Class overview | |
|---|---|
| Name | Osprey class |
| Builders | |
| Operators | |
| Preceded by | Harkness class |
| Succeeded by | None |
| Built | 1991–1995 |
| In service | 1993–present |
| In commission | 1993–2007 (US Navy) |
| Planned | 12 |
| Completed | 12 |
| Active |
|
| Scrapped | 6 |
| General characteristics | |
| Type | Coastal minehunter |
| Displacement | 881long tons (895 t) (full load) |
| Length | 188 ft (57 m) |
| Beam | 36 ft (11 m) |
| Draft | 7 ft (2.1 m) |
| Installed power |
|
| Propulsion |
|
| Speed | 12 knots (22 km/h) |
| Range | 1,500 nautical miles (2,800 km) |
| Endurance | 15 days |
| Complement | 5 officers, 4 non-commissioned officers, 42 enlisted |
| Sensors and processing systems |
|
| Electronic warfare & decoys | |
| Armament |
|
TheOsprey class are a series ofcoastal minehunters designed to find, classify, and destroy moored and bottomnaval mines from vitalwaterways.
Their design is based on the second series of the ItalianLerici-class, built inLa 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.[1]
They use sonar and video systems, cable cutters and a mine detonating device that can be released and detonated by remote control. TheOsprey class are the world's second largest minehunters (surpassed by theRoyal Navy's 60-meter (200 ft)Hunt-classmine countermeasures vessels) 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.[2]
Twelve minehunter ships were built for theU.S. Navy by Northrop Grumman Ship Systems (formerly Litton Avondale Industries) ofNew Orleans and Intermarine ofSavannah. The ships were commissioned between 1993 and 1999.[2] The ships of this class were named after various types of birds.[3]
The 12 ships are 187 feet 10 inches (57.3 m) long, 34 feet 7 inches (10.5 m) wide, and 70 feet 0 inches (21.3 m) tall.[2] When carrying a full load theydisplace 904 tonnes (890 long tons; 996 short tons).[4] 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.[2]
They use anAN/SLQ-53 deep sweep mine countermeasures system. They also use anAN/SQQ-32 Variable Depth Sonar, which is tethered to the front of thebridge, to detect and identify mines using multiple ping processing. TwoAN/UYK-44 computers are also used to classify and detect mines. For surface radar purposes, anAN/SPS-64(V)9 is used. They also use theAN/SLQ-48 mine neutralization system, which is tethered to the ship by a 1.07-kilometre (0.66 mi) long cable. They have twoAN/UYQ-31 operator data terminals, which are identical.[2]
They are propelled by twoIsotta Fraschini ID 36 SS 8V AMdiesel engines which drive generators feeding twoVoith Schneider cycloidal propellers generating 1,600horsepower (1,200 kW).[2] They have a max speed of 12knots (22 km/h), and a maximum operational range of 1,500nautical miles (2,800 km).[4]
All of these ships were decommissioned in 2006–07. TheHellenic Navy received two of theOsprey class from the US Navy:Heron, renamedCalypso andPelican, renamedEuniki. Two more were transferred to theEgyptian Navy:Cardinal, renamedal Sedeeq (MHC-521) andRaven, renamedal Farouk (MHC-524). The sale ofOriole andFalcon to theRepublic of China was also authorized.[5]
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.[6] The minehunting role of this class is to be taken over byLittoral Combat Ships equipped with theMine Counter-Measures Module.[2]
| Ship | Hull No. | Builder | Commissioned– Decommissioned | NVR Page | Fate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Osprey | MHC-51 | Intermarine USA | 1993–2006 | MHC51 | Sold for scrap 2014. |
| Heron | MHC-52 | Intermarine USA | 1994–2007 | MHC52 | Sold to the Hellenic Navy, renamed as HSKalypso (M 64) |
| Pelican | MHC-53 | Avondale Shipyard, Westwego | 1995–2007 | MHC53 | Sold to the Hellenic Navy, renamed as HSEvniki (M 61) |
| Robin | MHC-54 | Avondale Shipyard | 1996–2006 | MHC54 | Sold for scrap 2014. |
| Oriole | MHC-55 | Intermarine USA | 1995–2006 | MHC55 | Sold to the Republic of China (Taiwan) Navy |
| Kingfisher | MHC-56 | Avondale Shipyard, Gulfport | 1996–2007 | MHC56 | Sold for scrap 2014. |
| Cormorant | MHC-57 | Avondale Shipyard, Gulfport | 1997–2007 | MHC57 | Sold for scrap 2014. |
| Black Hawk | MHC-58 | Intermarine USA | 1996–2007 | MHC58 | Sold for scrap 2014. |
| Falcon | MHC-59 | Intermarine USA | 1997–2006 | MHC59 | Sold to the Republic of China (Taiwan) Navy |
| Cardinal | MHC-60 | Intermarine USA | 1997–2007 | MHC60 | Sold to the Egyptian Navy, renamed asal Sedeeq (MHC-521) |
| Raven | MHC-61 | Intermarine USA | 1998–2007 | MHC61 | Sold to the Egyptian Navy, renamed asal Farouk (MHC-524) |
| Shrike | MHC-62 | Intermarine USA | 1999–2007 | MHC62 | Sold for scrap 2014. |
Intermarine SpA of Sarzana, Italy, was invited by the United States Navy to transfer their composite material design and production technology to the USA in support of a new Coastal Minehunter program. In response, Intermarine USA was established in 1987 following a U.S. Navy contract, awarded on a sole source basis, to build large minehunters using composite materials. Intermarine completely renovated a shipyard in Savannah, Georgia, and converted it into a modern composite manufacturing facility.
This article includes information collected from theNaval Vessel Register, which, as a U.S. government publication, is in thepublic domain. The entry can be foundhere.
