Osprey-class minehunter

{{For|other ship classes of the same name|Osprey class (disambiguation){{!}}Osprey class}}

{{Infobox ship begin

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{{Infobox ship image

| Ship image = USS Raven MHC 61 Persian Gulf.jpg

| Ship caption = {{USS|Raven|MHC-61|6}} in the Persian Gulf, 2004

}}

{{Infobox ship class overview

|Name=Osprey class

|Builders=

|Operators=

{{navy|United States}} (former)
{{navy|Greece}}
{{navy|Egypt}}
{{navy|Republic of China}}

|Class before={{sclass|Harkness|minehunter|4}}

|Class after=None

|Subclasses=

|Cost=

|Built range=1991–1995

|In service range= 1993–present

|In commission range=1993–2007 (US Navy)

|Total ships building=

|Total ships planned=12

|Total ships completed=12

|Total ships stricken=6

|Total ships active=

2 with Hellenic Navy
2 with Egyptian Navy
2 with ROC (Taiwan) Navy

|Total ships scrapped=6

|Total ships lost=

|Total ships retired=

|Total ships preserved=

}}

{{Infobox ship characteristics

| Ship type = Coastal minehunter

| Ship displacement = {{convert|881|LT|abbr=on|lk=on}} (full load)

| Ship length = {{cvt|188|ft|abbr=on}}

| Ship beam = {{cvt|36|ft|abbr=on}}

| Ship draft = {{cvt|7|ft|abbr=on}}

| Ship power = *2 × Isotta Fraschini ID36 SS8V-AM diesel engines

{{cvt|1600|hp|lk=on}}

| Ship propulsion = *2 × Voith-Schneider vertical axis (cycloidal) propulsion systems

2 × Variable-pitch propeller

| Ship speed = {{convert|12|kn|kph}}

| Ship range = {{convert|1,500|nmi|km}}

| Ship endurance = 15 days

| Ship test depth =

| Ship boats =

| Ship complement = 5 officers, 4 non-commissioned officers, 42 enlisted

| Ship time to activate =

| Ship sensors = *AN/SYQ-13 navigation/command and control

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

| Ship EW = *AN/SLQ-48 mine neutralization equipment

AN/SQQ-32 minehunting sonar

| Ship armament = *2 × .50 caliber machine guns

1 × Stinger missile launcher

| Ship notes =

}}

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.{{Cite book |title=Report on Survey of U.S. Shipbuilding and Repair Facilities |publisher=U.S. Department of Commerce, Maritime Administration. |year=1993 |location=Northwestern University |pages=22 |quote=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.}}

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 {{convert|60|m|ft|adj=on|sp=us}} {{sclass2|Hunt|mine countermeasures vessel}}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.{{cite book |first=Leo |last=Marriott |year=2001 |title=The Vital Guide to Modern Warships |url=https://archive.org/details/vitalguidetomode00marr |url-access=limited |publisher=Airlife |location=Shrewsbury |page=[https://archive.org/details/vitalguidetomode00marr/page/n48 95] |isbn=9781840371772}}

The 12 ships are {{convert|187|ft|10|in|1}} long, {{convert|34|ft|7|in|1}} wide, and {{convert|70|ft|0|in|1}} tall. When carrying a full load they displace {{convert|904|t}}.{{cite web|title=USS Osprey (MHC-51) Minehunter|url=http://www.militaryfactory.com/ships/detail.asp?ship_id=USS-Osprey-MHC51|website=Military Factory|access-date=9 March 2017}} 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 {{convert|1.07|km|adj=on}} 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 {{convert|1,600|hp|lk=in}}.{{cite web|title=Osprey Class|url=http://www.naval-technology.com/projects/osprey-class-minehunter/|website=Naval Technology|access-date=9 March 2017}} They have a max speed of {{convert|12|kn|kph|lk=in}}, and a maximum operational range of {{convert|1,500|nmi|km|lk=in}}.

Decommissioning

All of these ships were decommissioned in 2006–07. The Hellenic Navy received two of the Osprey class from the US Navy: {{USS|Heron|MHC-52|2}}, renamed Calypso and {{USS|Pelican|MHC-53|2}}, renamed Euniki. Two more were transferred to the Egyptian Navy: {{USS|Cardinal|MHC-60|2}}, renamed al Sedeeq (MHC-521) and {{USS|Raven|MHC-61|2}}, renamed al Farouk (MHC-524). The sale of {{USS|Oriole|MHC-55|2}} and {{USS|Falcon|MHC-59|2}} to the Republic of China was also authorized.{{Cite web|url=http://www.armedforces-int.com/news/osprey-minehunters-for-roc-navy.html|title=Osprey Minehunters for ROC Navy|publisher=Armed Forces International|date=August 6, 2012|access-date = 11 August 2016}}

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.{{cite web |url = http://gsaauctions.gov/gsaauctions/aucdsclnk?sl=31QSCI14049001 |title = LOT OF MHCS FOR DISMANTLEMENT | website = GSAauctions.gov |date = 8 April 2014 |access-date = 11 August 2016}} 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
class="sortable wikitable" \|+ style="text-align: centre;" \|List of Osprey-class ships
{{USS\|Osprey\|MHC-51\|2}}	MHC-51	Intermarine USA	1993–2006	{{Naval Vessel Register URL\|id=MHC51\|title=MHC51}}	Sold for scrap 2014.
{{USS\|Heron\|MHC-52\|2}}	MHC-52	Intermarine USA	1994–2007	{{Naval Vessel Register URL\|id=MHC52\|title=MHC52}}	Sold to the Hellenic Navy, renamed as HS Kalypso (M 64)
{{USS\|Pelican\|MHC-53\|2}}	MHC-53	Avondale Shipyard, Westwego	1995–2007	{{Naval Vessel Register URL\|id=MHC53\|title=MHC53}}	Sold to the Hellenic Navy, renamed as HS Evniki (M 61)
{{USS\|Robin\|MHC-54\|2}}	MHC-54	Avondale Shipyard	1996–2006	{{Naval Vessel Register URL\|id=MHC54\|title=MHC54}}	Sold for scrap 2014.
{{USS\|Oriole\|MHC-55\|2}}	MHC-55	Intermarine USA	1995–2006	{{Naval Vessel Register URL\|id=MHC55\|title=MHC55}}	Sold to the Republic of China (Taiwan) Navy
{{USS\|Kingfisher\|MHC-56\|2}}	MHC-56	Avondale Shipyard, Gulfport	1996–2007	{{Naval Vessel Register URL\|id=MHC56\|title=MHC56}}	Sold for scrap 2014.
{{USS\|Cormorant\|MHC-57\|2}}	MHC-57	Avondale Shipyard, Gulfport	1997–2007	{{Naval Vessel Register URL\|id=MHC57\|title=MHC57}}	Sold for scrap 2014.
{{USS\|Black Hawk\|MHC-58\|2}}	MHC-58	Intermarine USA	1996–2007	{{Naval Vessel Register URL\|id=MHC58\|title=MHC58}}	Sold for scrap 2014.
{{USS\|Falcon\|MHC-59\|2}}	MHC-59	Intermarine USA	1997–2006	{{Naval Vessel Register URL\|id=MHC59\|title=MHC59}}	Sold to the Republic of China (Taiwan) Navy
{{USS\|Cardinal\|MHC-60\|2}}	MHC-60	Intermarine USA	1997–2007	{{Naval Vessel Register URL\|id=MHC60\|title=MHC60}}	Sold to the Egyptian Navy, renamed as al Sedeeq (MHC-521)
{{USS\|Raven\|MHC-61\|2}}	MHC-61	Intermarine USA	1998–2007	{{Naval Vessel Register URL\|id=MHC61\|title=MHC61}}	Sold to the Egyptian Navy, renamed as al Farouk (MHC-524)
{{USS\|Shrike\|MHC-62\|2}}	MHC-62	Intermarine USA	1999–2007	{{Naval Vessel Register URL\|id=MHC62\|title=MHC62}}	Sold for scrap 2014.

Notes

References

{{Naval Vessel Register|http://www.nvr.navy.mil/nvrships/s_MHC.htm}}
[http://www.fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/ship/mhc-51.htm 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/

External links

{{cite web

|url = http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/ship/mhc-51.htm

|title = MHC 51 Osprey Coastal Mine Hunters

|publisher = GlobalSecurity.org

|date = 7 July 2011

|access-date = 11 August 2016

|ref = {{sfnRef|GS|2011}}

}}

[http://www.navsource.org/archives/11/04idx.htm NavSource.org: Coastal Minesweeper/Coastal Minehunter Index]

Category:Mine warfare vessel classes