Osprey-class

From Citizendium
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This article is developing and not approved.
Main Article
Discussion
Related Articles  [?]
Bibliography  [?]
External Links  [?]
Citable Version  [?]
 
This editable Main Article is under development and subject to a disclaimer.

Osprey-class Coastal Mine Hunters are a class of twelve mine countermeasures vessels built for the United States Navy.[1][2]

USS Shrike
USS Kingfisher
USS Blackhawk
USS Osprey

The vessels were built with fibreglass hulls, to reduce the danger of triggering mines sensitive to the magnetic signature of vessels with conventional steel hulls. The vessels were propelled via Voith Schneider Propellers, because its low acoustic signature helps avoid triggering mines sensitive to the sounds of conventional propellers.

Unlike the minesweepers of some other navies the Osprey Class ships are lightly armed, because they depended on more heavily armed vessels for protection.[3]

Specification[2]
First deployed: 20 Nov 1993 (USS Osprey)
Propulsion: Two diesels (800 hp each); two Voith-Schneider (cycloidal) propulsion systems.
Length: 188 feet (57.3 meters).
Beam: 36 feet (11 meters).
Displacement: 893 tons (907.33 metric tons) full load.
Speed: 10 knots (18.4 kmph).
Crew: 5 officers, 46 enlisted.
Armament: Two .50 caliber machine guns, Mine Neutralization System and other mine countermeasures systems.

References