Huon class minehunter
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 HMAS Diamantina |
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| Class overview | |
|---|---|
| Name: | Huon |
| General characteristics | |
| Type: | Minehunter Coastal |
| Displacement: | 720 tons |
| Length: | 52.5 metres |
| Beam: | 9.9 metres |
| Draught: | 4.87 metres |
| Propulsion: | 1 x 1460 kW Fincantieri GMT Diesel - (Single shaft, controllable pitch propellor) 3 x 124 kW Electro-hydraulic auxiliary propulsion units |
| Speed: | 14 knots (26 km/h) |
| Range: | 1,500 nautical miles (2,800 km) at 12 knots (30% fuel remaining) 2,400 nautical miles (4,400 km) at 10 knots (5% fuel remaining) |
| Complement: | 36-40, maximum 6 officers, 7 senior sailors, 27 junior sailors |
| Sensors and processing systems: |
GEC Marconi 2093 variable depth Sonar |
| Armament: | 1 x 30 mm DS30B rapid fire cannon 2 x .50 calibre machine guns Two SUTEC Double Eagle mine disposal vehicles |
| Notes: | Ships in class include: HMAS Huon (M 82) HMAS Hawkesbury (M 83) HMAS Norman (M 84) HMAS Gascoyne (M 85) HMAS Diamantina (M 86) HMAS Yarra (M 87) |
The Huon class Minehunter Coastal (MHC) ships are a group of minehunters built for the Royal Australian Navy to meet the need for an advanced mine detection platform to secure Australian waters. Based on the Gaeta class minehunters designed for the Italian Navy, the Australian Department of Defence's Sea 1555 project called for similar vessels to be constructed by Australian Defence Industries (ADI), based on the Gaetas, but modified with increased mine warfare capabilities, improved accommodation, and a suitability for Australian conditions. [1]
The A$1 billion contract was awarded to ADI in August 1994, with six Huon class ships built in total; all six were named after famous Australian rivers. All six vessels were built on schedule, with five of the six completely constructed at a site in Newcastle, New South Wales. The hull of HMAS Huon was laid down at the Intermarine SpA Sarzana shipyard in Italy, and was transferred out to ADI's Newcastle facility, arriving on 31 August, 1995. [1] [2] Huon class minehunters are built with a fibre reinforced plastic hull, moulded in a single monocoque skin with no ribs or framework; providing increased shock resistance and a low magnetic signature when compared to conventional metal-hulled vessels.
All six vessels are based at HMAS Waterhen, which serves as the home base of the Mine Warfare and Clearance Diving Group.
As part of the force structure changes arising from the 2003 Defence Capability Review two Huon class ships were deactivated and placed in reserve.[3] While HMAS Huon was deactivated in early 2006[4] she was reactivated later in 2006 and HMAS Hawkesbury's planned deactivation was cancelled so the ships could be used as patrol boats.[5]
[edit] Mine Countermeasures
- Clearance Diving equipment & Cowan 2-man dual compartment recompression chamber
- Oropesa mechanical sweep
- Capable of towing AMASS Influence Sweep
[edit] References
- Huon Class Coastal Minehunters (MHC). Royal Australian Navy. Retrieved on 2007-01-16.
- ^ a b Defence Materiel Organisation - Sea 1555 Project. Department of Defence - Australian Government (2006-06-13). Retrieved on 2007-01-16.
- ^ Huon Class Minehunter Ships. ADI (now Thales Australia). Retrieved on 2007-01-16.
- ^ Defence Capability Review. Minister of Defence (Australia) (2003-11-07). Retrieved on 2007-01-16.
- ^ Michael Brooke. "Huon deactivated", NAVY News (Volume 49, No. 4), 2006-03-23. Retrieved on 2007-01-23.
- ^ Brooke, Michael. "Huons reactivated", Navy News, 2006-06-01. Retrieved on 2007-03-03.
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