The Huon class Minehunter Coastal (MHC) ships are a group of minehunters built for the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) to meet the need for an advanced mine detection platform to secure Australian waters.
In 1993, the Department of Defence issued a request for tender for six coastal minehunters to replace the problematic Bay class minehunters, of which four had been cancelled after the first two demonstrated problems with their sonar array and seakeeping capability. According to an article in Jane's International Defence Review published just before the tender was opened, three joint ventures between an Australian and a European company were expected to submit designs: Australian Defence Industries (ADI) and Intermarine SpA with the Gaeta class, Australian Submarine Corporation and Karlskronavarvet (later Kockums) with a lengthened version of the Landsort class, and AMECON and Vosper Thornycroft with the Sandown class. According to the request for tender, the designs had to be modified to operate in Australian conditions, and at least 60% of each ship and her equipment had to be of Australian manufacture.
In August 1994, the Sea 1555 Project was awarded to ADI.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.
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. HMAS Huon was deactivated in early 2006, but was reactivated later in the year, while HMAS Hawkesbury ’s planned deactivation was cancelled so the ships could be used as patrol boats.
Mine Countermeasures
- Clearance Diving equipment & Cowan 2-man dual compartment recompression chamber
- Oropesa mechanical sweep
- Capable of towing AMASS Influence Sweep
References
- "Huon Class". Royal Australian Navy . http://www.navy.gov.au/Huon_Class . Retrieved 2008-09-04 .
- ^ a b c "Australia plans new mine warfare force". Jane's International Defence Review (Jane's Information Group) 26 (6). 1 June 1993.
- ^ a b "Defence Materiel Organisation - Sea 1555 Project". Department of Defence - Australian Government. 2006-06-13 . http://www.defence.gov.au/dmo/msd/sea1555/sea1555.cfm . Retrieved 2007-01-16 .
- ^ "Huon Class Minehunter Ships". ADI (now Thales Australia) . http://www.adi-limited.com/default.asp?page=164 . Retrieved 2007-01-16 .
- ^ "Defence Capability Review". Minister of Defence (Australia). 2003-11-07 . http://www.defence.gov.au/minister/Hilltpl.cfm?CurrentId=3252 . Retrieved 2007-01-16 .
- ^ Brooke, Michael (2006-03-23). "Huon deactivated". Navy News (Volume 49, No. 4) (Royal Australian Navy) . http://www.defence.gov.au/news/navynews/editions/4904/topstories/story13.htm . Retrieved 2007-01-23 .
- ^ Brooke, Michael (2006-06-01). "Huons reactivated". Navy News (Volume 49, No. 9) (Royal Australian Navy) . http://www.defence.gov.au/news/navynews/editions/4909/topstories/story10.htm . Retrieved 2007-03-03 .
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