USS Osprey (MHC-51)

History of the Osprey (MHC-51)

USS Osprey (MHC 51) was the lead ship of her Osprey class of twelve ships. This class is specifically designed to handle all types of enemy mines by locating, identifying and appropriately destroying them through a suite of specialized sensors (including sonar) and video technology. The type remained in service with the U.S.

Navy throughout the 1990s and was eventually sold or retired from service to make way for the more capable Avenger-class minesweepers.

The Osprey's profile is consistent with the stock grade, with a tall, slender build taking up most of the headroom. Overall, the Osprey is the successor to the Lerici, but with a larger fuselage section. An identifiable main mast is located at the rear of the superstructure and contains various sensors, detection and communication equipment, while the bridge is located at the front with sloping windows. The smoke funnel is cleverly integrated into the design and features a wedge cut to deflect the exhaust.

The design lines are clean and the hull is all fiberglass (to help resist damage when absorbing underwater blasts). The stern is controlled from the lower deck with a supply crane on a special platform.

At full displacement, the USS Osprey can launch 904 tons (some sources even call it 930 tons). A paltry top speed of 10 knots can be achieved, but speed is not an essential attribute of the minehunting genre. Power comes from a set of conventional powertrains including two Voith Schneider vertical (cycloid) propulsion systems, two 1,160 hp Franshini ID36SS6V-AM diesel engines and two hydraulic motors. Quiet operation is achieved through the use of a 180 hp bow thruster.

Five officers supervise up to 46 enlisted personnel for a total of 51 crew members. Total stamina is about 15 days maximum.

Guys like USS Osprey rely on a ton of systems and subsystems to do their job. These include a sonar designed for mine detection and neutralization, a surface search kit and a specialized navigation control system. Self-defense is nothing more than 2 x 12.7mm (0.50 caliber) heavy machine guns.

USS Osprey was first ordered in 1987 and laid by Intermarine USA the following year. She was launched in 1991 and officially commissioned in 1993. After years of faithful service and numerous crew changes, the Osprey was decommissioned in 2006 and written off the same year.

At the time of writing (2013), she awaits her fate in the hands of the U.S. Navy in the Beaumont Reserve Fleet.

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