Avenger class mine countermeasures ship

Avenger-class mine countermeasures ships are a class of 14 ships constructed by the United States Navy

United States Navy

The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...

1987–1994. The ships are designed to clear mines

Naval mine

A naval mine is a self-contained explosive device placed in water to destroy surface ships or submarines. Unlike depth charges, mines are deposited and left to wait until they are triggered by the approach of, or contact with, an enemy vessel...

from vital waterways. The ships have the hull designator

Hull classification symbol

The United States Navy, United States Coast Guard, and United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration use hull classification symbols to identify their ship types and each individual ship within each type...

MCM.

Background

In the early 1980s, the U.S. Navy began development of a new mine countermeasures (MCM) force, which included two new classes of ships and minesweeping helicopters. The vital importance of a state-of-the-art mine countermeasures force was strongly underscored in the Persian Gulf

Persian Gulf

The Persian Gulf, in Southwest Asia, is an extension of the Indian Ocean located between Iran and the Arabian Peninsula.The Persian Gulf was the focus of the 1980–1988 Iran-Iraq War, in which each side attacked the other's oil tankers...

during the eight years of the Iran-Iraq war

Iran-Iraq War

The Iran–Iraq War was an armed conflict between the armed forces of Iraq and Iran, lasting from September 1980 to August 1988, making it the longest conventional war of the twentieth century...

, and in Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm

Gulf War

The Persian Gulf War , commonly referred to as simply the Gulf War, was a war waged by a U.N.-authorized coalition force from 34 nations led by the United States, against Iraq in response to Iraq's invasion and annexation of Kuwait.The war is also known under other names, such as the First Gulf...

in 1990 and 1991 when the Avenger

USS Avenger (MCM-1)

USS Avenger is the lead ship of her class of mine countermeasures ship, and the third U.S. Navy ship of that name.-Service history:...

and Guardian

USS Guardian (MCM-5)

USS Guardian , an , is the second U.S. Navy ship of that name.Guardian was laid down on 8 May 1985 by the Peterson Builders Inc., Sturgeon Bay, Wisc.; launched on 20 June 1987; and commissioned on 16 December 1989....

ships conducted MCM operations.

Avenger-class ships are designed as mine hunter-killers capable of finding, classifying, and destroying moored and bottom mine

Naval mine

s. The last three MCM ships were purchased in 1990, bringing the total to 14 fully deployable, oceangoing Avenger-class ships. These ships use sonar

Sonar

Sonar is a technique that uses sound propagation to navigate, communicate with or detect other vessels...

and video systems, cable cutters and a mine-detonating device that can be released and detonated by remote control. They are also capable of conventional sweeping

Minesweeper (ship)

A minesweeper is a small naval warship designed to counter the threat posed by naval mines. Minesweepers generally detect then neutralize mines in advance of other naval operations.-History:...

measures.

Hull design

The hulls of the Avenger-class ships are constructed of wood

Wood

Wood is a hard, fibrous tissue found in many trees. It has been used for hundreds of thousands of years for both fuel and as a construction material. It is an organic material, a natural composite of cellulose fibers embedded in a matrix of lignin which resists compression...

with an external coat of glass-reinforced plastic

Glass-reinforced plastic

Fiberglass , is a fiber reinforced polymer made of a plastic matrix reinforced by fine fibers of glass. It is also known as GFK ....

. The wood used is oak

Oak

An oak is a tree or shrub in the genus Quercus , of which about 600 species exist. "Oak" may also appear in the names of species in related genera, notably Lithocarpus...

, Douglas-fir

Douglas-fir

Douglas-fir is one of the English common names for evergreen coniferous trees of the genus Pseudotsuga in the family Pinaceae. Other common names include Douglas tree, and Oregon pine. There are five species, two in western North America, one in Mexico, and two in eastern Asia...

and Nootka Cypress

Callitropsis nootkatensis

Nootka Cypress , formerly Cupressus nootkatensis, Xanthocyparis nootkatensis or Chamaecyparis nootkatensis, is a cypress with a chequered taxonomic and nomenclatural history. This species goes by many common names including Nootka Cypress, Yellow Cypress, and Alaska Cypress...

because of their flexibility and strength and low weight. This construction allows the hull to withstand a nearby blast from a naval mine

Naval mine

and also gives the ship a low magnetic signature.

Mine countermeasures systems

The ships use AN/SLQ-48 remotely operated mine disposal system supplied by Alliant Techsystems

Alliant Techsystems

Alliant Techsystems Inc., most commonly known by its ticker symbol, ', is one of the largest aerospace and defense companies in the United States with more than 18,000 employees in 22 states, Puerto Rico and internationally, and 2010 revenues in excess of an estimated...

(ATK) and the EX116 Mod 0 remotely operated vehicle

Remotely operated vehicle

A remotely operated vehicle is a tethered underwater vehicle. They are common in deepwater industries such as offshore hydrocarbon extraction. An ROV may sometimes be called a remotely operated underwater vehicle to distinguish it from remote control vehicles operating on land or in the air. ROVs...

(ROV) mine neutralization system supplied by ATK and Raytheon

Raytheon

Raytheon Company is a major American defense contractor and industrial corporation with core manufacturing concentrations in weapons and military and commercial electronics. It was previously involved in corporate and special-mission aircraft until early 2007...

.
The AN/SLQ-48 detects, locates, classifies, and neutralizes moored mines and mines resting on the seabed. The vehicle uses high-frequency, high-resolution sonar, low light level television (LLLTV), cable cutters, and explosive charges to detect and dispose of mines, while remaining tethered to the vessel by a 1070 m cable and under control of the vessel.

The ATK/Raytheon ROV is a similar system but has a slightly longer tether cable (1500 m) and also carries cable cutters for dealing with tethered or moored mines, and explosive charges to detonate the mines.

Sensor systems

The ships employ the AN/SQQ-32 advanced minehunting and classification sonar

Sonar

Sonar is a technique that uses sound propagation to navigate, communicate with or detect other vessels...

from Raytheon and Thales Underwater Systems

Thales Underwater Systems

Thales Underwater Systems , formerly known as Thomson Marconi Sonar, is an international defence manufacturer specialising in sonar systems for submarines, surface warships, and aircraft as well as communications masts and systems for submarines. TUS is a subsidiary of Thales Naval, part of the...

(formerly Thomson Marconi Sonar

Thomson Marconi Sonar

Thomson Marconi Sonar was formed as Ferranti Thomson Sonar Systems in 1990 by the merger of the sonar systems businesses of Thomson-CSF and Ferranti...

). The system has two sonars fitted in a small submersible pod towed behind the ship. When not deployed the submersible is housed in a trunk below the deck of the ship. The sonars are a Raytheon search and detection sonar and a Thales high-resolution, high-frequency, target-classification sonar. The deployment and retrieval system for the submersible was designed by the Charles Stark Draper Laboratory

Charles Stark Draper Laboratory

Draper Laboratory is an American not-for-profit research and development organization in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Draper focuses on the design, development, and deployment of advanced technology solutions to problems in national security, space exploration, health care and energy.Originally...

in Massachusetts.

The Avenger class employ the AN/SPS-55

AN/SPS-55

The AN/SPS-55 is a solid state surface search and navigation radar. It was developed by Cardion Electronics for the U.S. Navy under a contract awarded in 1971. It was originally developed for a class of ships known as Patrol Frigates, but it was also installed on numerous Cruisers, Destroyers and...

surface-search and navigation radar

Radar

Radar is an object-detection system which uses radio waves to determine the range, altitude, direction, or speed of objects. It can be used to detect aircraft, ships, spacecraft, guided missiles, motor vehicles, weather formations, and terrain. The radar dish or antenna transmits pulses of radio...

supplied by Cardion, Inc. of New York. The ships have been equipped with CMC Electronics

CMC Electronics

CMC Electronics Inc. is a Canadian electronics company. The company's corporate head office is located in Montreal, Quebec, with additional facilities located in Ottawa, Ontario and Sugar Grove, Illinois.- History :...

LN66 or Raytheon AN/SPS-66 navigation radars, but are slated to be upgraded with the AN/SPS-73.

Propulsion

The Avenger-class ships are equipped with four Waukesha Motors Co. diesel engine

Diesel engine

A diesel engine is an internal combustion engine that uses the heat of compression to initiate ignition to burn the fuel, which is injected into the combustion chamber...

s (MCM 1 and 2) or Isotta-Fraschini

Isotta-Fraschini

Isotta Fraschini represents two Italian manufacturing companies which produce, respectively, marine engines and luxury goods. In the early 20th century it was famous worldwide as a luxury car manufacturer.-History:...

ID 36SS6V diesel engines (remainder), which are designed to have very low magnetic and acoustic signature

Acoustic signature

Acoustic signature is used to describe a combination of acoustic emissions of ships and submarines.-Contributing factors:The acoustic signature is made up of a number of individual elements...

s. Each engine develops 600 horsepower (447.4 kW) (combined 1.79 MW) sustained power, providing a cruising speed of 14 knots (27.4 km/h) with controllable pitch propeller

Controllable pitch propeller

A controllable pitch propeller or variable pitch propeller is a type of propeller with blades that can be rotated around their long axis to change their pitch...

s. For stationkeeping

Nautical stationkeeping

Station keeping in a nautical situation is when a vessel is to:* maintain a position in relation to another moving vessel or vessels, such as when** conducting underway replenishment or** part of a task force or convoy...

the ship uses two Hansome electric motors rated at 294 kW. Precision maneuvering capability is provided by a 257 kW Omnithruster hydrojet.

Ships

Ship	Hull No.	Commissioned	Builder	Home Port	NVR Page
Avenger USS Avenger (MCM-1) USS Avenger is the lead ship of her class of mine countermeasures ship, and the third U.S. Navy ship of that name.-Service history:...	MCM-1	1987	Peterson Shipbuilders	Sasebo Sasebo, Nagasaki is a city located in Nagasaki Prefecture, Japan. As of 2011, the city has an estimated population of 259,800 and the density of 609 persons per km². The total area is 426.47 km². The locality is famed for its scenic beauty. The city includes a part of Saikai National Park... , Japan	MCM01
Defender USS Defender (MCM-2) USS Defender is an Avenger-class mine countermeasures ship in the service of the United States Navy.-Construction and commissioning:...	MCM-2	1989	Marinette Marine Marinette Marine Marinette Marine Corporation is a shipbuilding firm in Marinette, Wisconsin. MMC was a subsidiary of Manitowoc Marine Group, also in Wisconsin, but was sold to Fincantieri Marine Group in 2009...	Sasebo, Japan	MCM02
Sentry USS Sentry (MCM-3) USS Sentry , an Avenger-class mine countermeasures ship, is the second U.S. Navy ship of that name. Sentry was laid down on 8 October 1984 by Peterson Builders in Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin; launched on 20 September 1986 and commissioned on 2 September 1989.Her homeport is Naval Base San Diego.-...	MCM-3	1989	Peterson Shipbuilders	San Diego, California	MCM03
Champion USS Champion (MCM-4) USS Champion , an Avenger-class mine countermeasures ship, is the fourth U.S. Navy ship of that name.Champion was laid down on 28 June 1984 at Marinette Marine Corporation, Marinette, Wisconsin; launched on 15 April 1989; and commissioned on 8 February 1991...	MCM-4	1991	Marinette Marine	San Diego, California	MCM04
Guardian USS Guardian (MCM-5) USS Guardian , an , is the second U.S. Navy ship of that name.Guardian was laid down on 8 May 1985 by the Peterson Builders Inc., Sturgeon Bay, Wisc.; launched on 20 June 1987; and commissioned on 16 December 1989....	MCM-5	1989	Peterson Shipbuilders	Sasebo, Japan	MCM05
Devastator USS Devastator (MCM-6) USS Devastator is an Avenger-class mine countermeasures ship of the United States Navy.Construction of Devastator began on 9 February 1987 when her keel was laid at Peterson Shipbuilders in Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin. Construction was finished and the vessel was launched on 11 June 1988...	MCM-6	1990	Peterson Shipbuilders	San Diego, California	MCM06
Patriot USS Patriot (MCM-7) USS Patriot , an , is the third U.S. Navy ship of that name.Patriot was launched 15 May 1990 by Marinette Marine in Marinette, Wisconsin, and commissioned 13 December 1991 in Charleston, South Carolina. Commander Michael J. O'Moore, a native of Brooklyn, New York, was the commissioning Commanding...	MCM-7	1991	Marinette Marine	Sasebo, Japan	MCM07
Scout USS Scout (MCM-8) The fourth USS Scout is an Avenger-class mine countermeasures ship in the service of the United States Navy.-Service history:Scout was laid down on 8 June 1987 at Peterson Builders in Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin...	MCM-8	1990	Peterson Shipbuilders	Manama Manama Manama is the capital and largest city of Bahrain, with an approximate population of 155,000 people.Long an important trading center in the Persian Gulf, Manama is home to a very diverse population... , Bahrain	MCM08
Pioneer USS Pioneer (MCM-9) USS Pioneer , an , is the ninth ship of the class, and the second U.S. Navy ship of that name.Pioneer was laid down by Peterson Builders, Inc., Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin, on 5 June 1989. Mrs. Sally McGuire Tobin christened the ship on 25 August 1990...	MCM-9	1992	Peterson Shipbuilders	San Diego, California	MCM09
Warrior USS Warrior (MCM-10) USS Warrior is an Avenger-class mine countermeasures ship in the service of the United States Navy.The Avenger-class ships were designed to have very low acoustic and magnetic signatures to avoid detonating mines. While most modern warships have steel hulls, the Avengers have wooden hulls with an...	MCM-10	1993	Peterson Shipbuilders	San Diego, California	MCM10
Gladiator USS Gladiator (MCM-11) USS Gladiator , an Avenger-class mine countermeasures ship, is the third U.S. Navy ship of that name.The ship was featured in Mega Movers when it was transported to Bahrain on top of a heavy lift ship.-External links:*****...	MCM-11	1993	Peterson Shipbuilders	Manama, Bahrain	MCM11
Ardent USS Ardent (MCM-12) The third USS Ardent is an Avenger-class mine countermeasures ship in the United States Navy.She was built by Peterson Shipbuilders, Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin. Ardent is homeported at Bahrain and is part of the U.S...	MCM-12	1994	Peterson Shipbuilders	Manama, Bahrain	MCM12
Dextrous USS Dextrous (MCM-13) USS Dextrous is an Avenger-class mine countermeasures ship in the United States Navy.She was built by Peterson Shipbuilders, Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin. Dextrous is homeported in Bahrain and is part of the U.S...	MCM-13	1994	Peterson Shipbuilders	Manama, Bahrain	MCM13
Chief USS Chief (MCM-14) USS Chief is an Avenger-class mine countermeasures ship in the United States Navy. She was named for Chief Petty Officers.She was built by Peterson Shipbuilders, Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin. Avenger is homeported in San Diego, California and is part of the U.S. Pacific Fleet.The ship failed its INSURV...	MCM-14	1994	Peterson Shipbuilders	San Diego, California	MCM14

External links

Photographs

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