OSPREY class

In the mid-1980s, the fleet of coastal countermines vessels was far below what was desirable in the US Navy. Immediately a class of ships was commissioned, they were based on the Italian Lerici class of minehunters. An agreement was signed with the Italian Intermarine company that bought the Sayler Marine Corporation of Savannah, Georgia, becoming Intermarine USA. This company built 8 of the 12 contracted vessels, with the other 4 ships being manufactured by Avondale Gulfport. From 1993 to 1999 the twelve ships of the Osprey class came into service, which can be used as minehunters or minesweepers, but not both missions at the same time, since they assemble different equipment for each task. The Osprey ships are built in fiberglass or GRP of great resistance, and have a “well” for the AN/SQQ-32 (V) variable depth sonar that is used together with a AN/SLQ-48 ROV, (remotedly operated underwater vehicle), to neutralize bottom and moored mines. The Osprey class had a very short life within the US Navy since all ships were removed from service between 2006 and 2007, with six of them sold to other Navies and scrapping the remaining six ships.

OSPREY class gallery and more info