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 during the eight years of the Iran-Iraq war, and in Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm in 1990 and 1991 when the Avenger (MCM 1) and Guardian (MCM 5) ships conducted MCM operations.
Avenger class ships are designed as mine hunter-killers capable of finding, classifying and destroying moored and bottom mines. The mission of MCM 1 class ships is to detect, classify and neutralize all known and projected types of influence and contact mines. There are three primary mission objectives: Minehunting , Mine Neutralization, and Mine Sweeping. The MCM 1 performs precise navigation and clears minefields by sweeping moored, magnetic and acoustic influence mines. The MCM 1 also conducts coordinated operations with airborne and other mine countermeasure forces.
This is the largest US Navy Minesweeper to date. The last three MCM ships were purchased in 1990, bringing the total to 14 fully deployable, oceangoing Avenger class ships. These ships use sonar 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 measures. The ships are constructed of wood covered with Glass Reinforced Plastic (GRP) sheathing. They are the first large mine countermeasures ships built in the United States in nearly 27 years.
Osprey (MHC 51) class ships are also designed as mine hunter-killers. The MHC 51 has a 15-day endurance and depends on a support ship or shore based facilities for resupply.
Four of the 14 Avenger-class MCMs transitioned to the Reserve in FY 1996. These state-of-the-art mine countermeasures ships are homeported in Ingleside, TX along with the rest of the Navy's surface mine warfare assets.
Specifications | |
| Builders | Peterson Shipbuilders, Sturgeon Bay, Wis.; Marinette Marine, Marinette, Wis. |
| Power Plant | Four diesels (600 horsepower each), two shafts with controllable pitch propellers |
| Length | 224 feet (68.28 meters) |
| Beam | 39 feet (11.89 meters) |
| Draft (Navigation) | 15 ft |
| Displacement | 1,312 tons (1,180.8 metric tons) full load |
| Speed | 14 knots (16.1 mph, 25.76 kmph) |
| Crew | 8 officers, 76 enlisted |
| Combat Systems |
AN/SLQ-37 - Magnetic/Acoustic Sweep System AN/SLQ-38 - Mechanical Sweep System AN/SLQ-48 - Mine Neutralization Equipment AN/SQQ-32 - Minehunting Sonar AN/SQQ-30 - Variable Depth Minehunting Sonar AN/SSN-2 - Navigation/Command and Control AN/SSQ-94 - On board Trainer Two .50 caliber machine guns |
| Unit Operating Cost Annual Average | ~$5,000,000 [source: [FY1996 VAMOSC] |
Ships | ||||||
| Name | Number | Builder | Homeport | Ordered | Commissioned | Decommissioned |
| USS Avenger | MCM 1 | Ingleside | 12 Sep 1987 | |||
| USS Defender | MCM 2 | Ingleside | ||||
| USS Sentry | MCM 3 | Ingleside | ||||
| USS Champion | MCM 4 | Ingleside | ||||
| USS Guardian | MCM 5 | Sasebo | ||||
| USS Devastator | MCM 6 | Ingleside | ||||
| USS Patriot | MCM 7 | Sasebo | ||||
| USS Scout | MCM 8 | Ingleside | ||||
| USS Pioneer | MCM 9 | Ingleside | ||||
| USS Warrior | MCM 10 | Ingleside | ||||
| USS Gladiator | MCM 11 | Ingleside | ||||
| USS Ardent | MCM 12 | Manama | ||||
| USS Dextrous | MCM 13 | Manama | ||||
| USS Chief | MCM 14 | Ingleside | ||||
