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Hunt-class mine countermeasures vessel

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HMS Atherstone (M38)
Class overview
Builderslist error: <br /> list (help)
Vosper Thornycroft
Yarrow Shipbuilders Limited
Operatorslist error: <br /> list (help)
 Royal Navy
 Hellenic Navy
Built1978–1988
In commission1979–
Completed13
Laid up2
General characteristics
Displacement750 long tons (762 t)
Length60 m (196 ft 10 in)
Beam9.8 m (32 ft 2 in)
Draught2.2 m (7 ft 3 in)
Propulsion2 shaft Napier Deltic diesel, 3,540 shp
Speed17 knots (20 mph; 31 km/h)
Complement45 (6 officers & 39 ratings)
Sensors and
processing systems
Sonar Type 2193
Armament1 × 40 mm Bofors Mark 9, replaced by 1 × 30 mm MSI DS-30B gun
Noteslist error: <br /> list (help)
Mine counter measures equipment:
SeaFox Mine Disposal System
2 × PAP remotely controlled vehicles (ROV)(under removal)
MS 14 Magnetic loop
Sperry MSSA Acoustic generator
K8 Oropesa sweeps

The Hunt class is a class of thirteen mine countermeasure vessels (MCMV) of the Royal Navy. They combine the separate role of the traditional minesweeper and that of the active minehunter in one hull. They have a secondary role as fisheries patrol vessels.

They are some of the largest warships ever built out of glass-reinforced plastic (second only to the Osprey class) and are the last in operation to use the Napier Deltic diesel engine. All were built by Vosper Thornycroft in Woolston except HMS Cottesmore and Middleton, which were built by Yarrow Shipbuilders Limited on the River Clyde. HMS Quorn was the last ship of the class launched.

The capabilities of the remaining eight vessels of the Hunt Class have been significantly enhanced by the installation of Sonar Type 2193 and the NAUTIS 3 command system. The performance of Sonar 2193 exceeds that of any other mine hunting sonar in service in the world today and is capable of detecting and classifying an object the size of a football up to 1,000 metres [1]. In late 2007 HMS Chiddingfold used Seafox, the Royal Navy's new mine disposal system, during Exercise Neptune Warrior off Scotland. Seafox is described by the MOD as "state of the art fire and forget system, capable of destroying mines in depths of up to 300 metres".

Ships

Name Pennant Builder Launched Commissioned Home port Status (2006)
Royal Navy
Brecon M29 Vosper Thornycroft 1978 1980 HMNB Clyde Training Ship
Ledbury M30 Vosper Thornycroft 1979 1981 HMNB Portsmouth Active
Cattistock M31 Vosper Thornycroft 1981 1982 Portsmouth Active
Cottesmore M32 Yarrow Shipbuilders 1982 1983 Portsmouth Selected for sale to Lithuania
Brocklesby M33 Vosper Thornycroft 1982 1982 Portsmouth Active
Middleton M34 Yarrow Shipbuilders 1983 1984 Portsmouth Active
Dulverton M35 Vosper Thornycroft 1982 1983 Portsmouth Selected for sale to Lithuania
Bicester M36 Vosper Thornycroft 1988 Sold to Greece as Europa
Chiddingfold M37 Vosper Thornycroft 1983 1984 Portsmouth Active
Atherstone M38 Vosper Thornycroft 1986 1986 Portsmouth Active
Hurworth M39 Vosper Thornycroft 1984 1985 Portsmouth Active
Berkeley M40 Vosper Thornycroft 1986 Sold to Greece as Kallisto
Quorn M41 Vosper Thornycroft 1988 1989 Portsmouth Active
Hellenic Navy
Europa M62 Vosper Thornycroft 2001 Salamis Active
Kallisto M63 Vosper Thornycroft Salamis 2000 Active

References