Hunt-class

Summary

Description

The Hunt class encompasses thirteen mine countermeasure vessels of the Royal Navy, initially designed to undertake both the roles of traditional minesweeping as well as active minehunting in one hull. Although built with this dual-purpose capability, the vessels eventually saw their minesweeping equipment removed. Alongside their primary function, they also serve as offshore patrol vessels.

Introduced in the early 1980s, these vessels were noteworthy for being the largest warships at the time to be constructed from glass-reinforced plastic. They also hold the distinction of being the last to employ the Napier Deltic diesel engine. The ships were primarily built by Vosper Thornycroft in Woolston, with the exceptions of Cottesmore and Middleton, constructed by Yarrow Shipbuilders Limited on the River Clyde. The last ship launched of this class was the Quorn.

Over the years, several ships from the Hunt class were transferred to other navies or decommissioned. The remaining vessels underwent an extensive refit program initiated by BAE Systems in 2008, to replace the aging Napier Deltic engines with contemporary Caterpillar CAT C32 engines. This upgrade, completed in 2018, also included new gearboxes, bow thrusters, propellers, and control systems.

These ships possess advanced technology for mine countermeasures, notable for their use of Sonar Type 2193, which is deemed the most efficient mine hunting sonar currently in service worldwide, capable of detecting and identifying objects as small as a football from up to 1,000 meters away. Additionally, they employ the Seafox drone, a modern mine disposal system that was demonstrated by Chiddingfold during Exercise Neptune Warrior off Scotland. The Seafox system is a significant asset, capable of nullifying mines at depths reaching 300 meters.

Technical specifications