The former HMAS Rushcutter, berthed in Rozelle Bay, New South Wales
| |
Class overview | |
---|---|
Name | Bay |
Operators | ![]() |
Preceded by | Ton-class minesweeper |
Succeeded by | Huon-class minehunter |
In commission | 1986-2001 |
Planned | 6 |
Completed | 2 |
Cancelled | 4 |
Retired | 2 |
General characteristics | |
Type | Minehunter Inshore |
Displacement | 178 tons |
Length | 30.9 m (101 ft) |
Beam | 9 m (30 ft) |
Draught | 2 m (6.6 ft) |
Propulsion | 2 × Poyard 520-V8-S2 diesel generators; 650 hp(m) (478 kW); 2 Schottel hydraulic transmission and steering systems (one to each hull) |
Speed | 10 knots |
Complement | 3 officers, 10 crew |
Sensors and processing systems |
|
Electronic warfare & decoys | MCM: STN Atlas Elektronic MWS80-5 minehunting system (containerized); ECA 38 mine disposal system with two PAP 104 Mk 3 vehicles; Syledis and GPS precision navigation systems. |
Armament |
|
The Bay-class Minehunter Inshores were a class of catamaran-hull mine warfare vessels operating with the Royal Australian Navy from 1986. Also referred to as the MHCAT (MineHunter CATamaran), the class was an attempt to produce a locally designed inshore mine warfare vessel.[1] Two prototype ships were ordered in 1981, with the first ship, Rushcutter, commissioned in November 1986.[1] The two ships experienced delays in construction, and the RAN resorted to acquiring six minesweeper auxiliaries (MSA) under the Craft of Opportunity Program to provide an interim mine-warfare capability, while also keeping Ton-class minesweeper HMAS Curlew in service until 1990, well beyond her intended decommissioning date.[1][2] The ships did not enter service until 1993, due to problems with the sonar.[3]