MCM-1 Avenger Mine Countermeasures Ships

Overview

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 Return to Top
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 Return to Top
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