 The former HMAS Rushcutter, berthed in Rozelle Bay, New South Wales
| |
| Class overview | |
|---|---|
| Name | Bay |
| Operators |  Royal Australian Navy |
| 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 |
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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]