MACHINERY DESIGN FOR THE RAN INSHORE MINEHUNTER [HMAS RUSHCUTTER]

HMAS Rushcutter, the first of two prototype 170t (full load displacement) catamaran inshore minehunters designed by the (Australian) Navy Office in a development programme that started in 1975 (see Abstracts No. 65,731, July 1985; 61,407, Jan. 1984; and 60,951, Nov. 1983), was built by Carrington Slipways Fibreglass Division, Newcastle (New South Wales), and launched in May 1986. She is now undergoing prototype tests and trials in a programme extending to December 1987. The Author (of the Navy Office, Canberra) discusses the characteristics and capabilities required of inshore minehunters and describes Rushcutter's Diesel/hydraulic machinery arrangements. Two modules, housed in a machinery room at main-deck level, each have a Poyaud 520-V8-S2 Diesel engine, of reduced magnetic content, rated at 205 kW at 1800 rpm. Each engine drives a 120 kW Jeumont Schneider alternator (also of reduced magnetic content) off the flywheel end of the crankshaft and a GEC variable-displacement hydraulic propulsion-pump (180 bars) and booster pump (24 bars) off the crankshaft free end. A Dowty Boulton Paul variable-displacement steering-system pump (150 bars) and a Volvo hydraulic davit/winch pump are driven from the engine auxiliary gear-train. The two hydraulically-driven propulsors, one on each hull, are Schottel rudder/propellers, each designed for 110 kW full ahead at 10 knots; their magnetic material content is below 6%. Propeller speed and thrust direction are controlled from the bridge or at the power modules. Advantages of these machinery arrangements include a reduction in the vessel's acoustic and magnetic signatures, improved manoeuvrability at low mine-hunting speeds, and space for the explosives magazine within the hull; there is also a reduction in total machinery weight. The vessel is of grp/foam sandwich construction. Her minehunting equipment includes a hull-mounted sonar, a containerised operations room, and two ROVs. Principal particulars are as given in Abstract No. 60,951.

• Supplemental Notes:
  • Mar. Engrs. Rev., (1986), p. 25 (Nov.) [3 pp., 1 tab., 6 fig.]
• Authors:
  • McGregor, J
• Publication Date: 1986

Language

• English

Subject/Index Terms

• Old TRIS Terms: Rushcutter
• Subject Areas: Marine Transportation;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00691046
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: British Maritime Technology
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Aug 14 1995 12:00AM