The USS Cardinal is an American Osprey Class mine hunter. The Osprey Class ships are the world's largest glass reinforced plastic (GRP) ships and are the first United States Navy ships designed solely for minehunting. The technique used to locate mines is by high definition sonar and the mines are neutralised with a remotely controlled underwater vehicle. The platform has been designed with exceptionally low magnetic and acoustic signatures to protect against mine detonations during minehunting operations. The ship has two Isotta Franschini ID 36 SS 8V AM diesel engines which provide 1,600 hp and drive two Voith Schneider cycloidal propellers for increased manoeuvrability. The non magnetic diesel engines are similar to those used in the US Navy's Avenger Class Mine Countermeasures Vessels. The three diesel generators are Isotta Fraschini ID 36. The machinery is acoustically isolated and suspended from the main deck in glass reinforced plastic cradles. When an undersea explosion occurs the isolated machinery remains unaffected. For defence, the ship has two 12.7 mm machine-guns. Research Cardinal
Abbreviations
Ships
Research Cardinal