Huon-class

The Huon class is a series of six coastal minehunters built for the Royal Australian Navy under Project SEA 1555. Following problems with the Bay-class minehunters — four of six were cancelled after the first two demonstrated sonar and seakeeping deficiencies — a tender was awarded in 1994 to Australian Defence Industries (ADI) partnered with Intermarine SpA, offering a variant of the Italian Gaeta-class design.

The hull of the lead ship, HMAS Huon, was constructed at Intermarine's Sarzana shipyard in Italy and shipped to Australia for fitting out, while the remaining five ships were built entirely at ADI's Newcastle, New South Wales facility. Construction ran from 1994 to 2003, achieving 69% Australian content. The fiberglass hulls are moulded in a single monocoque skin without ribs or framework, minimizing magnetic signature and improving shock resistance. Propulsion combines a Fincantieri diesel motor with three Riva Calzoni azimuth thrusters for precise low-speed mine hunting at 6 knots. The ships carry a GEC-Marconi Type 2093M variable-depth sonar, two Double Eagle mine disposal vehicles, and Oropesa mechanical and Mini-Dyad magnetic influence sweeps.

All six vessels were based at HMAS Waterhen in Sydney. Two were decommissioned in October 2018, and two remain in active service. The class is slated for replacement under the SEA 1905 program, with the Royal Australian Navy considering a modified Arafura-class offshore patrol vessel as a successor platform.