Lerici-class

🇩🇿 Algeria • 🇦🇺 Australia • 🇪🇬 Egypt • 🇫🇮 Finland • 🇬🇷 Greece • 🇮🇹 Italy • 🇱🇹 Lithuania • 🇲🇾 Malaysia • 🇳🇬 Nigeria • 🇹🇼 Taiwan • 🇹🇭 Thailand • 🇹🇷 Turkey • 🇺🇸 United States

The Lerici class is a series of minehunters designed and constructed by Intermarine SpA. The Italian Navy ordered the initial four vessels in 1978, with commissioning taking place in 1985. A second series, often designated as the Gaeta class, followed with orders in 1988 and 1991. The design served as the basis for several export variants and subclasses, including the Mahamiru (Malaysia), Osprey (United States), Huon (Australia), Lat Ya (Thailand), and Katanpää (Finland) classes. The Republic of Korea Navy operates an unlicensed derivative known as the Ganggyeong class.

The vessels are constructed for mine countermeasure operations. The primary propulsion system in the Italian configuration consists of a diesel engine driving a variable-pitch propeller, supplemented by three active rudders for station-keeping during minehunting. The Gaeta subclass incorporates a longer hull and a repositioned communications mast. Design variations exist among export versions; the Malaysian Mahamiru class utilizes two diesel engines and independent shafts, while the United States Osprey class employs cycloidal propellers that eliminate the need for rudders. Standard equipment across the class includes variable depth sonar and remote-operated vehicles (ROVs) for mine investigation and disposal, such as the Pluto and Pluto GIGAS systems. Italian vessels began a mid-life update in 2010, which included the installation of Thales 2093 Mk2 sonar and updated combat management systems.

The Italian Navy commissioned twelve vessels between 1985 and 1996. Decommissioning of the first series began in 2015. The Royal Malaysian Navy received four vessels in 1985, which underwent a service life extension program in 2008 to update their sonar systems. The Nigerian Navy acquired two ships in the late 1980s; these were non-operational by 1996 but entered refurbishment in 2013. The United States Navy operated twelve Osprey-class vessels between 1993 and 2007. Following their decommissioning, hulls were transferred to the navies of Greece, Lithuania, Turkey, Taiwan, and Egypt. The Royal Australian Navy commissioned six Huon-class ships between 1998 and 2002, with decommissioning of the class commencing in 2018. Thailand operates two Lat Ya-class vessels commissioned in 1999. Finland commissioned three vessels between 2012 and 2014, and Algeria operates three ships of the El-Kasseh variant.