Coastal minehunter

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Coastal Minehunters are ships that are designed to find, classify, and destroy moored and bottom naval mines from vital waterways.

Mine Hunters are different from mine sweepers. The latter ( Mine sweepers)are deployed against older 'Dumb' magnetic mines which are anchored to the sea bed, and float below the surface. Sweepers literally 'sweep' the sea for them.

Mine Hunters, on the other hand, are designed to seek out mines and destroy them one by one. Mine Hunters are therefore used against the more advanced modern mines, which sit on the sea bed, and can be programmed for specific target vessels. Many Mine Hunters can also destroy the older 'Dumb' magnetic mines.

The ships in the US Navy that are coastal minehunters are the Osprey Class ships.