Éridan class minehunter

The Éridan class is the French Navy's national subclass of the Tripartite minehunter family, built at Arsenal de Lorient and fitted for precise mine countermeasures with hull sonar and PAP 104 vehicles. French Navy material describes the class as a specialist platform for detecting, identifying, and neutralizing submerged mines, with use as a precursor for amphibious and naval-air operations.

Various ConflictsUnspecified

Éridan class minehunter, Minehunter class, Naval Systems

Image source: File:FS Eridan M641 (Dublin April 2017)-126675.jpg - Wikimedia Commons

Profile

Origin: France
Built by: Arsenal de Lorient
Type: Minehunter class
Service note: 1984-present
Developed from: Tripartite-class minehunter

Also Known As

Eridan class minehunter
Eridan class
Éridan-class minehunter
Tripartite-class minehunter

naval maritime mine warfare sonar undersea warfare

Specifications

Length: 51.5 m
Beam: 8.9 m
Displacement: 684 tonnes
Speed: 15 knots
Crew: 45 mariners, including 6 mine-clearance divers
Sensors: 1 navigation radar and 1 hull sonar
Mine countermeasures: 2 PAP 104 submersibles, 1 satellite transmission system, 1 multiplace recompression chamber, and 2 fast boats
Armament: 2 x 12.7 mm machine guns

Service And Conflict Use

Service History

In service: French Navy minehunter class in service from 1984; the French Navy describes the class as a specialist mine countermeasures unit with limited sweeping gear and a precursor role for amphibious or naval-air operations.
Used by: French Navy

Conflict Usage

Side: Unspecified

Éridan-class minehunters are publicly documented as part of French mine-clearance operations during and after the 1991 Gulf War, clearing Iraqi mines off Kuwait.

Documented Mine Countermeasures Context

French Navy material describes the class as a minehunter built to detect, identify, and neutralize submerged mines. The 1991 Kuwait campaign article places French minehunters off the Kuwaiti coast from 30 January 1991.

Fact	Detail
Family	French subclass of the Tripartite minehunter family.
Builder context	Arsenal de Lorient is identified in the class metadata as the builder.
Mine countermeasures fit	Hull sonar, two PAP 104 mine-disposal vehicles, limited sweep gear, and two 12.7 mm machine guns.
Kuwait context	French minehunters joined clearance operations off Kuwaiti coasts from 30 January 1991.

Éridan class minehunter Images

Éridan class minehunter, Minehunter class, Naval Systems - view 1 — Source: File:M641 Eridan and Serenissima in Tallinn Bay 28 May 2015.JPG - Wikimedia Commons

Éridan class minehunter, Minehunter class, Naval Systems - view 2 — Source: File:Eridan Minesweepers.JPG - Wikimedia Commons

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Sources

Chasseurs de mines tripartite - Ministère des ArméesPublisher: Ministère des Armées et des Anciens combattants | Note: Supports the class mission, current French Navy context, length, beam, speed, crew, sonar, PAP 104 fit, and armament details. | Accessed: 2026-06-25 Category:Eridan class minehunters - Wikimedia CommonsPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Supports the class identity as a French subclass of the Tripartite-class minehunters, the French Navy operator context, inception in 1984, and Arsenal de Lorient builder metadata. | Accessed: 2026-06-25 The French Naval Campaign off the Kuwaiti Coasts - Global Studies CenterPublisher: Gulf University for Science and Technology | Note: Supports the French mine-clearance campaign off Kuwait in 1991 and the broader historical context for the class's mine warfare role. | Accessed: 2026-06-25 File:FS Eridan M641 (Dublin April 2017)-126675.jpg - Wikimedia CommonsPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Supports image provenance and licensing context for the primary Éridan-class image. | Accessed: 2026-06-25 File:M641 Eridan and Serenissima in Tallinn Bay 28 May 2015.JPG - Wikimedia CommonsPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Supports gallery image provenance and licensing context for a second Éridan-class image. | Accessed: 2026-06-25 File:Eridan Minesweepers.JPG - Wikimedia CommonsPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Supports gallery image provenance and licensing context for a third Éridan-class image. | Accessed: 2026-06-25