Oak, Douglas fir, and Nootka cypress under fiberglass gave the Avenger class a strong, low-magnetic hull suited to operating near mines. The Royal Navy's Hunt and Sandown classes pursued pure fiberglass instead, gaining a more refined hull at the cost of greater research and investment. Mine countermeasures received less priority in the US Navy than in navies willing to fund that specialized development. Proven wooden construction therefore delivered the required blast resistance and magnetic signature without paying for the most advanced possible hull.
Chapter · 42:30-45:32
Why the Avenger class used wooden hulls in the 1980s
The Avenger-class mine countermeasures ships used fiberglass-coated wood for blast resistance and a low magnetic signature.