 Two prototype ships were ordered in 1981, with the first ship, "Rushcutter", commissioned in November 1986.The two ships experienced delays in construction, and the RAN resorted to acquiring six minesweeper auxiliaries (MSA) under the Craft of Opportunity Program to provide an interim mine-warfare capability, while also keeping minesweeper in service until 1990, well beyond her intended decommissioning date.The ships did not enter service until 1993, due to problems with the sonar.