TO BE CHRISTENED AT NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA
The Coastal Mine Hunter, Cormorant (MHC 57), will be christened at 10 a.m.,
Saturday, October 21, 1995, at Avondale Shipyards, Avondale (Greater New
Orleans), Louisiana. Cormorant will be christened by Suzanne Prueher, the
ship's sponsor and wife of Admiral
Joseph W. Prueher, Vice Chief of Naval Operations. Mrs. Prueher will formally
name the ship by breaking a bottle of champagne over the bow, in the age-old
Navy tradition.
Admiral Prueher will be the principal speaker at the ceremony. Other
distinguished guests to attend the ceremony include Mr. Charles L. Tompkins,
Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Navy (Personnel Programs); and Vice Admiral
George R. Sterner, Commander, Naval Sea Systems Command.
Coastal mine hunters are named after birds. Two previous ships have been
named Cormorant. The first, a minesweeper (AM 40 and later ATO 133), served
from 1919-1946, participated in the sweeping of the North Sea mine barrage and
earned one battle star for its World War II service. The second, (AMS 122)
also a minesweeper, served from 1953 to 1970.
Cormorant is the seventh of 12 Osprey class ships scheduled to be built.
Ships of this class are the world's largest mine hunters to be constructed
entirely of fiberglass and are capable of performing reconnaissance,
classification, and neutralization of moored and bottom mines in coastal waters
during worldwide Navy operations "Forward...From the Sea." The ship is armed
with two .50 caliber machine guns, a high definition, variable depth sonar, and
a remotely-operated robotic submarine used to neutralize mines.
Cormorant is 188 feet in length, has a beam of 36 feet, displaces
approximately 895 metric tons (fully loaded) and will carry a crew of five
officers and 46 Sailors. Lieutenant Commander Ronald W. Kennedy, USN, a native
of Jersey City, New Jersey, will be the ship's commanding officer.
Media wishing to attend the ceremony should contact Mr. Ed Winter, Avondale
Industries, Shipyards Division, New Orleans, Louisiana, at (504) 436-5253.
