The Osprey Class Coastal Mine Hunter Shrike (MHC 62) will be
christened during ceremonies at 9:45 a.m. (EDT), Saturday, May
24, 1997, at Intermarine USA, Savannah, Ga.
Sen. Max Cleland of Georgia will be the principal speaker.
Serving as ship's sponsor
is Janet Gehman, wife of Vice Chief of Naval Operations Adm.
Harold W. Gehman Jr. In the time-honored Navy tradition, Mrs.
Gehman will break a bottle of champagne across the bow and
formally name Shrike.
Ships in the coastal minehunter class are named after North
American birds of prey. One previous ship (1955-1975) was named
Shrike. Originally laid down as AMS-201, the first Shrike's
classification was changed to MSC-201, a minesweeper.
Shrike is the last of 12 Osprey Class ships authorized by
Congress. Ships of this class are the world's largest mine
hunters to be constructed entirely of fiberglass. The ship's
primary mission is reconnaissance, classification, and
neutralization of moored and bottom mines in littoral areas,
harbors and coastal waterways. 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.
Following its commissioning next year, Shrike will join the
fleet with Lt. Cmdr. Henry D. Derbes II, USN, a native of New
Orleans, La., as the commanding officer. The ship will be
homeported in Ingleside, Texas, and has a crew of six officers,
and 46 enlisted personnel.
Shrike measures 188 feet in length, has a beam of 36 feet
and displaces approximately 860 metric tons when fully loaded.
Shrike is capable of reaching a speed of 10 knots.
