PBI Launches MCM-10, USS Warrior, Seventh in Series Of 11 For Navy; Lays Keel For MCM-12, USS Ardent

The 224-foot wooden mine countermeasure ship MCM-10 was recently launched at the yard of Peterson Builders, Inc., Sturgeon Bay, Wis.

The sponsor of the ship, Penelope L. Nyquist, wife of Vice Adm.

John W. Nyquist, christened the ship Warrior. Her daughter, Andrea Nyquist, assisted her as maid of honor.

The Honorable Toby Roth, U.S.

Representative for Wisconsin's Eighth Congressional District, gave the keynote address. Additional speakers during the Navy ceremony were Rear Adm. Robert E. Traister, USN, Deputy Commander for Surface Combatants, Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, D.C.; Vice Adm. John W. Nyquist, USN, Assistant Chief of Naval Operations (Surface Warfare) Washington, D.C.; and Capt. Neil Collins, USN, Sturgeon Bay Supervisor of Shipbuilding. Ellsworth L.

Peterson, president of Peterson Builders, gave the welcome address.

The Warrior is the seventh MCM launched at PBI in a series of 11 MCM ships contracted with the U.S. Navy. Peterson Builders is one of the few remaining shipyards with the expertise, facilities and knowledge to construct large wooden ships today. PBI is entering its fifth decade of minecraft ship construction and has built minecraft for 13 different navies around the world.

The mine countermeasure ships accommodate a crew of 81, and are the Navy's largest wooden hulled ship. A wide variety of special skills, equipment and materials are utilized in laminating the ship's major structure from large timbers of Douglas fir, white oak and Alaskan cedar.

The MCM incorporates modern mine countermeasure technology into a specially designed platform which includes low magnetic signature diesel engines, a precise electronic navigation system, a minehunting and classification sonar, and a mine neutralization system.

The MCM mission is to clear the bottom and water volume of mines in coastal and offshore areas. Production of the MCM ships is underscored by an extensive array of tests for shock, noise, vibration and magnetic signature. As a product of dedicated effort and resources, the MCM will fulfill an important role in the long-standing objective to maintain the nation's mine countermeasure capability.

Overall length of the MCM ships is 224 feet. Draft is 11 feet 3 inches and beam measures 38 feet 11 inches. Full load displacement of the ships is 1,250 tons. The MCM is powered by four diesel engines rated at 600 hp per unit. They are equipped with a 350-hp bow thruster, and electric power is furnished by three 60-Hz, 375-kw generators.

MCM-1 Avenger, the lead ship of this new MCM Class built at PBI, is deployed to the Persian Gulf.

MCM-3 Sentry and MCM-5, deliv- ered in 1989, are homeported in San Diego, Calif., and Newport, R.I., respectively.

MCM-6 Devastator was commissioned in October 1990 and is now homeported in Mayport, Fla., along with MCM-8 Scout which was commissioned in December 1990.

MCM-9 Pioneer was launched in Sturgeon Bay in August 1990, and MCM-10 Warrior was launched this past December at the builder's yard. Peterson also has contracts for MCM-11 Gladiator, MCM-12 Ardent, for which the keel was recently laid at the yard, MCM-13 Extrous and MCM-14 Chief, with deliveries scheduled for 1992-1994.

For free literature on the facilities and capabilities of Peterson Builders, Circle 32 on Reader Service Card

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