USS Kingfisher (MHC-56)

Summary

USS Kingfisher (MHC-56) was the sixth ship of Osprey-class coastal mine hunters. She is named after the kingfisher.

USS Kingfisher on the Hudson River
USS Kingfisher on the Hudson River, 2003
History
United States
NameUSS Kingfisher
NamesakeKingfisher
Awarded29 March 1991
BuilderAvondale Shipyards
Laid down12 February 1993
Launched18 June 1994
Acquired24 July 1996
Commissioned26 October 1996
Decommissioned1 December 2007
Stricken01 December 2007
FateSold by U.S. General Services Administration for scrap, 08 May 2014
Badge
General characteristics
Class and typeOsprey-class coastal minehunter
Displacement868 tons (light) 955 tons (full)
Length188 ft (57 m)
Beam36 ft (11 m)
Draft11 ft (3.4 m)
PropulsionTwo diesels (800 hp each)
Speed12 knots (22 km/h; 14 mph)
Complement5 officers and 46 enlisted
ArmamentMine neutralization system & two .50 cal (12.7 mm) machine guns

Kingfisher was decommissioned in a joint ceremony along with three other Coastal Mine Hunters. She was the last Coastal Mine Hunter (MHC) in active service with the US Navy. She was transferred to a Naval Inactive Ships Storage Facility in Texas to await transfer under Foreign Military Sales. In September 2010, the US Senate had approved the sale of the ship to India along with USS Cormorant (MHC-57). This sale never happened. Stricken from the Navy list 01 December 2007, sold by U.S. General Services Administration for scrap, 08 May 2014.

References edit

  • This article includes information collected from the Naval Vessel Register, which, as a U.S. government publication, is in the public domain. The entry can be found here.
  • http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/NEWS/newsrf.php?newsid=13487