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NavSource Online: Mine Warfare Ship Photo Archive

Pelican (MHC-53)



Call sign:
November - Kilo - Tango - Hotel


Pelican served the Navies of the United States and Greece



Euniki call sign:
Sierra - Zulu - Zulu - Bravo
Osprey Class Coastal Minehunter:

  • The third Pelican was laid down 6 June 1991 by Avondale Industries Inc., Gulfport, MS
  • Launched 27 February 1993
  • Delivered 11 August 1995
  • Commissioned USS Pelican (MHC 53), 18 November 1995
  • Decommissioned 7 January 2007 at Naval Station, Ingleside, TX and transferred to Greece
  • Commissioned HS Euniki (M-61), 16 March 2007.

    Specifications:

  • Displacement 895 Metric Tons
  • Length 188'
  • Beam 36'
  • Draft (Navigation) 9' 2"
  • Draft (Keel) 7'
  • Speed 10 kts.
  • Complement 51
  • Armament: Two .50 cal. machine guns
  • Propulsion: Two Isotta Fraschini ID36 SS8V-AM diesel engines, two Voith Schneider vertical axis, cycloidal, controllable pitch propellers
  • Electrical Systems: Two ship service diesel generators, one ship service/emergency diesel generator
  • Monocoque Design glass reinforced plastic monohull design. No longitudinal or transverse hull framing. The skin carries all the stresses. The vessel is flexible under shock. Machinery is supported by
    cradles from the main deck
  • Sensors/Navigation Systems: AN/SYQ-13 Navigation, Command & Control System, AN/SPS-64(V)9 surface search radar, AN/SPA-25G radar display; AN/UQN-4A sonar sounding set, AN/WSN-2
    stabilized gyrocompass, Hyper-fix radio navigation system, Plotting table; Loran C, Military global positioning system, AN/BQH-7A expendable bathythermograph set; Mine Countermeasures Systems AN/SLQ-48(V)2 mine neutralization system, AN/SQQ-32 minehunting sonar.
    Click on thumbnail
    for full size image    		 Size Image Description Source
    Pelican (MHC 53)
    Pelican 73k
    Namesake:

    Pelican - Any of a genus of large web-footed birds with a very large bill and distenible gular pouch in which fish are caught

    		 Tommy Trampp
    Pelican 395k 27 February 1993
    Gulfport, MS
    Bunting decorates the bow of the coastal minehunter Pelican as the vessel stands moored to a pier prior to its christening ceremony
    U.S. Navy photo DN-SC-93-05103 courtesy of Avondale Industries    		 Robert M. Cieri
    Pelican 709k 27 February 1993
    Gulfport, MS
    Clarice Tashman, ship's sponsor, breaks the traditional bottle of champagne on the bow of the coastal minehunter Pelican during the vessel's christening ceremony
    U.S. Navy photo DN-SC-93-05104 courtesy of Avondale Industries
    USS Pelican (MHC 53)
    Pelican 106k Naval Minewarfare
    Association
    Heron 363k Photo from Naval History and Heritage Command, Catalog No. L45-244.07.01 Mike Green
    Pelican 120k 20 October 2006
    New Orleans, LA
    A Naval Support Activity (NSA) Security Department Sailor stands anti-terrorism pier security duty as mine warfare ship Pelican prepares to moor. Pelican, homeported at Naval Station Ingleside Texas, made a weekend port call to New Orleans. Its crew worked with Habitat for Humanity and enjoyed the cajun culture of the "Big Easy."
    U.S. Navy photo 061020-N-6528P-001 by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class David Poe    		 Robert M. Cieri
    Pelican 210k 20 October 2006
    New Orleans, LA
    Boatswain's Mate 2nd Class Keir White heaves a line from mine warfare ship Pelican at Naval Support Activity (NSA) New Orleans
    U.S. Navy photo 061020-N-6528P-005 by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class David Poe
    Pelican 240k 23 October 2006
    New Orleans, LA
    Mine warfare ship Pelican passes the MSTS Vehicle Cargo Ship MV Cape Knox (AKR 5082) as she departs from Naval Support Activity (NSA) New Orleans. Pelican conducted a three-day port call to the New Orleans before returning to her homeport.
    U.S. Navy photo 061023-N-6857S-008 by Sam Shore
    HS Euniki (M-61)
    Pelican 85k Photo courtesy of Eugenio Castillo Robert Hurst
    Pelican 500k 20 March 2009
    Arriving at La Spezia, Italy    		 Carlo Martinelli
    Pelican 272k c. 2010
    Off Toulon, France
    Photo courtesy of Sergio Acosta    		 Robert Hurst
    Pelican 184k 6 January 2012
    Piraeus, Greece    		 George Haralampudes
    Pelican 135k
    Commanding Officers
    01LCDR Kevin Thomas Holden, USN18 November 195 - 7 February 1997
    02LCDR Kenneth B. Conley, USN7 February 1997 - 10 October 1998
    03LCDR Scott Stephen Gordon, USN - USNA Class of 198410 October 1998 - 9 August 2000
    04CDR Carol Ann Hottenrott, USN9 August 2000 - 12 February 2002
    05LCDR John Ernest Shassberger, USN12 February 2002 - 23 January 2004
    06LCDR Keith Allen Knutsen, USN23 January 2004 - 1 November 2004
    07LCDR Thomas Patrick Hollingshead, USN1 November 2004 - 10 February 2006
    08LCDR Derek Andrew Trinque, USN - USNA Class of 1992
    Awarded three Legions of Merit, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, three Navy Meritorious Service Medals, two Navy/Marine Corps Commendation Medals, two Navy/Marine Corps Achievement Medals and the Combat Action Ribbon - RADM (LH) Currently serving (2022) as Commander, Expeditionary Strike Group Seven; Commander, Task Force 76; and Commander, Amphibious Force, Seventh Fleet, Yokosuka, Japan    		10 February 2006 - 2 June 2006 (Crews Valor and Excel)
    09LCDR Antonio D. Hull, USN2 June 2006 - 10 October 2006
    10LCDR James LeRoy Storm, USN - Awarded two Defense Meritorious Service Medals, three Meritorious Service Medals, the Joint Service Commendation Medal, five Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medals, the Joint Service Achievement Medal, and two Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medals10 October 2006 - 10 January 2007
    11LCDR Shanti Rae Sethi, USN10 January 2007 - 16 March 2007
    Courtesy Wolfgang Hechler, Ron Reeves and Joe Radigan
    View the Pelican (MHC 531)
    DANFS History entry located on the Naval History and Heritage Command website
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