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NavSource Online: Mine Warfare Ship Photo Archive

Courtesy of Mike Smolinski

Pioneer (MCM 9)

Call sign:
November - Papa - November - Romeo

Avenger Class Mine Countermeasures Ship:

Laid down 5 June 1989 at Peterson Builders, Incorporated, Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin

Launched 25 August 1990

Commissioned 1 September 1992.

Specifications:

Displacement 1,253 t. (lt), 1,367 t. (fl)

Length 224'

Beam 39'

Draft 15'

Speed 13.5 kts.

Complement 82

Armament: Two M2HB .50 cal. machine guns, two M60 7.62mm machine guns and two Mk 19 grenade launchers

Propulsion: Four 600bhp Isotta Fraschini diesel engines, two controllable reversible pitch propellers, two electric light load propulsion motors, two shafts

Auxiliary Systems: Three Isotta Fraschini ship service diesel generator sets, one solar gas turbine generator, one omnithruster bow thruster system

Electronic systems: One AN/SSN-2 Precise Integrated Navigation System (PINS), one AN/SQQ-32 Mine Hunting Sonar, one AN/SPS-55 Surface Radar. one AN/WSN-2 Gyro Compass

Mine Countermeasure Equipment Suite: One AN/SLQ-48 (V) Mine Neutralization System, one AN/SQL-37 (V) 3 Magnetic/Acoustic Influence Minesweeping Gear, Oropesa type 0 size 1 Mechanical Sweep Equipment, MDG

1701 Marconi Magnetometer Degaussing System.

Size	Image Description	Source
57k	c. 1993/1994 Ardent (MCM 12), Pioneer, Gladiator (MCM 11), and Warrior (MCM 10) at Peterson Builders.	Bob Daly/PC-1181
74k	-	-
320k	10 December 2002 Seaman Apprentice Luke Simowitz maintains course while on watch as helmsman aboard the ship while conducting exercises near San Diego, Calif. U.S. Navy photo 021210-N-8029P-001 by Photographer’s Mate 3rd Class Ramon Preciado	Bill Gonyo
233k	10 December 2002 Chief Quartermaster Michael Romer and Mineman 3rd Class Drew Anaya plot fixes on a navigational chart as the ship departs San Diego Bay. U.S. Navy photo 021210-N-8029P-002 by PH3 Ramon Preciado	Robert M. Cieri
294k	10 December 2002 Pioneer departs San Diego Bay, Point Loma can be seen to starboard, as Quartermaster 3rd Class Russell Hauck takes visual bearings using an alliade. An alidade is used to determine bearings on geographical references or other surface vessels to maintain safe navigation of the ship. U.S. Navy photo 021210-N-8029P-003 by PH3 Ramon Preciado
311k	10 December 2002 An AN/SLQ-48 Mine Neutralizer is hoisted over the side for a planned mine sweeping exercise off San Clemente Island. U.S. Navy photo 021211-N-8029P-012 by PH3 Ramon Preciado
203k	10 December 2002 An AN/SLQ-48 Mine Neutralizer is hoisted over the side for a planned mine sweeping exercise off San Clemente Island. U.S. Navy photo 021211-N-8029P-018 by PH3 Ramon Preciado
221k	23 September 2005 Ingleside, TX In preparation of Hurricane Rita, mine countermeasures ships home ported at Naval Station Ingleside nest in a modified mooring. Ships present (left to right): Unknown, Scout (MCM 8), unknown, Sentry (MCM 3), Champion (MCM 4), Pioneer, Chief (MCM 14), Gladiator (MCM 11), Avenger (MCM 1) and Defender (MCM 2). U.S. Navy photo 050923-N-4913K-006 by Fifi Kieschnick
140k	22 October 2006 Key West, FL	DC1(SW/SS) David Johnston, USNR MCM Crew Implicit
332k	14 May 2007 Aransas Pass, TX
297k
277k
118k	c. 2007 Naval Station Ingleside, TX Navy MSO Association Reunion	Tommy Trampp
230k	Departing Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam on 7 July 2010, to support Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) 2010 exercises. RIMPAC is a biennial, multinational exercise designed to strengthen regional partnerships and improve multinational interoperability U.S. Navy News Service photo 100707-N-6854D-014 by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Jon Dasbach	Robert Hurst
612k	Devastator (MCM 6) and Pioneer and the amphibious dock landing ship USS Comstock (LSD-45) are underway near Hawaii on 18 July 2010 to participate in RIMPAC 2010 U.S. Navy photo 100718-N-7200S-100 by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Benjamin Stevens
171k	Returning to Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam on 29 July 2010 after participating in RIMPAC 2010 exercises U.S. Navy photo 100729-N-6674H-002 by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Paul D. Honnick
263k	Departing Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam on 29 July 2010 after participating in RIMPAC 2010 exercises U.S. Navy photo 100729-N-0641S-045 by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Jason Swink
180k	30 July 2012 Pioneer transits the Arabian Sea. Pioneer is assigned to Commander, Task Force (CTF) 52, supporting mine countermeasure operations in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility U.S. Navy photo 120730-N-AZ513-040 by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class John Callahan	Lee Wahler
232k	24 February 2013 Khalifa Bin Salman Pier, Bahrain Pioneer and USS Warrior (MCM 10) rest atop merchant vessel Super Servant III as it slowly rises to the surface during a heavy lift operation. Super Servant III will provide long distance transport to a new location for both U.S. Navy ships. Pioneer and Warrior were assigned to Commander, Task Force 52 and promoted mine counter-measure operations in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility U.S. Navy photo 130224-N-CG436-018 by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Michael Scichilone	Ron Reeves
283k	25 February 2013 Khalifa Bin Salman Pier, Bahrain USS Warrior (MCM 10) and Pioneer undergo the sea-fastening phase of a heavy lift operation aboard the heavy lift ship Super Servant III. The sea-fastening phase secures the ships in place for long-distance ocean transits. Warrior will be heading to Commander, Fleet Activities Sasebo, Japan, and Pioneer will be heading to Naval Station San Diego U.S. Navy photo 130225-N-PV215-044 by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Bryan Blair	Ron Reeves

Commanding Officers
01	LCDR Jerald Ballance, USN	7 December 1992 - February 1994
02	LCDR William Richard Edwards, USN	February 1994 - 4 November 1995
03	LCDR Jonathan James Olson, USN	4 November 1995 - 10 January 1996
04	LCDR Thomas Marvin Clemons, III, USN	10 January 1996 - July 1996
05	LCDR Glenn Michael Irvine, USN	July 1996 - 8 October 1996
06	LCDR Stephen Joseph Bowdren, USN	8 October 1996 - 11 January 1997
07	LCDR Shaun Gillilland, USN	11 January 1997 - 3 October 1997
08	LCDR James Robert Boorujy, USN	3 October 1997 - 19 March 1998
09	LCDR Kevin Peter Campbell, USN	19 March 1998 - 23 October 1998
10	LCDR William Claiborne Harris, USN	23 October 1998 - 11 February 1999
11	CDR James Robert Boorujy, USN	11 February 1999 - 25 June 1999
12	LCDR Rodelio (Rudy) Laco, Jr., USN	25 June 1999 - 12 January 2000
13	LCDR William Claiborne Harris, USN	12 January 2000 - 2000
14	LCDR Samuel Reginald Murr Norton, USN	2000 - 7 December 2001
15	LCDR Jeffrey W. James, USN	7 December 2001 - 30 October 2003
16	LCDR Lance Christopher Esswein, USN	30 October 2003 - 1 November 2004
17	LCDR Scott Joseph Shepard, USN	1 November 2004 - 10 December 2004
18	LCDR Adolfo Hernaldo Ibarra, USN	10 December 2004
22	LCDR Quinn David Skinner, USN	2008
23	LCDR Kitja Horpayak, USN	2009
24	LCDR Mark Bryan Stefanik, USN	2009 - 10 July 2009
25	LCDR Samantha Dee Baldwin, USN	10 July 2009 - 12 March 2010
26	LCDR Spencer P. Austin, USN	12 March 2010 - August 2010
27	LCDR Martin J. Holguin, USN	August 2010 - 27 October 2011
28	LCDR Daniel Lee Shorter, II, USN	27 October 2011
29	LCDR Courtney Marie Minetree, USN	2011


Courtesy Wolfgang Hechler, Ron Reeves and Joe Radigan

There is no DANFS history available for Pioneer (MCM-9)

Additional Resources and Web Sites of Interest
Official Navy Web Site for USS Pioneer (MCM-9)
Naval Minewarfare Association
Association of Minemen

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This page created by Gary P. Priolo and maintained by Joe Radigan