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The following was released by the Office of the Assistant to the
Secretary of Defense (Public Affairs):

                                           No. 461-94
                                           (703)697-5342(media)
                                           (703)697-3189(copies)
IMMEDIATE RELEASE      August 4, 1994      (703)697-
                                           5737(public/industry)

   NAVY TO COMMISSION COASTAL MINE HUNTER SHIP HERON (MHC 52)

     The U.S. Navy will commission its newest coastal minehunter,
Heron (MHC 52) in a ceremony to be held on Saturday, August 6,
1994, at the Port of Savannah, Georgia, commencing at 10 a.m.

     This ship is named after a wading bird and commemorates the
service of  two previous minecraft of the same name.  The first
Heron (AM 10) (1918-1946) took part in the sweeping of the North
Sea mine barrage in 1919.  Reclassified as a small seaplane
tender (AVP 2) in 1936, the ship earned four battle stars for
service during World War II.  The second Heron (AMS 18) (1947-
1967) earned eight battle stars for service during the Korean
conflict.

      The ceremony's principal speaker will be Representative
George W. Darden of Georgia.  Also attending the ceremony will be
the ship's sponsor, Mrs. Virginia McRoskey, wife of Leonard
McRoskey, former Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Navy for
Reserve Affairs.

     Heron is the second Osprey class ship scheduled to be
commissioned.  Overall, 12 are authorized by Congress.  Ships of
this class are the world's largest mine hunters to be constructed
entirely of fiberglass and are capable of performing
reconnaissance, classification, and neutralization of moored and
bottom mines in harbors and coastal waterways.  Heron is armed
with two .50 caliber machine guns, a high definition, variable
depth sonar, and a remotely operated robotic submarine used to
neutralize mines.

     Heron measures 188 feet in length, has a beam of 36 feet and
displaces approximately 895 tons (fully loaded).  The ship will
carry a crew of five officers and 46 enlisted personnel.
Lieutenant Commander Daniel I. Gallagher, U.S. Navy, a native of
St. Paul, Minnesota, will be the ship's commanding officer.
                               -USN-