USS Warrior (MCM 10)

USS WARRIOR is the tenth ship in the AVENGER - class of Mine Countermeasures Ships. In March 2013, the WARRIOR shifted homeport to Sasebo, Japan, to replace her sistership GUARDIAN (MCM 5) which was decommissioned after a grounding.

General Characteristics:	Awarded: February 14, 1989
	Keel laid: September 25, 1989
	Launched: December 8, 1990
	Commissioned: April 7, 1993
	Builder: Peterson Shipbuilders, Sturgeon Bay, Wis.
	Propulsion System: four diesels
	Propellers: two
	Length: 224 feet (68.28 meters)
	Beam: 39 feet (11.89 meters)
	Draft: 11,5 feet (3.5 meters)
	Displacement: 1,312 tons
	Speed: 14 knots
	Armament: Mine neutralization system, two .50 caliber machine guns
	Homeport: Sasebo, Japan
	Crew: 8 Officers, 6 Chief Petty Officers and 58 Enlisted

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Crew List:

This section contains the names of sailors who served aboard USS WARRIOR. It is no official listing but contains the names of sailors who submitted their information.

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USS WARRIOR History:

USS WARRIOR was built as the 10th AVENGER-class mine countermeasures ship and the first United States ship to bear the name. Her keel was laid on September 25, 1989, at Peterson Builders in Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin. She was christened and launched on December 8, 1990, with Mrs. Penelope Nyquist serving as sponsor. USS WARRIOR was commissioned on April 7, 1993.

On February 24, 1995, USS WARRIOR departed Naval Station Ingleside, Texas, for her maiden six-month deployment in the U.S. 6th Fleet area of responsibility. That deployment placed the ship into the European and Mediterranean operating environment where mine countermeasures forces routinely train to ensure access to ports, sea lanes, and chokepoints. One dated visual reference from the period shows USS WARRIOR departing Portsmouth Harbour on April 18, 1995, consistent with a Northern European port call during that first deployment.

On January 2, 2002, USS WARRIOR - along with USS GLADIATOR (MCM 11), USS ORIOLE (MHC 55), USS SHRIKE (MHC 62), and USS CORMORANT (MHC 57) - departed Ingleside to support the USS JOHN F. KENNEDY (CV 67) battle group's Joint Task Force Exercise 02-1. The at-sea training phase ran from January 19-26, 2002, in the waters off the Virginia and North Carolina coasts, a period when large-scale composite training events were central to preparing carrier strike and supporting forces for forward operations in the post-September 11 security environment. The next time USS WARRIOR reappears in a dated operational record is during the mid-2000s: on August 18, 2006, she was documented participating in Panama Exercise 2006 (Panamax 06), a multinational, canal-defense-focused event tailored to protecting the Panama Canal and associated maritime infrastructure against simulated threats, including asymmetric and terrorist-style scenarios. On September 13, 2006, USS WARRIOR returned to Naval Station Ingleside after approximately five weeks of mine countermeasures operations connected to that Panamax activity off Panama. On November 9, 2007, USS WARRIOR completed Gulf of Mexico Exercise 08-2 in the Corpus Christi operating area, a milestone that, in the contemporary description, marked a transition point from a training-focused construct toward fully deployable mine countermeasures readiness.

In early 2009, USS WARRIOR's operational story intersected with a major U.S. basing decision. On March 6, 2009, the commander of U.S. 2nd Fleet announced the first phase of the transfer of mine countermeasures ships from the 2nd Fleet area to the 3rd Fleet area, driven by the Defense Base Relocation and Closure Commission's directed closure of Naval Station Ingleside. USS WARRIOR and USS CHIEF (MCM 14) were identified to sail for a permanent homeport shift, departing in the initial wave beginning March 9. During the transit to the U.S. West Coast, USS WARRIOR was involved in a real-world mariner-assistance event: on April 5, 2009, while commanded by Lt. Cmdr. Joseph D. Femino, she - assisted by USS CHIEF and the Mexican Navy - rescued two fishermen roughly 36 miles off the coast of Mexico. USS WARRIOR arrived at Naval Base San Diego, California, on April 17, 2009, establishing her new Pacific homeport as the Ingleside mine warfare community wound down.

The record then shows a maintenance phase: on November 7, 2011, USS WARRIOR was documented moored at Northrop Grumman Continental Maritime of San Diego for a Selected Restricted Availability, a period typically used to restore and modernize material readiness for continued operations. That maintenance set conditions for a significant operational shift in 2012, when U.S. Central Command requirements for additional mine countermeasures capability in the Middle East drove the movement of several ships by heavy lift rather than self-deployment. On June 23, 2012, USS WARRIOR arrived in Manama, Bahrain, aboard the heavy-lift ship M/V TERN for a seven-month deployment using rotational crews from San Diego to provide continuous manning in the U.S. 5th Fleet operating environment. Within that forward posture, on September 20, 2012, she departed Mina Salman Port for the at-sea phase of International Mine Countermeasures Exercise 2012 in the Arabian Gulf - an event aimed at improving interoperability and tactical proficiency among participating navies in mine countermeasures missions relevant to the region's busy sea lanes and strategic maritime approaches.

In early 2013, USS WARRIOR's command team changed and the ship transitioned again - this time from the 5th Fleet theater to permanent forward deployment in Japan. On February 19, 2013, Lt. Cmdr. Robert M. Laird, Jr. relieved Lt. Cmdr. Matthew T. Erdner as commanding officer of USS WARRIOR (Dominant Crew). On February 25, 2013, U.S. 7th Fleet announced that USS WARRIOR would replace USS GUARDIAN (MCM 5), which had been damaged in a grounding and was slated for decommissioning, with the replacement executed via heavy-lift transportation from Bahrain to Japan. On March 2, 2013, USS WARRIOR - together with USS PIONEER (MCM 9) - departed Khalifa Bin Salman Port in Hidd, Bahrain, after being loaded aboard the Military Sealift Command-chartered heavy-lift ship SUPER SERVANT III on February 24, beginning the long transport to the western Pacific. SUPER SERVANT III made a refueling stop at Galle, Sri Lanka, on March 10, 2013, then arrived in Japan on March 27, 2013. USS WARRIOR arrived in her new homeport at Fleet Activities Sasebo, Japan, on March 31, 2013, completing a major re-basing step that placed her inside the U.S. 7th Fleet's forward-deployed naval forces structure and closer to the Indo-Pacific operating area where regional exercises and allied mine warfare cooperation are frequent and strategically relevant.

Once established at Sasebo, USS WARRIOR resumed a steady pattern of local operations, bilateral training, dockyard periods, and regional exercises. On May 2, 2013, Lt. Cmdr. Kevin S. McCormick, Jr. relieved Lt. Cmdr. Robert M. Laird as commanding officer. USS WARRIOR departed Sasebo for local operations on July 30, 2013, and was underway again from August 29-31, 2013. She returned to Sasebo on October 14, 2013, after a two-week underway period for routine training, then sailed again from November 6-18, 2013. A major maintenance milestone followed: on February 3, 2014, USS WARRIOR entered Dry Dock #2 at SSK Shipyard in Sasebo for a three-month Drydocking Selected Restricted Availability. She undocked on May 9, 2014, marking the end of that docked phase. On July 25, 2014, Lt. Cmdr. Robert C. Biggs relieved Lt. Cmdr. McCormick as commanding officer during a pier-side ceremony at Sasebo. USS WARRIOR returned home on August 15, 2014, after a four-week underway period, then conducted additional local operations from August 28-31, 2014, and again got underway on September 9, 2014.

Her 2014 operational cycle included commemorative and exercise-linked activity around the Korean Peninsula. On September 15, 2014, USS WARRIOR joined Republic of Korea Navy ships in a naval demonstration and reenactment off the coast of Incheon, connected to the anniversary of the 1950 amphibious landing. She returned to Sasebo on September 30, 2014. On October 19, 2014, USS WARRIOR moored at Chinhae Naval Base, Republic of Korea, for a brief port call before participating in the annual mine countermeasures exercise Clear Horizon 2014 from October 20-24, 2014, an event oriented toward improving combined mine warfare readiness in regional waters. On November 25, 2014, USS WARRIOR returned to India Basin at Sasebo after a 12-day underway period, then began 2015 with another underway cycle from January 4-10, 2015. From March 27-April 15, 2015, USS WARRIOR operated in support of a mine countermeasures exercise off Chinhae, Republic of Korea, and she was underway for local operations again from May 13-16, 2015.

In mid-2015, the ship shifted north for a major bilateral mine warfare series with Japan. On July 10, 2015, USS WARRIOR departed Berth 10 at Sasebo for a 25-day underway to participate in Mine Exercise-Explosive Ordnance Disposal Exercise 15-2Ja in Mutsu Bay, Aomori Prefecture. On July 14, 2015, she moored at Chuo Wharf in the port of Hakodate for a scheduled port visit, a recurring feature of northern-Japan mine warfare training periods that combine intensive at-sea work with brief in-port upkeep and crew liberty. USS WARRIOR departed Sasebo again on August 27, 2015, for a week-long underway off the coast of Japan, then conducted another underway period from September 5-14, 2015. On November 6, 2015, Lt. Cmdr. John R. Mateikat relieved Lt. Cmdr. Biggs as commanding officer during a change-of-command ceremony at Berth 9, India Basin.

The 2016 record captures a material-repair storyline alongside continued Korea- and Japan-area operations. On July 15, 2016, USS WARRIOR departed Sasebo for a brief underway to conduct sea trials following emergent repairs to her port-side main reduction gear, which had failed in the prior year. On September 10, 2016, she moored at the port of Incheon, Republic of Korea, for a scheduled port visit before participating in anniversary-linked events tied to the historical landing there. She returned to Sasebo on September 14, 2016. On September 28, 2016, USS WARRIOR returned to Sasebo after a week-long underway for routine training, then conducted local operations from October 3-6, 2016, and entered another extended combined readiness window with Clear Horizon 2016 from October 11-November 9, 2016. Later in 2016, Lt. Cmdr. William J. Carroll assumed command of the ship.

In 2017, USS WARRIOR again aligned with major combined training on the Korean Peninsula. On March 19, 2017, she moored at Pier 11 in Chinhae Naval Base for a scheduled port call ahead of annual joint exercise Foal Eagle, then returned to Sasebo on April 4, 2017. A new command team followed in 2018: on February 8, 2018, Lt. Cmdr. Benjamin C. Pearlswig relieved Lt. Cmdr. Carroll as commanding officer during a change-of-command ceremony at Sasebo. On April 24, 2018, USS WARRIOR was documented moored at Berth 10, India Basin, and later conducted routine training underway from September 22-26, 2018.

By 2019, USS WARRIOR was working within an increasingly multinational mine warfare training pattern in northern Japan. On July 18, 2019, mine warfare forces from the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force, the U.S. Navy, and participants from the Indian Navy commenced Mine Warfare Exercise 2Ja 2019 off the coast of northern Japan, a setting in which USS WARRIOR featured as a U.S. mine countermeasures platform in the bilateral-and-beyond framework. On July 31, 2019, USS WARRIOR returned to Sasebo after participating in Mine Exercise-Explosive Ordnance Disposal Exercise 19-2Ja in Mutsu Bay. On August 19, 2019, Lt. Cmdr. Andrew C. Darjany relieved Lt. Cmdr. Pearlswig as commanding officer during a ceremony at the Harbor View Club in Fleet Activities Sasebo.

A significant maintenance milestone was recorded in 2020: on June 11, 2020, USS WARRIOR undocked from Dry Dock #2 at SSK Shipyard and moored at India Basin while undergoing a Drydocking Selected Restricted Availability, reflecting continued investment in extending the ship's service life and readiness amid the U.S. Navy's broader mine warfare modernization push. In 2021, she was again tied to the northern-Japan mine warfare series. On July 19, 2021, U.S. Navy and Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force mine warfare forces commenced Mine Warfare Exercise 2Ja 2021 off the coast of northern Japan in Mutsu Bay, and USS WARRIOR was visually documented conducting mine-hunting operations and deploying a mine neutralization vehicle during that exercise window. Later that year, on December 6, 2021, Lt. Cmdr. Jesse M. DuParc relieved Lt. Cmdr. Eric D. Smitley as commanding officer during a change-of-command ceremony at Berth 8, India Basin.

In 2022, USS WARRIOR's dated movements show a pattern of patrol activity, inter-Japan transits, and periodic Yokosuka access. On January 18, 2022, she departed Fleet Activities Sasebo for a routine patrol, and by late February she was again moored in India Basin. On March 22, 2022, USS WARRIOR transited the Straits of Shimonoseki eastbound and subsequently moored at Berth 13S in Fleet Activities Yokosuka from March 25-29, 2022, before anchoring in Sasebo Harbor on March 31, 2022 and mooring at Berth 9, India Basin on April 1, 2022. She was underway again from August 11-14, 2022, and on December 8, 2022 she moored at Berth 1, India Basin after a two-day underway for routine training.

In 2023, the ship's record is dominated by frequent short underways, harbor shifts, and a fall deployment linked to a multinational mine countermeasures symposium in Korea. On March 31, 2023, USS WARRIOR was noted moored at Berth 8, India Basin, later shifting within the basin in April. She conducted additional short underways from April 24-25, 2023, during May, and again on June 6, 2023. On June 14, 2023, USS WARRIOR moored at Berth 3, Akasaki Pier for a brief refueling stop, then moored at Berth 1, India Basin on June 18, 2023, got underway from June 22-23, 2023, and moved to Berth 7, India Basin on June 30, 2023. She continued short training sorties from July 10-13 and July 17-18, 2023. On August 14, 2023, USS WARRIOR moored at Berth 9, India Basin after a two-day underway off the northwest coast of Kyushu. She then conducted operations in the vicinity of Akasaki Pier and the submarine piers at Ionouracho and anchored overnight in Sasebo Harbor on August 21 and August 22, 2023, before mooring again at Berth 9 on August 23, 2023. On October 10, 2023, she got underway, and on October 11, 2023, she moored at Berth 3 in Busan Naval Base, Republic of Korea, for an eight-day port visit tied to participation in a Multinational Mine Countermeasures Exercise and Symposium 2023. She subsequently moored at Pier 11 in Chinhae Naval Base on October 22-23, 2023, and returned to Sasebo, mooring at Berth 8, India Basin on October 27, 2023.

On January 22, 2024, she moored at Berth 2, India Basin after a five-day underway off Kyushu. In February, she sailed again, then moored at Maizuru Naval Base from February 9-12, 2024, transited the Tsushima Strait southbound on February 14, 2024, and returned to moor at Berth 2 on February 16, 2024. On March 1, 2024, USS WARRIOR departed Sasebo for routine operations off Kyushu, anchored in Sasebo Harbor from March 5-6, 2024, and returned to port on March 7, 2024. She anchored again briefly before mooring at Berth 1, India Basin on March 18, 2024, moved to Berth 9 on March 21, 2024, and conducted additional underways off Kyushu from April 29-30, 2024 and again departing on May 9, 2024. Just before midnight on May 9, 2024, she transited the Tsushima Strait eastbound and later moored at Nishi Wharf in Hakodate from May 15-18, 2024, a northern Japan port visit that concluded with her documented departure on May 18, 2024. After transiting westbound through northern straits and making a brief stop at Maizuru on May 20, 2024, she transited the Tsushima Strait westbound on May 22, 2024 and moored back at Berth 9, India Basin on May 23, 2024.

USS WARRIOR got underway again on May 29, 2024, and moored at Navy Pier, White Beach Naval Facility in Okinawa from June 1-5, 2024, then conducted operations in the Nagakasuku Wan area from June 5-8, 2024, anchored off White Beach from June 9-10, 2024, moored again at Navy Pier from June 10-11, 2024, returned to Sasebo and moored at Berth 9 on June 15, 2024, and got underway again on June 29, 2024. On June 30, 2024, USS WARRIOR moored at Pier 11 in Chinhae Naval Base, Republic of Korea, for a five-day port visit, then transited the Tsushima Strait eastbound on July 7, 2024, and arrived in Mutsu Bay for Mine Exercise-Explosive Ordnance Disposal Exercise 24-2Ja on July 11, 2024. During that exercise period, she moored outboard USS PATRIOT (MCM 7) at Ominato Naval Base from July 14-16 and again from July 23-29, 2024, reflecting coordinated mine warfare operations among forward-deployed U.S. mine countermeasures ships and Japan-based partners in the northern training area. USS WARRIOR returned to Sasebo and moored at Berth 8, India Basin on August 2, 2024. On August 20, 2024, Lt. Cmdr. Raymond V. Piana relieved Lt. Cmdr. Robert J. Squires as commanding officer. On November 8, 2024, USS WARRIOR departed Fleet Activities Sasebo, moored at the port of Shibushi from November 12-15, 2024, returned to Sasebo and moored at Berth 1, India Basin on November 18, 2024, conducted routine training underway off northwest Kyushu on November 21, 2024, anchored in Sasebo Harbor on November 24, 2024, and moored again at Berth 1 on November 25, 2024.

On February 14, 2025, USS WARRIOR departed Fleet Activities Sasebo for routine operations and moored at Army Pier, White Beach Naval Facility in Okinawa from February 18-20, 2025. After additional movements within Sasebo, she moved to Berth 6, India Basin on March 14, 2025, got underway again on March 19, 2025, and transited the Osumi Strait eastbound on March 22, 2025. On March 24, 2025, USS WARRIOR moored at Berth I, Maya Wharf in the port of Kobe for a two-day liberty visit, then transited the Osumi Strait westbound just after midnight on March 28, 2025, returned to Sasebo on March 29, 2025, and conducted mine-sweeping operations in the vicinity of Akasaki Pier and the submarine piers at Ionouracho before getting underway again on April 3, 2025. On April 4, 2025, she moored at Naval Pier in Pohang New Harbor, Republic of Korea, for a three-day port call, participated in a mine warfare exercise off Pohang from April 7-11, 2025, and transited the Tsushima Strait southbound just after midnight on April 12, 2025, returning to Sasebo and mooring at Berth 2, India Basin later on April 12, 2025.

From May 15-22, 2025, USS WARRIOR conducted routine operations southwest of the Tsushima Strait, then continued into a summer mine warfare cycle: on July 7, 2025, she got underway for Mine Exercise-Explosive Ordnance Disposal Exercise 25-2Ja. From July 8-9, 2025, she conducted operations off the coast of Pohang, and from July 12-16, 2025, she moored at the Central Terminal in Niigata, Japan, for a scheduled port visit, departing Niigata on July 16, 2025 after four days in port. She then moored at Ominato Naval Base from July 18-22, 2025, departed Mutsu Bay on July 26, 2025, and returned to Sasebo, mooring at Berth 6, India Basin on July 30, 2025. USS WARRIOR conducted additional operations off Kyushu from August 20-24, 2025, anchored in Sasebo Harbor on September 2, 2025, and moored at Berth 9, India Basin on September 3, 2025.

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USS WARRIOR Image Gallery:

The photo below was taken by me and shows the WARRIOR at Naval Base San Diego, Calif., on March 23, 2010.

The photos below were taken by me and show the WARRIOR at Naval Base San Diego, Calif., on March 15, 2012.

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