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USS Osprey (MHC 51)

USS OSPREY was the lead ship of the OSPREY - class of coastal mine hunters and the fourth U.S. Navy vessel to bear the name. Delivered to the Navy on August 23, 1993, and commissioned on November 20, 1993, the OSPREY was transfered to the Naval Reserve Force on October 1, 2000, and was subsequently used as training platform for naval reservists until decommissioned on June 15, 2006. The OSPREY was subsequently laid-up at Beaumont, Tx., as a logistics support asset. She was eventually sold by the U.S. government for dismantling in 2014. Disposal was carried out by New York Moving & Transport, and dismantling of the former minehunter was completed on August 13, 2015.

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Crew List:

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

• Click here to view the list.

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• Click here to see which USS OSPREY memorabilia are currently for sale on ebay.

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About the Ship's Coat of Arms:

The Shield:

Dark blue and gold are the colors traditionally associated with the Navy and reflect the sea and excellence. Black is indicative of strength and stability. Blue denoted loyalty and devotion. Red is the color of valor, zeal and sacrifice. White is emblematic of integrity. The trident is for naval power and recalls the three previous ships of the same name. The annulet suggests continuous and courageous efforts and the round shape simulates an "O" in allusion the name Osprey. The wavy border is characteristic of the coast line, the theater of operations for the coastal minehunter. The single upright trident emulates the numeral "1" and implies the ship is the first of its class and a lead ship. The fourteen stars are commemorative of the previous USS OSPREYS' fourteen battle honors.

The Crest:

The waves of the sea denote coastal waters, harbors and waterways and the Navy's theater of operations. The stylized mine alludes to the many moored and bottom mines in the harbors and coastal waterways and the OSPREY's mission. The osprey or "fishing hawk" reflects the aggressiveness of the OSPREY and its crew in carrying out their mission of minehunting.

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USS OSPREY History:

The contract for USS OSPREY was awarded to Intermarine USA on May 22, 1987, and her keel was laid at Savannah, Georgia, on June 16, 1988. OSPREY represented the U.S. Navy development of a minehunter design derived from the Italian LERICI-class. Her hull was constructed primarily of glass-reinforced plastic in order to minimize magnetic signature, while machinery isolation and other design measures were intended to reduce acoustic emissions and improve resistance to underwater shock.

OSPREY was launched at Savannah on March 23, 1991, sponsored by Colleen O. Nunn, wife of Senator Sam Nunn of Georgia. Construction, fitting out and acceptance testing continued for more than two years before the ship was delivered to the Navy on August 23, 1993. OSPREY was commissioned at Savannah on November 20, 1993, with Lieutenant Commander David W. Faasse as her first commanding officer. On November 22, she departed Savannah for Charleston, South Carolina, arriving at her initial homeport on November 23. From December 7-17, OSPREY conducted training and testing before beginning the customary end-of-year holiday stand-down. Because she was the first ship of a new class, much of her early service was devoted to trials, evaluation, correction of deficiencies and certification of systems rather than normal operational deployments.

On January 24, 1994, OSPREY departed Charleston for Florida to conduct performance trials and other testing in the Ft. Lauderdale and Panama City areas. She returned to Charleston on February 28 and subsequently spent approximately six weeks in upkeep. From April 11-June 9, the ship alternated between underway type training in the Charleston operating area and periods alongside devoted to maintenance and preparations for an Operational Propulsion Plant Examination. A family-member cruise followed on June 10. On June 13, OSPREY sailed for the Intermarine USA yard at Savannah for minor repair work and returned to Charleston on June 21.

Additional type training occupied part of the summer. Lieutenant Commander Joel T. Griner Jr. relieved Faasse as commanding officer on August 1, 1994. During August, OSPREY completed final contract trials and operated her AN/SLQ-48 mine-neutralization system in local waters. Preparations for the propulsion examination continued in September, but engineering problems prevented the ship from completing a satisfactory full-power run, forcing the examination to be postponed. On September 17, OSPREY temporarily interrupted this largely technical schedule to serve as the official starting vessel for the first leg of the BOC Challenge solo round-the-world sailing race. She subsequently resumed preparations and trials.

On October 17, 1994, OSPREY arrived at Savannah to begin a post-shakedown availability at Intermarine USA. The yard period was intended to correct deficiencies identified during the ship's first year of operation and continued into early 1995. Sea trials at the conclusion of the availability were conducted on February 28, 1995, after which OSPREY returned to Charleston.

OSPREY got underway again on March 23, 1995, and called at Key West, Florida, from March 27-28 before continuing west through the Gulf of Mexico to Naval Station Ingleside, Texas. She arrived at Ingleside on April 2 and spent approximately three weeks preparing for and successfully completing the Operational Propulsion Plant Examination that had been postponed the previous year. OSPREY departed Ingleside on April 26, refueled at Key West on May 1 and returned to Charleston on May 3.

Much of the remainder of 1995 centered on a major series of full-ship underwater shock trials. During May and June, OSPREY prepared for tests intended to determine how the new glass-reinforced-plastic hull, machinery foundations and shipboard systems would respond to nearby underwater explosions. The trials were particularly significant because OSPREY represented a comparatively large composite naval hull and the tests provided full-scale data concerning the response of the structure and its equipment to underwater shock.

On July 5, 1995, OSPREY proceeded to Savannah for additional preparations with Intermarine USA and on July 24 continued to Norfolk, Virginia. From July 27-August 6, the minehunter was in dry dock, where she was secured to a specially designed transfer cradle installed on a barge. USS GRAPPLE (ARS 53) towed the barge from Norfolk to Aberdeen, Maryland, between August 7-9. At the U.S. Army's Aberdeen Proving Ground, OSPREY was transferred from the barge by a specially designed rail and marine-railway system into the Underwater Test Facility. Rather than conducting the tests with the ship freely afloat at sea, OSPREY was positioned in the land-based test pond. The program represented the first U.S. Navy full-ship shock trial involving a hull constructed primarily of glass-reinforced plastic and the first Navy full-ship shock trial conducted at a land-based facility.

The shock program began on August 16, 1995. Five underwater explosions of progressively increasing severity were conducted, accompanied by extensive instrumentation, inspections and structural assessments. Testing continued through September 29. The trials showed that OSPREY maintained watertight integrity under the imposed shock conditions and that the isolation arrangements protecting cradle-mounted machinery provided significant protection. The tests nevertheless revealed structural and equipment deficiencies and produced damage requiring extensive subsequent work. Later Department of Defense operational-test evaluation concluded that the MHC-51 design had not achieved its specified design keel shock factor and identified deficiencies in the shock resistance of the glass-reinforced-plastic structure. The Navy subsequently analyzed the affected areas and incorporated repairs or modifications where practicable.

Recovering OSPREY from the test facility and transferring her back onto the transport barge required more than two weeks. On October 17, USS GRAPPLE towed the barge back to Norfolk, where OSPREY was removed from the cradle and returned to the water. The minehunter then resumed movement under her own power and reached Charleston on October 22. Training, inspections and assessments occupied the remainder of 1995, while the repairs required after the shock program continued to influence the ship's schedule during the following year.

On January 8, 1996, OSPREY made the short transit from Charleston to Savannah and entered another post-shakedown availability at Intermarine USA to repair damage and deficiencies associated with the shock trials. This first repair period lasted approximately three months. She returned to Charleston on April 8 and later that month conducted Combat Systems Ship Qualification Trials. On June 3, OSPREY returned to Savannah for a second major post-shakedown availability. Lieutenant Commander Warren E. Rhoades III assumed command on July 20.

While OSPREY remained in the yard, her official homeport was changed from Charleston to Naval Station Ingleside on August 15, 1996. Ingleside had become the principal U.S. Navy base for its dedicated surface mine warfare forces. The Savannah availability ended on September 23, after which OSPREY returned briefly to Charleston. Weapons were loaded and the ship's degaussing system was calibrated before she departed Charleston on October 4 for her new homeport. OSPREY called at Key West from October 7-10 and reached Ingleside on October 17.

After approximately two weeks at Ingleside, OSPREY departed again on October 31 for Panama City, Florida. There, she underwent acoustic trials and completed a Logistics Management Assessment before returning to Ingleside on November 20. The remainder of 1996 consisted largely of upkeep and preparations for the combat-system, mine-warfare and operational evaluations planned for the following year.

OSPREY departed Ingleside on January 27, 1997, and arrived at Panama City on January 31. During the period through April 11, she underwent a Mine Warfare Readiness Certification Inspection and Combat Systems Ship Qualification Trials while also serving as the principal platform for operational evaluation of the MHC-51 design. Formal OT-IIIA operational testing began at the Naval Surface Warfare Center's Coastal Systems Station on March 24. Test scenarios included underwater route surveys, mine detection, classification and neutralization, navigation accuracy and operations against representative practice minefields.

After the planned navigation and shallow-water minehunting and neutralization events had been completed, unusual behavior of the variable-depth AN/SQQ-32 sonar caused the program to be suspended on April 3, 1997. When the cause could not immediately be identified, testing aboard OSPREY was discontinued on April 11. Investigation subsequently determined that the problem resulted from an installation error, which was corrected. The remaining deep-water portion of the operational evaluation was later conducted aboard USS BLACK HAWK (MHC 58) between September 19-October 1, completing the remaining operational-test requirements for the class.

OSPREY returned to Ingleside on April 15, 1997, and on April 21 entered an extended restricted availability at Gulf Copper Ship Repair in Aransas Pass, Texas. After approximately three months of repair and maintenance work, she conducted sea trials on July 23 and returned to Ingleside. A dependents' cruise followed on August 6, and from August 11-14 she conducted a shakedown cruise in the Corpus Christi operating area.

Beginning in September, OSPREY entered an intensive cycle of readiness assessments and training, including engineering Command Assessment of Readiness and Training events and Tailored Shipboard Training Availabilities covering engineering, damage control, seamanship, medical response and navigation. During this period, the ship also made her first documented foreign port visit, calling at Cozumel, Mexico, from October 15-19. She returned to Ingleside on October 26 and spent the closing months of the year completing further training and obtaining navigation and engineering certifications.

OSPREY entered 1998 with Tailored Shipboard Training Availability III and completed her Final Evaluation Problem on January 6-7. Lieutenant Commander Robert B. Stewart assumed command on January 30. Underway mine-warfare training from March 23-25 was followed in April by a considerably larger fleet exercise.

From April 13-24, 1998, OSPREY participated in Pacific Joint Task Force Exercise 98-1 together with USS KINGFISHER (MHC 56), USS FALCON (MHC 59) and USS HERON (MHC 52). Their mine-warfare tasks included clearing designated Q-routes, amphibious staging areas and boat lanes in support of amphibious operations involving forces centered on USS ABRAHAM LINCOLN (CVN 72) and USS ESSEX (LHD 2). The minehunters used geotranslation through the Joint Maritime Command Information System to exchange mine-warfare information and integrate their operations with the larger force operating off Southern California. The wider exercise involved joint and multinational forces and included an amphibious landing at Camp Pendleton on April 21.

From May 6-15, OSPREY participated in a squadron exercise with USS HERON, USS KINGFISHER and USS FALCON. Explosive ordnance disposal detachments from EOD Mobile Units 3, 6 and 11 were integrated into the training. OSPREY departed Ingleside on June 1 and reached Panama City on June 4. Shallow-water mine countermeasures training was conducted from June 8-12, followed by a port call at Pensacola from June 13-14. Deep-water mine countermeasures training followed from June 15-17. OSPREY then called at Pascagoula, Mississippi, from June 19-25 and returned to Ingleside on June 28.

From July 7-17, 1998, OSPREY participated in Gulf of Mexico Exercise/Mercury 98-2 with USS HERON, USS KINGFISHER, USS FALCON, USS PELICAN (MHC 53), USS CORMORANT (MHC 57), USS CHIEF (MCM 14) and USS GLADIATOR (MCM 11). Helicopter Mine Countermeasures Squadron 15 and explosive ordnance disposal detachments from EOD Mobile Units 3, 6 and 11 provided airborne and underwater mine-countermeasures elements. The scenarios extended beyond routine mine detection and included responses to simulated small-boat attacks, small-unit amphibious landings and terrorist threats against ships in port in the Corpus Christi area. Representatives of the Royal Australian Navy and Republic of Singapore Navy observed portions of the training.

From September 28-October 2, OSPREY joined USS HERON, USS PELICAN, USS KINGFISHER, USS FALCON and USS CORMORANT for a fleet exercise involving the USS ENTERPRISE (CVN 65) battle group. The minehunters again used Joint Maritime Command Information System geotranslation to integrate mine-warfare information with the larger force.

On October 7, 1998, the same group began a six-week Caribbean deployment, with OSPREY serving as task group commander. The ships first moved north along the Texas coast to Beaumont, where they remained from October 8-11 for Navy Days. They then visited Cozumel from October 17-19 and Montego Bay, Jamaica, on October 23. Their movements coincided with the development of Tropical Storm Mitch, which rapidly intensified into Hurricane Mitch and became one of the most destructive Atlantic hurricanes of the period. The group continued eastward and reached Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, where it remained from October 27-29. Further calls followed at Roosevelt Roads, Puerto Rico, from November 2-5 and Key West from November 12-15. OSPREY returned to Ingleside on November 19. Underway mine countermeasures training from December 8-10 was her last major activity before the holiday period. OSPREY received the Battle Efficiency "E" for 1998 together with four mission-area awards.

The opening months of 1999 were dominated by material inspections. OSPREY prepared for the Board of Inspection and Survey and successfully completed the inspection and an Underway Material Inspection from February 22-27. On March 8, she entered Gulf Copper Ship Repair at Aransas Pass for a planned maintenance availability lasting approximately two months. Sea trials on May 5 marked the end of the principal yard period, although additional upkeep and systems calibration continued afterward.

Lieutenant Commander Paul J. Severs assumed command on June 11, 1999. On July 12, OSPREY returned to Aransas Pass for a further two-week restricted availability in dry dock. At the same time, the crew entered a new training cycle, completing a series of readiness and proficiency evolutions during the summer. When Hurricane Bret approached the Texas coast in August, OSPREY evacuated the area from August 22-23. She subsequently completed another Command Assessment of Readiness and Training and Tailored Shipboard Training Availability.

On October 5, 1999, OSPREY proceeded toward Beaumont in company with USS HERON, USS PELICAN, USS KINGFISHER, USS CORMORANT and USS FALCON. The minehunters participated in Navy Days activities there during a period that also coincided with events marking the U.S. Navy's 224th birthday. OSPREY returned to Ingleside on October 20. Her training cycle continued into November and culminated in a Final Evaluation Problem and navigation evaluation on November 15. A diesel-engine inspection followed from November 29-December 10, after which the ship remained in port through the end of the year.

OSPREY began 2000 with Gulf of Mexico Exercise 00-1 in the Corpus Christi operating area from January 24-February 3. Following upkeep at Ingleside, she began a series of port visits, calling at Cozumel from February 19-22, Key West from February 26-27 and Mobile, Alabama, from March 3-7 before returning to Ingleside on March 11. During the following two months, the ship completed maintenance together with a Combat Systems Readiness Assessment, Systems and Equipment Material Assessment and Supply Management Assessment.

On May 8, 2000, OSPREY departed Ingleside for a surface mine countermeasures squadron exercise with USS HERON, USS PELICAN, USS FALCON, USS CHAMPION (MCM 4) and USS PIONEER (MCM 9). Operations took place in the Pascagoula, Pensacola and Panama City areas. OSPREY entered Pascagoula for upkeep on May 13, later called at Panama City from May 20-21, visited New Orleans from May 26-29 and stopped at Galveston from June 3-4 before returning to Ingleside on June 7.

The ship returned to sea on July 13, 2000, for Gulf of Mexico Exercise 00-2/Mercury 00, a bilateral mine-warfare exercise involving the United States and Singapore. Participating U.S. forces included USS INCHON (MCS 12), USS HERON, USS PELICAN, USS FALCON, USS CHAMPION and USS PIONEER, together with Helicopter Mine Countermeasures Squadron 14 and detachments from EOD Mobile Units 3 and 6. OSPREY returned to Ingleside on July 21, underwent upkeep and then entered another two-week restricted availability. A pre-overseas-movement period ran from August 14-September 5, followed by two days of underway mine countermeasures training.

OSPREY departed Ingleside on September 12, 2000, and proceeded to Beaumont for Navy Days from September 15-17. On September 18, she rendezvoused with other elements of Mine Warfare Readiness Group 2 - USS HERON, USS PELICAN, USS FALCON, USS CHAMPION and USS PIONEER - to begin a three-month East Coast deployment. The group called at Pascagoula on September 22 and Key West on September 26 before reaching Mayport, Florida, on September 28. OSPREY then spent approximately two weeks in upkeep at Mayport. During the deployment, the crew also provided mine-warfare familiarization and training to personnel from other surface warfare communities.

On October 1, 2000, OSPREY was administratively transferred to the Naval Reserve Force, part of the Navy's established arrangement for operating a number of the OSPREY-class minehunters with a combination of active-duty and reserve personnel.

On October 11, Mine Warfare Readiness Group 2 sailed for the Cherry Point operating area off North Carolina for Unified Spirit 2000/Joint Task Force Exercise 01-1. OSPREY served as task unit commander during the exercise. The combined exercise involved U.S., NATO and other allied forces and incorporated mine countermeasures operations into a broader joint and multinational training environment. Afterward OSPREY spent October 24-30 at Naval Amphibious Base Little Creek, Virginia. The group reached Annapolis, Maryland, on November 1 for a four-day visit to the U.S. Naval Academy. From November 6-9, the ships conducted mine countermeasures training in Chesapeake Bay before returning to Little Creek from November 10-17.

The homeward voyage included a return to OSPREY's former homeport at Charleston from November 23-26, Key West from December 2-3 and Mobile from December 9-10. OSPREY finally returned to Ingleside on December 15 and entered the holiday leave and upkeep period. Her performance during 2000 resulted in a second Battle Efficiency "E".

Lieutenant Commander Robert P. Benjamin Jr., USNR, assumed command on January 11, 2001. OSPREY's operating schedule during the year was heavily affected by material problems and maintenance requirements. The official history also records significant damage sustained after another vessel struck OSPREY while she was moored alongside a pier.

OSPREY spent the first seven weeks of 2001 in upkeep. On February 20, she offloaded ammunition and began a Fleet Maintenance Availability that continued through March 2. Ship's instrumentation-system calibration began concurrently and continued through March 16. On March 19, OSPREY entered South Texas Ship Repair at Aransas Pass for a three-month Planned Maintenance Availability combined with an Integrated Logistics Overhaul. The work included extensive maintenance and improvements to combat-system and supporting equipment. OSPREY returned to Ingleside on June 22, with the overall Planned Maintenance Availability and logistics overhaul ending on July 3. During the period, the crew also overhauled the No. 2 main propulsion diesel engine using ship's force.

Maintenance and training continued through much of the second half of 2001. Sea trials were conducted in the Corpus Christi operating area during July, while engineering Limited Team Training, maintenance assessments, ammunition handling and readiness events followed during the summer and fall. On September 7, OSPREY completed the second phase of her Command Assessment of Readiness and Training without requiring additional underway time. Further engineering training, an electromagnetic-interference survey, industrial-hygiene inspection, navigation-team certification and search-and-rescue certification followed.

From November 29-December 7, 2001, OSPREY served as a command-and-control platform for Mine Warfare Readiness and Effectiveness Measurement 19, while a technical availability extended into mid-December. The ship accumulated only about eight hours underway during the entire year, but nevertheless received the Battle Efficiency "E" for 2001 on the basis of her evaluated performance and readiness in applicable areas.

Early 2002 continued the process of returning OSPREY to more extensive operational use. From January 17-23, she was dry-docked at Aransas Pass for repairs to a Voith-Schneider propeller. An Immediate Superior in Command initial assessment followed on February 27. Limited Team Training in the Corpus Christi operating area took place from March 6-7 and again from March 19-21, with a Supply Management Assist between those periods from March 13-15. Tailored Shipboard Training Availability III followed from April 1-3. OSPREY later used the electromagnetic range at Ingleside, completed a navigation check ride and loaded ammunition on April 30.

On May 1, 2002, OSPREY departed for Pascagoula, where she was in port from May 5-6 before beginning Squadron Exercise 02-2 with USS PELICAN, USS FALCON, USS CHAMPION and USS PIONEER. The exercise was intended to practice coordinated mine countermeasures operations in waters between Pascagoula, Pensacola and Panama City.

During this period, OSPREY also became involved in a search associated with the loss of a U.S. Air Force F-15C Eagle. On April 30, Major James A. Duricy of the 40th Flight Test Squadron, 46th Test Wing, had been conducting a high-speed test dive from Eglin Air Force Base when structural failure occurred in the honeycomb material in the leading edge of the aircraft's left vertical stabilizer. The aircraft was at approximately 24,000 feet and traveling at roughly 900 miles per hour when the emergency developed. Duricy ejected but did not survive. The precise location of the aircraft wreckage in the Gulf of Mexico was initially unknown. Using her underwater search capability during Squadron Exercise 02-2, OSPREY located the F-15 fuselage approximately 60 miles south of Panama City, substantially reducing the area that otherwise would have required underwater searching.

OSPREY was at Panama City from May 11-13, 2002, and returned to Ingleside on May 15. Maintenance, equipment assessments and readiness work continued into the summer. Beginning in late June, the minehunter embarked midshipmen for approximately one month of summer training.

OSPREY departed on July 19 for Gulf of Mexico Exercise 02-2 in the Corpus Christi operating area. Participating surface forces included USS PELICAN, USS FALCON, USS CHAMPION and USS PIONEER, while Helicopter Mine Countermeasures Squadron 15 and two explosive ordnance disposal detachments from EOD Mobile Unit 6 provided additional mine-warfare capabilities. OSPREY returned to Ingleside on July 26 and entered approximately six weeks of pre-overseas-movement upkeep.

Lieutenant Commander Dan A. Starling, USNR, assumed command on September 6, 2002. The preparation period ended on September 10, ammunition was loaded and a dependents' cruise was conducted on September 11.

On September 17, 2002, OSPREY left Ingleside and sailed for Beaumont. She remained there from September 19-26, with crew members participating in community projects that included work at a children's hospital and a boys' ranch. After departing Beaumont on September 27, the ship returned temporarily to Ingleside and remained there through October 3 because of the approach of Hurricane Lili. OSPREY finally departed on October 4 to begin her second extended East Coast deployment.

The first call of the deployment was Key West from October 9-11, followed by Mayport from October 14-21. OSPREY again operated from Mayport from October 24-29 and then proceeded to Naval Air Station Jacksonville, where she remained from October 30-November 3 in connection with the station's air show. Another Mayport stop followed before she continued north to Little Creek, Virginia, where she remained from November 10-24. During that stay, she went to sea in Chesapeake Bay from November 18-19 for magnetic and acoustic range testing.

OSPREY departed the Virginia area on November 25, 2002, and reached New York City on November 27. She remained there through December 3 before beginning the southbound return voyage. A further Mayport call followed from December 7-8.

On December 11, 2002, while underway toward Key West, OSPREY responded to a distress situation involving the fishing vessel SUZI ANNE, which had encountered three Cuban men clinging to a makeshift craft approximately 20 miles off the Florida Keys. OSPREY was the closest Navy vessel and diverted from her intended track. Approximately 30 minutes later the minehunter reached the scene and lowered a boat to recover the three men. Their improvised fiberglass craft, which had been kept afloat in part by rubber inner tubes and used a homemade propulsion arrangement, sank shortly after the rescue in water more than 600 feet deep. The three survivors were provided food and water aboard OSPREY and were subsequently transferred to a U.S. Coast Guard boat from Islamorada. OSPREY then continued to Key West, where she remained from December 11-15. She returned to Ingleside on December 20, ending the approximately three-month deployment and entering a post-deployment and holiday stand-down period.

January 2003 was spent conducting underway training independently and with other Mine Countermeasures Squadron units in the Corpus Christi operating area. On February 26, OSPREY entered the floating dry dock ADEPT (AFDL 23) at Gulf Copper Ship Repair in Aransas Pass for approximately one month of repair work. She moved to Corpus Christi on March 27.

On May 6, 2003, while underway, OSPREY collided with the tug ALANA LOUISE. The impact damaged the forward starboard portion of the minehunter. Two tugs and a pilot boat subsequently assisted the damaged ship back to Ingleside. OSPREY remained there until July 22, when she was assisted to Aransas Pass for another dry-docking period at Gulf Copper Ship Repair. She returned to Ingleside on August 1.

Underway engineering tests were conducted later in August, after which OSPREY resumed local operations. Mine countermeasures training, equipment testing and independent steaming in Gulf Coast waters occupied much of the remainder of the year.

OSPREY sailed to Mobile in February 2004 and was moored at Cooper Riverside Park from February 19-25. She reached Panama City on February 26. Mine countermeasures training was conducted there from March 1-3, and OSPREY remained at Panama City through March 4 before beginning the return voyage to Ingleside. She arrived back at her homeport on March 8.

Local training continued during the spring. On May 7, 2004, OSPREY provided towing assistance to USS PELICAN. From May 14-17, she participated in a squadron exercise off Corpus Christi with an explosive ordnance disposal detachment embarked, conducting coordinated mine countermeasures training.

Lieutenant Commander Derek A. Trinque assumed command on September 24, 2004. From October 1-5, OSPREY again entered the floating dry dock ADEPT at Gulf Copper Ship Repair in Aransas Pass. Independent underway training occupied several additional days during October. The ship visited Galveston from November 10-15.

In early December 2004, OSPREY proceeded to Panama City for Gulf of Mexico Exercise 05-1. She was documented there alongside USS CHIEF on December 3 immediately before the exercise began; USS DEVASTATOR (MCM 6) was another documented surface participant. Gulf of Mexico Exercise 05-1 ran from December 4-10 and incorporated surface mine countermeasures ships with airborne and explosive ordnance disposal elements. OSPREY returned to Ingleside on December 17 and began the holiday leave and upkeep period.

The ship's circumstances changed substantially during 2005. Early in the year, OSPREY prepared for a major personnel redistribution involving one of the Navy's forward-deployed coastal minehunters. Her crew was scheduled to deploy to Manama, Bahrain, and exchange assignments with the crew of USS CARDINAL (MHC 60), which was forward deployed in the Persian Gulf. OSPREY herself did not deploy to Bahrain. OSPREY's crew departed Texas for Bahrain on February 16, 2005, leaving the hull at Ingleside. Lieutenant Commander Keith A. Knutsen is recorded as assuming command on February 23 as part of the personnel transition. The former crew of USS CARDINAL, under Knutsen, subsequently returned from Bahrain and arrived at Ingleside on March 29 to take over OSPREY. The exchange allowed trained coastal-minehunter personnel to rotate between the United States and the forward-deployed ship while the hull assigned to Bahrain remained in theater.

After post-deployment leave for the incoming crew, preparations began to return OSPREY to operation. A month-long Planned Maintenance Availability started on April 11, 2005. Ship qualification trials followed on May 17, degaussing calibration on May 19 and magnetic and acoustic ranging and calibration from May 25-27. Such ranging and calibration were particularly important for mine countermeasures vessels because accurate knowledge and reduction of the ship's magnetic and acoustic signatures were required when operating in waters where influence mines could be present.

On May 29, 2005, however, key components of OSPREY's AN/SQQ-32 minehunting sonar were removed to provide urgently required replacement equipment for USS PATRIOT (MCM 7), a Seventh Fleet mine countermeasures ship. USS PATRIOT had run aground on a coral head in Chinhae Bay, Republic of Korea, on March 20, shearing its variable-depth sonar from its cable and requiring repairs. Replacement equipment for OSPREY was not expected to become available for approximately a year. Because the AN/SQQ-32 was the ship's principal sensor for detecting and classifying underwater mines, removal of these components substantially restricted OSPREY's ability to perform her primary minehunting mission.

The ship nevertheless continued those inspections, maintenance activities and training events that remained possible. By October 2005, the crew had been informed that OSPREY was scheduled for decommissioning during 2006. Thereafter, her remaining period of service increasingly involved maintaining required material and administrative standards while preparing equipment, records and personnel for inactivation. USS OSPREY was formally decommissioned at Naval Station Ingleside on June 15, 2006, after slightly more than twelve and a half years in commissioned service. USS ROBIN (MHC 54) was decommissioned at Ingleside on the same day. The two vessels were the first ships of the Osprey class to be withdrawn from U.S. Navy service. OSPREY was also stricken from the Naval Vessel Register on June 15.

Following decommissioning maintenance, the former OSPREY was moved to the inactive-ship facility at Beaumont, Texas, where she remained in reserve for several years. She was eventually sold by the U.S. government for dismantling in 2014. Disposal was carried out by New York Moving & Transport, and dismantling of the former minehunter was completed on August 13, 2015.

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