USS Parrot (MSC-197)
USS "Parrot" (AMS/MSC-197) was a in the United States Navy for clearing coastal minefields. Construction. "Parrot" was laid down 23 December 1953, as AMS–197, by Broward Marine, Inc., Fort Lauderdale, Florida; launched on 27 November 1954; sponsored by Mrs. S. Heuer; reclassified MSC–197 on 7 February 1955; and commissioned on 28 June 1955, Lieutenant (jg) Richard K. Fontaine in command. North Atlantic operations. After fitting out and training, "Parrot", along with four other minesweepers, participated in cold weather minesweeping exercises in the North Atlantic. "Parrot" then moved to Charleston, South Carolina, her base for exercises and  training operations in the Caribbean and the Gulf Stream. She remained there until January 1958, when she sailed north to participate in her first NATO exercise. In February 1958, "Parrot" was dispatched to the waters off Savannah, Georgia, to participate in a search for a nuclear weapon jettisoned by a bomber. Upon completion, she returned to the Caribbean area where she remained into 1961, conducting training exercises and serving as training ship for the Mine Warfare School. In March 1961, she assisted in helping to evaluate the new helicopter method of minesweeping. After completion of this duty, she returned to  her training and patrol duties. On 22 October 1962, "Parrot" was ordered to get underway, with no destination being specified. She was later directed to assist in the Cuban Quarantine operation. After this duty, she returned to Charleston. Once again she resumed her training and patrolling duties. On 1 March 1963, she left Charleston with orders to search for the overdue . Finding nothing, "Parrot" returned to port on 18 March. Resuming patrol duties and training exercises, "Parrot" also made annual deployments to the Caribbean until August 1968. Decommissioning and reassignment. Decommissioned and placed in service on 26 September 1968, "Parrot  became a Naval Reserve Training Ship at Atlantic City. Placed out of service on 20 July 1972, and struck from the Naval Vessel Register on 1 August 1972, Parrot" was sold by Defense Reutilization and Marketing Service for scrapping on 1 December 1976. Bibliography. Online resources