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| General characteristics | |
|---|---|
| Displacement: | 255 tons |
| Length: | 40.5 m (133 ft) |
| Beam: | 8.5 m (28 ft) |
| Propulsion: | 2 × Mercedes-Benz marine diesels (Hullborne), 1,600 bhp (1,200 kW) 1 × General Electric LM2500 gas turbine (Foilborne) 18,000 shp (13,000 kW) |
| Speed: | 12 knots (22 km/h) hullborne, 48 knots (89 km/h) foilborne |
| Range: | Unknown |
| Complement: | 4 officers, 17 enlisted |
| Sensors and processing systems: |
LN-66 Navigation Radar Mk-94 Mod.1 Fire Control System |
| Armament: | 2 × quad RGM-84 Harpoon 1 × Mk 75 76 mm OTO Melara, 62 cal. gun |
The Pegasus class hydrofoils were a series of fast attack patrol boats employed by the U.S. Navy. They were in service from 1977 through 1993. These hydrofoils carried the designation "PHM." The Pegasus class vessels were primarily intended for green water coastal operations, such as narcotics interdiction and coastal patrol. Admiral Elmo Zumwalt began the PHM project to increase the Navy's number of surface vessels in a cost-effective manner. The project was to involve four other navies—the Royal Navy, Canadian Forces, the Bundesmarine, and the Marina Militare, for as many as 100 craft. After Zumwalt's retirement, the Navy chose to funnel most of the money for the PHMs into larger vessels. This delayed the ongoing construction of Pegasus, and the other vessels were not started. Congress eventually forced the Navy to complete the vessels. The difficulties in project progression forced the other participating navies to abort their participation. The Pegasus class ships were powered by two 1,600 horsepower (1,200 kW) Mercedes-Benz diesels when waterborne, giving them a speed of 12 knots. When foilborne, the ships were powered by a General Electric LM2500 gas turbine, good for a speed of 48 knots. Pegasus ships were well armed for their size, carrying two four-rack RGM-84 Harpoon anti-ship missiles and an Oto Melara 76 mm gun. The Harpoons, specifically, were capable of sinking far larger ships at distances in excess of 60 nm. The German version would have carried the MM38 Exocet. As Pegasus was constructed several years before the rest of the series, there are some slight differences, such as the fire-control system. All six vessels were constructed by Boeing, in Seattle at the Renton plant at the south end of Lake Washington. They were stationed at NAS Key West. The technology was first pioneered by the USS Tucumcari (PGH-2) which was tried in Vietnam, but ran aground. It was judged to be more advanced than the Grumman Flagstaff which was built at the same time to the same requirements. The primary technology, also used in the Boeing Jetfoil ferries, used submerged flying foils with waterjet propulsion. The ships were retired because they were not judged cost effective for their mission in a Navy with primarily offensive missions rather than coastal patrol. USS Aries PHM-5 Hydrofoil Memorial, Inc. obtained Aries for rehabilitation as a memorial located on the Grand River in Brunswick, Missouri at . All other PHMs in the class have been scrapped.
Contents |
List of ships
- Pegasus (PHM-1) (July 9, 1977–July 30, 1993), formerly Delphinus
- Hercules (PHM-2) (December 18, 1982–July 30, 1993)
- Taurus (PHM-3) (October 10, 1981–July 30, 1993)
- Aquila (PHM-4) (June 26, 1982–July 30, 1993)
- Aries (PHM-5) (September 18, 1982–July 30, 1993)
- Gemini (PHM-6) (November 13, 1982–July 30, 1993)
All six PHMs were sold on August 19, 1996. The hulls were to be reused.
Trivia
PHM Pegasus was featured in a computer game of the same name by Lucasfilm, and its sequel Strike Fleet.
