NAVYPEDIA

Photo

Pegasus 1979

Ships

No	Name	Yard No	Builder	Laid down	Launched	Comm	Fate
PHM1	Pegasus		Boeing, Renton	10.5.1973	9.11.1974	9.7.1977	stricken 7.1993
PHM2	Hercules		Boeing, Renton	12.9.1980	13.4.1982	18.12.1982	stricken 7.1993
PHM3	Taurus		Boeing, Renton	30.1.1979	8.5.1981	10.10.1981	stricken 7.1993
PHM4	Aquila		Boeing, Renton	10.7.1979	16.9.1981	26.6.1982	stricken 7.1993
PHM5	Aries		Boeing, Renton	7.1.1980	5.11.1981	18.9.1982	stricken 7.1993
PHM6	Gemini		Boeing, Renton	13.5.1980	17.2.1982	13.11.1982	stricken 7.1993

Technical data

Displacement standard, t	198 light
Displacement full, t	PHM1: 235 PHM2-6: 241
Length, m	36.0 wl 40.5 oa 44.7 with foils retracted
Breadth, m	8.60 hull 14.5 over aft foils
Draught, m	7.10 max 1.90 with foils retracted 2.70 foilborne
No of shafts	3 water jets (1 for gas turbine / 2 for cruising diesels)
Machinery	1 General Electric LM-2500 PB102 gas turbine / 2 MTU 8V331TC81 diesels
Power, h. p.	18000 / 1630
Max speed, kts	50 / 11 on diesels
Fuel, t	gas turbine oil + diesel oil 50
Endurance, nm(kts)	600(40) or 1200+(11)
Armament	2 x 4 Harpoon SSM (8 RGM-84), 1 x 1 - 76/62 Mk 75
Electronic equipment	PHM1: SPS-64(V)1, Mk 94 radars, ALR-66 ECM suite, 2x LADS decoy RLs PHM2-6: SPS-64(V)1, Mk 92 radars, SLQ-650 ECM suite, 2 Mk 34 RBOC decoy RLs
Complement	21

Graphics

Project history

Although neither Flagstaff nor Tucumcari was reproduced, Boeing did use Tucumcari as the basis for the Italian Sparviero class missile boats. Israel ordered two 'Super Flagstaffs' with Harpoon missiles in 1978. Moreover, Boeing experience with Tucumcari presumably shows in the design of the next-generation hydrofoil combatant, the missile hydrofoil Pegasus.

The missile hydrofoils were originally conceived by Admiral Zumwalt as successors to the missile-armed Asheville class 'tattletales', that is, as a means of countering Soviet missile-armed surface craft, particularly in restricted waters. They had the important advantage of very high speed even in rough weather; it must have appeared that their small size would equate to low unit cost. The PHM programme was, for a time, a NATO-wide one, the Italian and West German governments participating in the design. Germany was to have built twelve. However, as costs rose only the United States, which planned thirty, remained in the programme. Cynics suggested strongly that the PHM was a solution in search of a problem, and (with the programme reduced to six craft) PHM2-6 were cancelled on 15 April 1977. However, they were reinstated that August at the request of Congress. PHM2 was to be unarmed, and by 1981 it appeared unlikely that further units would be built. One of the more curious aspects of the PHM story was the attempt to find alternative missions, a Sea Phoenix variant for fleet air defence coming close to the formal proposal stage within the Department of Defense.

Modernizations

None.

Naval service

: No significant events.