NAVYPEDIA

Photo

Asheville 1974

Ships

No	Name	Yard No	Builder	Laid down	Launched	Comm	Fate
PGM84, 4.1967- PG84	Asheville		Tacoma BB	4.1964	1.5.1965	8.1966	stricken 1.1977
PGM85, 4.1967- PG85	Gallup		Tacoma BB	4.1964	15.6.1965	10.1966	stricken 10.1984
PG86	Antelope		Tacoma BB	6.1965	18.6.1966	11.1967	stricken 10.1977
PG87	Ready		Tacoma BB	6.1965	12.5.1967	1.1968	stricken 10.1977
PG88	Crockett		Tacoma BB	1965	4.6.1966	6.1967	stricken 12.1976
PG89	Marathon		Tacoma BB	6.1966	22.4.1967	5.1968	stricken 12.1976
PG90	Canon		Tacoma BB	6.1966	10.6.1967	7.1968	stricken 10.1984
PG92	Tacoma		Tacoma BB	7.1967	13.4.1968	7.1969	stricken 12.1995, to Colombia (Quitasueño)
PG93	Welch		Peterson, Sturgeon Bay	5.1967	25.7.1968	9.1969	stricken 4.1995, to Colombia (Albuquerque)
PG94	Chehalis		Tacoma BB	1967	8.6.1968	11.1969	auxiliary 10.1977
PG95	Defiance		Peterson, Sturgeon Bay	10.1967	1968	9.1969	to Turkey 6.1973 (Yıldırım)
PG96	Benicia		Tacoma BB	4.1969	20.12.1969	4.1970	to South Korea 10.1971 (갈매기 11 [Paek Ku 11])
PG97	Surprise		Peterson, Sturgeon Bay	5.1968	7.12.1968	10.1969	to Turkey 2.1973 (Bora)
PG98	Grand Rapids		Tacoma BB	1969	4.4.1970	9.1970	auxiliary 10.1977
PG99	Beacon		Peterson, Sturgeon Bay	7.1968	17.5.1969	11.1969	to Greece 11.1989 (Ορμή [Ormi])
PG100	Douglas		Tacoma BB	1969	19.6.1970	2.1971	stricken 10.1977
PG101	Green Bay		Peterson, Sturgeon Bay	11.1968	14.6.1969	12.1969	stricken 10.1977, to Greece (Τόλμη [Tolmi])

Technical data

Displacement standard, t	225
Displacement full, t	245
Length, m	46.9 pp 50.1 oa
Breadth, m	7.28
Draught, m	2.90
No of shafts	2
Machinery	CODOG: 2 Cummins 875V12 diesels / 1 General Electric LM-1500 Mk 7 gas turbine
Power, h. p.	1450 / 12500
Max speed, kts	16 / 40
Fuel, t	diesel / gas turbine oil 50
Endurance, nm(kts)	1700(16)
Armament	1 x 1 - 76/50 Mk 34, 1 x 1 - 40/60 Mk 3, 2 x 2 - 12.7/90
Electronic equipment	SPS-53, SPG-50 radars
Complement	28

Graphics

Project history

These gas turbine 'motor gunboats' were a product of the Kennedy era, with its Presidential support for small craft and its preoccupation with Cuba. Originally a diesel design was proposed, a natural outgrowth of PGMs built for many US allies and suited for river and coastal operations. However, some within the Bureau of Ships noted that the advent of gas turbines for main propulsion made a much more advanced design possible, their high speed was a dubious advantage, but they did prove extremely useful in riverine warfare, in some cases sustaining considerable damage and in all cases displaying endurance well beyond design goals.

The Asheville class were also used to test 'special warfare' coastal infiltration techniques, benefiting from their small radar cross-section and in many US and NATO exercises they simulated Soviet small missile craft (Osa and Komar types). In addition, after Vietnam, four units in the Mediterranean were assigned by the then CNO, Admiral Zumwalt, to a 'counter-tattletale' role, following Soviet warships to provide positive warning of any imminent Soviet missile attack on the Sixth Fleet. In this role they were armed with a surface-to-surface variant of the US Standard anti-aircraft missile, with two launchers aft and an additional pair of reloads forward of the launchers. Admiral Zumwalt later used this experience to justify the PHM programme.

Cavitation generally limited their maximum speed to something less than the design figure always quoted, although at the time it was stated that the provision of new propellers would have allowed them to reach design speed. In service they had a bad reputation for discomfort in a seaway, although they were good sea boats and could ride out very severe storms. Thus proponents of the PHM could argue that the Ashevilles had demonstrated the utility of small fast surface-attack craft and that hydrofoil design could overcome their bad riding characteristics.

PG86 and 87 had the Dutch-developed Mk 87 fire control system, a close relative of the Mk 92 of the PHMs and FFGs, employing a computer and automatic aiming; the others all had the Second World War Mk 63 to control their 76mm guns. Although up to twenty-two were planned, rising costs and the absence of a clear mission (particularly in the context of the costs of the Vietnam War) cut short the programme, and the absence of a rationale shows in the quick disposal of most of the class.

Modernizations

1971-75, PG86, 87, 96, 98, 100: - 1 x 1 - 40/60; + 2 x 1 Standard ARM SSM (2 AGM-78)

Naval service

: No significant events.

© Ivan Gogin, 2015