NAVYPEDIA

Ships

Names	Builders	Commissioned	Losses	Transfers	Discarding
PGH2 Tucumcari	Boeing, Seattle: PGH2 Tucumcari	3/1968: PGH2 Tucumcari	PGH2 Tucumcari (16.11.1972)	none	none

Technical data

Displacement standard, t	57
Displacement full, t	58
Length, m	21.9
Breadth, m	5.90
Draught, m	4.20 (foils extended) / 1.40 (foils retracted)
No of shafts	2 water-jets (for foil-borne) / 1 shaft (for hull-borne)
Machinery	CODOG: 1 Bristol Siddeley Marine Proteus gas turbine (foil-borne) / 1 diesel (hull-borne)
Power, h. p.	3040 / 160
Max speed, kts	40 / 6
Fuel, t	diesel oil
Endurance, nm(kts)
Armament	1 x 1 - 40/60 Mk 3, 2 x 2 - 20/70 Mk 24, 1 x 1 - 81/12 M29 mortar
Electronic equipment	radar
Complement	13

Project history

By the early 1960s interest had shifted towards the fast gunboat role, and it appeared that a relatively small hydrofoil could duplicate many of the qualities of the larger Asheville class fast gunboat. Two competitive prototypes were built under the FY66 (SCB 252) programme; the Grumman Flagstaff and the Boeing Tucumcari. At one time a follow-on class of thirty-four hydrofoils was planned, with features borrowed from both. They differed largely in propulsion, Grumman using a geared propeller with the main lifting surface forward; Boeing, water-jets with the main foil surfaces aft. Both were tested in Vietnam, returning home in 1970. Originally armed with 40mm gun forward.

Modernizations

1971: - 1 x 1 - 81/12 mortar; + 1 x 2 - 20/70 Mk 24

Naval service

: Tucumcari ran aground on a coral reef at Caballo Blanco (Vieques Island, Puerto Rico) 16.11.1972 and wrecked, plans for her repair were dropped due to high costs.

© Ivan Gogin, 2015