USS Pegasus (PHM-1)
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| History | |
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| Name: | USS Pegasus |
| Awarded: | 1 February 1973 |
| Builder: | Boeing Marine Systems, Renton, Washington |
| Laid down: | 9 May 1973 |
| Launched: | 9 November 1974 |
| Commissioned: | 9 July 1977 |
| Decommissioned: | 30 July 1993 |
| Struck: | 30 July 1993 |
| Homeport: | Key West, Florida |
| Fate: | Sold for scrapping, 19 August 1996 |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type: | Pegasus-class hydrofoil |
| Displacement: | 255 long tons (259 t) full |
| Length: | 133 ft (41 m) |
| Beam: | 28 ft (8.5 m) |
| Propulsion: |
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| Speed: |
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| Complement: | 4 officers, 17 enlisted |
| Sensors and processing systems: |
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| Armament: |
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USS Pegasus (PHM-1) was the lead ship of her class of hydrofoils operated by the United States Navy. Pegasus class vessels were designed for high speed and mobility, and carried a powerful (for their size) armament.
Named for the constellation, Pegasus was originally intended to be named Delphinus, but during development and discussion it was feared it could be nicknamed 'dull-penis', so the name was dropped. In service it earned the nickname 'Pegasorous'. As this vessel was constructed several years before the rest of the class, there are some minor differences, notably in the fire-control systems of the respective craft.
PHM 1 Pegasus hydrofoil boats were designed to operate offensively against hostile surface combatants and other surface craft; and conduct surveillance, screening and special operations. The six PHMs of the Pegasus class formed a single squadron which operated from Key West. They were the Navy's fastest ships when foil borne and driven by their single gas turbine. They had good range on their diesels, excellent sea keeping qualities, amazingly fast response to requirements for speed, and a potent punch. They established an unusually high availability rate while participating in a variety of missions, including significant involvement in the national drug interdiction program.
The PHM project was started in early 1970 by CNO Admiral Elmo Zumwalt in an effort to increase the Navy's number of surface combatants. The project called for a cost-effective hydrofoil boat designed to operate in coastal waters and equipped to fulfill the missions of destroyers and frigates in those areas so that these larger ships could be deployed to areas where they are needed most. These missions included surface surveillance as well as immediate responses such as Surface-to-surface missiles (SSM) to any hostile actions conducted by enemy navies.
The PHM project was not only a US project. Other countries involved included Italy, Germany, Canada and Great Britain. During the initial phase of the project it was planned to build up to 100 hydrofoil boats for the NATO navies.
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