FAST ON THEIR FOILS — Taurus, the first of five Patrol Hydrofoil Missileships (PHMs) being built by Boeing Marine Systems, Seattle, Wash., for the U.S. Navy, takes a flying tour of Seattle's Elliott Bay during pre-delivery tests in Puget Sound. Taurus, to be delivered in October, and the other four hydrofoil combatants — Aquila, Aries, Gemini and Hercules — will join the USS Pegasus (PHM-1) forming a six-ship squadron next fall in Key West, Fla. The PHM squadron will operate with mobile logistic support in a rapid deployment concept. Armed with Harpoon missiles, a 76mm rapid-fire gun, and capable of speeds in excess of 40 knots, PHMs are powerful and effective surface warfare ships. They provide a stable working platform for the 21-man crew even in rough seas.
FAST ON THEIR FOILS
Photo caption
Caption on Taurus, the first of five Patrol Hydrofoil Missileships built by Boeing Marine Systems for the U.S. Navy, during pre-delivery tests in Puget Sound.
Mentioned in this article
Vessel
- Taurus Patrol Hydrofoil Missileship
- Aquila PHM
- Aries PHM
- Gemini PHM
- Hercules PHM
- USS Pegasus PHM-1
GeoLocation
- Elliott Bay Seattle test area
- Key West, Fla. future squadron base
Company
- Boeing Marine Systems Seattle, Wash.; PHM builder
Organization
- U.S. Navy customer
Product
- Harpoon missiles PHM armament
Transcribed from the September 15, 1981 print edition of Maritime Reporter & Engineering News. Text is OCR-derived and may contain errors.