Pegasus class hydrofoil

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The Pegasus class hydrofoils were a series of fast attack patrol boats employed by the U.S. Navy. They were in service from 1977 through 1993. These hydrofoils carried the designation "PHM." The Pegasus class vessels were primarily intended for green water coastal operations, such as narcotics interdiction and coastal patrol.

Admiral Elmo Zumwalt began the PHM project to increase the Navy's number of surface vessels in a cost-effective manner. The project was to involve four other navies—the Royal Navy, Canadian Armed Forces, the Bundesmarine, and the Marina Militare, for as many as 100 craft.

After Zumwalt's retirement, the Navy chose to funnel most of the money for the PHMs into larger vessels. This delayed the ongoing construction of Pegasus, and the other vessels were not started. Congress eventually forced the Navy to complete the vessels. The difficulties in project progression forced the other participating navies to abort their participation.

The Pegasus class ships were powered by two 1,600 horsepower (1,200 kW) Mercedes-Benz diesels when waterborne, giving them a speed of 12 knots. When foilborne, the ships were powered by a General Electric LM2500 gas turbine, good for a speed of 48 knots.

Pegasus ships were well armed for their size, carrying two four-rack AGM-84 Harpoon anti-ship missiles and a Otobreda 76 mm gun. The two Harpoons, specifically, were capable of sinking far larger ships. The German version would have carried the MM38 Exocet.

As Pegasus was constructed several years before the rest of the series, there are some slight differences, such as the fire-control system.

All six vessels were constructed by Boeing, in Seattle, and were stationed at NAS Key West.

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