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S-Boat Class 162 (Hydrofoil-S-Boat)
Hydrofoil-S-Boat (PGH-2) - Picture: Archives 7. S-Squadron
The planning of the US Navy for the Hydrofoil-S-Boat (PGH-2) TUCUMCARI had already started in 1962. The order was issued in 1966 and the boat was commissioned on 07.03.1968. After it run aground it was decommissioned in 1972 and striken from the list of warships of the USN in 1973.
The boat has the following measurements (airborne):
Length: 22,73 m
Beam: 10,79 m
Draft: 1,37 m
Hullborne it had the following measurements
Length: 24,49 m
Beam: 8,71 m
Draught: ......
The propulsion was performed by two Mercedes Benz dieselengines in hullborne condition and with one Proteus Gasturbine for the operation of the waterjets, which gave the boat a speed of more than 40 knots.
Germany had signed the "Memorandum of Understanding" with the USA and Italy on 20.11.1972 and planned to replace the 10 boats of Class 142 mod. of the 7. S-Squadron by 10 larger boats based on this type. The measuremenst airborne were to be:
Length: 40,20 m
Beam: 14,51 m
Draught: 7,10 m
hullborne the measurements were to be:
Length: 44, 70 m
Beam: 8,90 m
Draught: 1,90 m
German Version of the NATO-PHM (S-Boat Class 162)
The first boat of this type, "Pegasus" (PHM-1), was launched on 09.11.1974 and the first trials were performed on 25.02.1975. The German share in design cost was 80 Mio DM.
As weapon fit of the German version 4 x HARPOON launchers, 1 x 40mm MK forward and 2 x 12,7mm twinbarreled-MG.
"Tucumcari" was presented to the European allies in some tests after a deployment in Vietnam.
On board Tucumcarifrom left: FKpt Hoffmann, InSchiffstechnik, KAdm Hartwig, Stv.Bef.Flotte, VAdm Zimmermann, Bef.Flotte, FAdm Klose, BSN, KptzS Rieve, Kdr SFltl, FKpt Schmidt, AST SFltl - Picture: Archives 7. S-Squadron
In spite of the fact that the boat had proven to be an outstanding weapon-platform in the Atlantic and in the North Sea it was declared to "not suitable for combat in the Baltic" and therefore not procured. An other reason for Germany to bail ot of the co-operation was the fact, that building 10 boats would have caused costs of 1,2 to 1,4 billion DM.
PGH = Patrolboat Gun Hydrofoile
PHM = Patrolboat Hydrofoile Missile