The Fastest Ship in the U.S. Navy: Boeing Pegasus-Class Hydrofoils

The Boeing built hydrofoils named after Tucumcari, New Mexico, the design basis for the technology used in the subsequent United States Pegasus-class patrol boats and the Jet-foil ferries. Its unique feature was a water-jet propulsion and a computer-controlled fully submerged foil configuration of one foil at the bow and foils on the port and starboard sides. The Tucumcari was one of two prototype boats contracted by the Navy for the purpose of evaluating the latest hydrofoil technology with a fast top speed of 50 knots. The second boat was the rival Grumman built USS Flagstaff (PGH-1).

[@kyebean]

it's interesting how much technical information is given in the documentary. A modern documentary would just be endlessly repeating permutations of "it go real fast" "it beat our enemies".

[@paulrebellion9548]

kyebean so true m8 so true

[@captsirl]

That's because they were not talking to dumb down idiots in those days. Now the announcer would have to have drama in his or her voice like they were on the brink of death at any moment and maybe have a car or two flip and explode just to keep their attention.

[@hdcandela5697]

True. We are not what we used to be. The Smithsonian now depresses me. What have we done lately, now that education is about Communist brainwashing and kids are addicted to computers.

[@Rick_Sanchez_C137_]

Modern documentaries are like modern “news” shows....”This is what you need to think, and this is how you should vote, don’t worry about the science behind it, all smart scientists agree with this.”

[@robertplummer7928]

kyebean thanks to our military we are now the worlds most feared and hated terrorists cartel in history, the entire planet is our enemy fool we can't even beat a pathetic little street gang like ISIS

[@WALLYFISHERMAN]

I was Interior Communications Electrician on the USS Pegasus from 1978-1981. Great duty. 4 officers and 17 enlisted. Fastest transit through the Panama canal. Ship still holds the record.

[@markcerajewski5709]

I was stationed on the USS Saginaw and we escorted the Pegasus through the Panama Canal

[@ethanspaziani1070]

Y'all are awesome people y'all got to have some really beautiful experiences

[@markgranger9150]

Did you guys get a ticket from the harbor master in.78

[@mitchyoung93]

Isn't transit speed limited by the locks?

[@rocketbob76]

I worked at Boeing while the PHMs were built... They were in the hanger over from the 727, & 737 production lines... It was amazing to watch their construction process... Lots of welding w/ aluminum alloys, very rugged thick aluminum sheets & crane work... (1978-80) ... I heard they could hit 60+ knots & were very hard to target... Now they use the tech for "The America's Cup" yacht races, them boats can hit 70+ knots ..

[@garrettord3304]

I love informational videos from this time period. They go into just the right level of detail, recognizing that their audience are not experts on the topic, nor are they idiots incapable of comprehending it. These videos feel as if they were made to educate at least as much as they were to entertain.

[@Nimrawid]

Yeah, modern documentaries are so boring with endless repetition and some useless flair.

[@Stadtpark90]

I like the style of the old documentaries: less Hollywood, less dramatic music, less fast cuts, less explosions and gun firing.

[@tangathompson302]

RIGHTT

[@burnerjack01]

In short, "More cattle, less hat".

[@TheMattc999]

Stadtpark90 I was right there with you until you said less explosions and gun firing....🤔

[@forkyoum8621]

@@TheMattc999 agreed!

[@Hebdomad7]

If you watched Hollywood movies of the era, you'd see a lot of similarities. Nothing has changed in that regard.

[@n40tom]

about 25 years ago my wife and I we're fortunate enough to be able to go on board the USS Pegasus during graduation week at Annapolis. it was a very cool experience they said at the time the boat was being used as a drug intervention vessel. I asked how the Navy could be used in a police action and I was told that they always carry at least one member of the U.S.Coast Guard onboard to make it legal. I believe they said the vessel could engage 4 Airborne craft and 3 seaborn craft at the same time in hostile action. I was very impressed with the vessel and what struck me was how they referred to the helm as the cockpit and everything else that leaned toward Aviation as opposed to maritime nomenclature. one more experience we had was as we were going to get ready to leave the vessel word came down for us all to freeze in place. we asked what was going on and they said classified information was coming through the radio and we could not be any closer to throw radio room. We had to smile it was real Tom Clancy shit. Great experience.

[@actiniumanarchy9237]

Thats cool! Annapolis is a great campus, was it your Child that graduated?

[@n40tom]

No , we had a boat on the Eastern Shore of Maryland and we would go for graduation week and stay on our boat for the activities. we did this for about 15 years. it was so much fun. the Blue Angels would fly , they would have a parade and the first-year class would try to climb Herndon Monument. if you have never seen this check it out on KZbin under Herndon Monument climb ,it is a ball . so many laughs. The entire city of Annapolis had a different feel to it during this week. Several years ago we sold our boat and then I lost my beautiful bride , my best friend and first mate of almost 50 years to cancer. When I'm down and feeling sad I think of times like this to try to fight the emptiness. Take care. T

[@rdougjenson]

tackless

[@bretondeardorf6427]

Very cool to read this. Had n old Master Chief while I was in the Coast Guard who got to sail on these while performing the Drug Interdiction mission you describe. He had some interesting stories about the Navy sailors who sailed these bad girls haha. He also mentioned that several crewmembers were killed by these boats. Apparently, when they foil would hit a submerged object, the foil strut would fold, causing the boat to come crashing back in to the sea at high speed. When this would happen crew-members sleeping inside her after watch would unexpectedly be slammed in to the bulkhead breaking their necks. Not sure about the veracity of that statement but don't doubt him, he is one of the greatest sailors I had the pleasure to sail with.

[@martinmorgan1538]

tackless a

[@barrybuchert1345]

When I was in the navy during the late 70's I seen the pegasus actually pass our ship when we were on our westpac cruise.

[@gerryrobersonsr503]

Out of San Diego, I saw 3!

[@ethanspaziani1070]

So cool

[@rachelgonsalves6878]

woah that's so cool

[@thelukesternater]

Australian?

[@Maximillion666]

You just know the Navy guys loved zooming around on this boat lol.

[@ahmadamin3830]

This is cardboard model and CGI/photoshop -- Sneaky USA trick!! No such technology exists until Allah gives, and He will give it to us, not USA, you liars, cheap zionist propagandist!!!!!

[@toddrainer6542]

+Ahmad Amin - WOW... I hope you're being sarcastic because if you're not, then the level of stupid is of epic proportion.

[@MorrisonScotch]

+Ahmad Amin derka derka

[@tonym.9876]

A. You are the quintessential Muslim Extremist. B. While you relish our culture, finance, and technology, you are hell bent on destroying the very world you enjoy. The Pegasus Class ship was created years ago by Boeing. As a USN vet, my Company adopted this great ship as an emblem displayed on our flag. Stick to what you know, which is absolutely NOTHING apart from the brainwashing you have succumbed to. bn il-mitnaaka (I think you may know the meaning of this).

[@doodn5894]

and all you morons fell for the obvious troll, wow...

[@redux537]

It's amazing the weight those three hydrofoils carry!

[@terrywbreedlove]

I did a walk through of a hydrofoil in 1982 in Seattle when I was joining up. It was brand new they had two there and they had cruise Missile launchers in the stern. Very high tech for the day. If memory serves me correctly they were powered by a gas turbine engine and two diesels.

[@guntherultraboltnovacrunch5248]

I was born in the 60's and I can tell you from experience that everything had that greenish hue. When my parents grew up, everything was black and white. Now days... everything is "all colorful" and shit.

[@blades4741]

I mean the 60s-90s were some of the most innovative years so mad respect to u sir you got to enjoy life without the “colorful shit”

[@godfreypoon5148]

@TrueKen No, it was the actual colour.

[@parilondi5221]

Damn did real life have that greenish hue back then too ?

[@neda9438]

Look at the elegant design of that destroyer , it’s remarkable it was 50 years ago almost. I’ve looked at so many hydrofoil boats and crafts and none come close to the amazing design of this ship.

[@randyhumphries2702]

I was onboard the USS OZBOURN DD 846 in '73, we chased one of these things in the straights off Seattle, Washington, one fast sob. Left us like we were sitting diw. Just cruising, then up it went and was gone!

[@steveschwartz6138]

I remember picking up one of these on radar while in the coast guard in the Florida Straits. I thought the radar was malfunctioning.

[@1975KyleDavid]

With stealth technology, hydrofoils would actually be less visible to radar and the water jet propulsion is quieter than propeller along with having a smaller sonar deflection area-- a win win.

[@pattormey5340]

I was stationed at Boat Support Unit II (EM3) in Littlecreek VA (1970) when Tucumcari was being tested. She was fast but everybody knew she would headfirst into the water at 60 mph if she hit a single log (which I'm told she did later that year). ANY boat being chased by her could just throw out the trash, her intakes clogged and she's dead in the water. We also tested Air Cushion vehicles for amphibious assault, in theory they could go over marshland. But they are stopped by strands of barbed wire and tree stumps on marshland. Both vessels were higher profile targets compared to the (L/M)SSC, (Light/Medium) Seal Support Craft were already using.

[@natkobitz893]

Good info, but stale. When we reduced the AALC test vehicles to the LCAC production units we could swallow mast obstacles, and they do, today,

[@flybeep1661]

"She now has a bright future in the US navy"....HAHAHAHAHAHAHAA

[@xaenon]

they actually DID have a bright future when they were developed. The problem was their role as a high speed interdiction craft got deep-sixed by various other operational specs that were introduced later, and the hydrofoils got relegated to coastal duty. They were good in their role as coastal patrol ships, particularly in intercepting drugs and stuff, but unfortunately they were judged 'overkill' and 'not cost effective' in the long run, and they got retired.

[@KB4QAA]

Six Pegasus PHM"s served for 20 years. That was a bright future of this film.

[@timacrow]

I used to see the Pegasus jamming around Elliot Bay in Seattle all the time when it was being tested. That thing could move. It was cool seeing the boat completely above the water and generating a major spray behind it!

[@stinkbandit]

On board Computer? Must be running Windows B.C.

[@badlandskid]

+stinkbandit But it had such a bright future in the US navy!

[@kennethmaccourt7393]

windows BC that made me LOL!

[@ajpiro8754]

lol

[@UTUBESUCK666]

+stinkbandit LMAO!

[@Texsoroban]

+stinkbandit could be SCO Unix, but most probably assembly language.

[@finncarlbomholtsrensen1188]

In my much younger days, in the sixties and seventies, we had Hydrofoil passenger ships sailing between Danish Copenhagen and Swedish Malmoe, in high speed. It was normally a pleasant experience as they stopped sailing when weather was rough. But then the new and long bridge was built.

[@KK-lj9bq]

When I was younger, I had the pleasure and excitement of watching the Boeing military hydrofoils on Lake Washington and Puget Sound. Very exciting!

[@burnerjack01]

I can see no reason not to resurrect Boeing 929 with updates to materials, propulsion and controls. A truly amazing vessel.

[@garykinter2675]

I was stationed on the "Tucumcari" in 69-70, and went through the Panama Canal with it when we changed duty stations from S.D. to Norfolk. Found this by accident, it was so cool to watch this video

[@jameshuban6515]

I remember seeing it docked at Little Creek. I also saw her and the Iowa off the coast of Virginia. I was trying to get to Chesapeake Light to do some amberjack fishing. When I saw her on plane and the Iowa steaming North to South. I knew then I was too far offshore. I finally past a buoy and realized it was the last buoy out of the bay headed Northeast. So much for both my new GPS and compass. That ship was amazing to watch on plane.

[@rasputin644]

My dad worked as a designer of the hydrofoil with Boeing Marine Systems and worked on the tucumcari!

[@vincewilliam5848]

Its pretty refreshing to hear actual explanations of how something works. Most documentaries or vids i watch never go into detail much.

[@HalfLifeAMD]

I like the exhaust port opening at 5:57 . They should put a sign above the opening saying " insert heat seeking missle here"...

[@Fixxate]

HalfLifeAMD Heh. It has an ass.

[@jakeogroton]

HalfLifeAMD I mean unlike airplanes your not gonna be breaking lock on a missle while being in a boat

[@HalfLifeAMD]

Humptys Games that would be a huge torpedo. ..I still say exhaust port for the turbine engine.

[@HalfLifeAMD]

Humptys Games its an exhaust port...at 5:37 you can see the exhaust pipe from the turbine engine to the stern and at 5:45 they show the exhaust gas blowing out of that port..I think your idea of torpedoes on the ship is a cool idea, however the navey didn't. ..that class didn't have torpedoes it had missles on an aft launcher and a fwd gun..thanks for the opportunity to educate you.

[@HalfLifeAMD]

the ship in the footage I think only had guns. .it was pre pegasus class so to speak. the pegasus class had the exh port moved to blow out the back deck...but whatever..5:57..its an exhaust port.

[@DesertSquid]

I was across the pier from these in Bremerton Washington in the early 80's. Beautiful craft, and my friend was on one as an engineman and they ate well!!!

[@dman7714]

Thank you youtube recommendation system. Just when I think you've gone crazy you restore my faith with videos like these.

[@vonhoople7904]

In the 1960s the royal navy developed the Brave class about 150 tons with three gas turbine engines and a diesel for slow maneuvering capable of 60 knots plus. I served on HMS Manxman a fast minelayer of the Blackwood class. She held a record in the RN for steaming at 44knots over 4 hours in the mediterranean displacing 1600 tons.

[@BrandonTahedl]

I love the background music on these types of video's from the era.

[@RomboutVersluijs]

Hahah yeah, i got circus feeling... happy happy joy joy ;)

[@joerobertson7047]

Torpedos hate this boat. Click here to see it's secret....

[@RyanPhoenixAZ]

click where?

[@tamadelrey26]

lol....love this ad

[@joerobertson7047]

***** That's not what your dad said... wait.

[@Raythe]

Only the truly studied internet dwellers will understand this joke, and it makes it that much more awesome. You sir, get a cookie, from Putin, with love. Thank you for giving me a reason to stay on this planet anymore.

[@avinasharavindhan3113]

Joe

[@PAPOOSELAKESURFER]

Plainview has titanium props to resist the erosive effects of cavitation. The longer hull strides across waves instead of diving into them, great advantage from PT boat concepts.

[@gregqualtieri609]

Was station as a airdale in Key west in 1978. Reenlisted on board the Pegasus while on a day cruise. We where flying as they called it at 60 knots. Have a letter stating that i was the only airdale at time to reenlist on a hydrofoil.

[@z4bmwz4]

Worked for a company who built low light cameras for these ships. Allowed them to fly at night. Interesting visit on USS Pegasus.

[@andywalker1846]

Amazing craft. Saw one operating in the Gulfstream off Key Largo in the the 80's. It's was really hustling in 3-5 foot seas. Awesome.

[@alexmartin0824]

The phrase, "if it ain't Boeing, I ain't going" applies to the sea too

[@theWZZA]

You mean like the 737 Max?

[@roberthaines4221]

Just want to say how much I enjoy the narrator's voice; it's very much the voice of my boyhood in the '60s & '70s. Sadly, no one speaks like this anymore.

[@2020Max1]

Hydrofoils hold great promise.... except for the fact that the US Navy has pretty much abandoned them. All ships of the Pegasus class have been decommissioned since 1993... A bright future indeed.

[@KB4QAA]

Twenty years was good service. At the time of this film, it was a true statement.

[@Australisium]

The Pegasus class was on its way out when I was commissioned in 91. Unfortunately I was never able to see one. It seemed like an interesting concept.

[@06phaeton]

We have tried like all get out to get the Navy to dump the useless LCS class and build hydrofoils, to no avail. The useless LCS is the baby of Congress. Campaign $$$$ anyone?

[@clearingbaffles]

the Pegasus was testing in San Diego when I was a bubblehead in the late 70's, she passed like we was sitting still cause we were and turning into Ballast Point. I was lookout/bridge phonetalker and spotted her at 175° relative & then 010°relative as she rounded North Island, the CO liked the way I called it so I got a ride, they let me look but not touch except for sounding the ships horn as we passed Ballast Point & starting to fly. my boat got credit for killing her in fleet ops; she was on her hull with diesels running and we thought she was a diesel boat snorkeling. There were a few good times!!!!

[@barrybuchert1345]

Me being a carrier sailor, I love another navy vet sharing their experience. CVN65

[@fivemjs]

I can't get over how different the cadences and tone and even mood of speech has changed over the years. Documentaries and news reports...even movies sounded so much more formal....and I wonder when and why it changed.

[@johnpaulmierz6978]

I worked on 6 PHM's in the 70's to early 80's along side the Jet Foils

[@MrPingn]

My father's U.D.T. team was assigned Tucumcari. They loved that little boat. Shame what happened to it.

[@paxwallacejazz]

The soviets had us theoretically trumped in this area with Ground Effect Vehicles much larger some capable of over 400 mph designed to fly just above the surface of the water .

[@danh8302]

Kilometers not miles

[@KB4QAA]

Pax: The WIG did not trump the Pegasus boats. They weren't even in competition. Plus the WIGs could not remain at sea when not airborne.

[@LincolnArmstrong]

look at that modern interior!

[@hooverwoody]

I remember these at the Boeing Renton Plant in the 70`s cruising around the south end of Lake Washington.I was sure that our personal JetPacks would soon be here.They made some passenger only hydros that still operate in Hong Kong and other places. Peace

[@nodiggity7731]

Im going to put Hydrofoils on my 7ft Livingston powerd by a 30lb thrust ELECTRIC trolling motor Oh boy am i excited

[@the_road__warrior6185]

justin roessner Watch it actually be bad ass tho, 😆

[@nodiggity7731]

It might maybe a 15hp 2-stroke Crysler motor then it will plane i need hydro foils first FIBERGLASS HYDROFOILS PERFECT👌

[@xevious2501]

wow never knew it to be such and old invention. heck i remember as a kid, playing PHM PEGASUS on the commodore 64. (seems i got a youtube search items after i watch this)

[@LarryisControversial3000]

One of these were sold as scrap to a ship recycler in the oregon /washington state area. As it was being towed into the Columbia river it broke free from it's tow and was left to run aground on the Washington side of the river a few miles from Astoria Oregon. It is still there, very little is left. When I first saw it, the foils were still attached and it looked like a ship. Now it's mostly a stripped hull. I think it is the Hogh Point but my memory is a little rusty

[@61Kline]

That was the Plainview

[@grog2537]

It's still there, but it's a bit more intact than I think u remember

[@ViolentKisses87]

That makes me sad.

[@LarryisControversial3000]

@@grog2537 Very likely. I've never gotten more a slow passing look at it unfortunately. I am always in a big truck so never get the chance to pullover and walk up to it. That and its usually several years apart when I do pass thru the area. I do remember more of the ship was there in the early 90s when I first saw it, and now sadly significantly less. Are the foils still there? Wondering if maybe they fell over and just laying flat to where I can't see them from the road at 30mph.

[@grog2537]

@@LarryisControversial3000 the foils aren't there, but the rest of the ship is still really nicely intact. I've walked up to it and it's still got most of the paint on it. It's a lot bigger than it looks like in videos and from the street though!

[@SPQuinn-us9gt]

I Served in the support unit in the early 80s and there was nothing as cool as the ships or the posting. Greatest times of my life

[@aaronutley]

I had a sim game in the late 80s, PHM Pegasus by EA, on my Commodore computer that was actually lots of fun!

[@driftwood4271]

In the future cargo ships and subs will fly, and Jet fighters will be submersible.

[@enterBJ40]

Lol!!!

[@ivan_thespacebiker]

There are more aeroplanes in the sea than submarines in the sky.

[@TheBCSledder]

Ivan The Space Biker What is your source? Is this based on actual scientific data?

[@thomaslax39]

TheBCSledder do you get his joke and are just being obtuse or do you not get the joke?

[@TheBCSledder]

Zeko Reko No, YOU don't get MY joke.

[@jrea424]

the fastest way to get through water is to not actually be in it!

[@koebuss1]

Pegasus

[@Steve211Ucdhihifvshi]

actually the fastes way is to create a forcefield of such (like a curtain of bubbles around the object) and it glides thru the water. The russians use it with new torpedo technology, the fastest moving objects in the water at the moment.

[@KuDastardly]

Which is why the Soviets developed the ekranoplanes.

[@bigredc222]

The Russians tracked something under water going 150 knots.

[@stephenmwyatt2]

bubble layer is the way to wiz through the water.........

[@tstahler5420]

In '85 when I enlisted, this was at the top of my "wishlist" of ships/duty stations. I ended up getting the exact opposite, a Sub tender. 😂 Honestly, it couldn't have turned out better.

[@kwanpeter8930]

We had a fleet of over a dozen Boeing 929 jet foils providing ferry service between Hong Kong and Macau for 40+ years. They had been retired recently because of the new bridge/tunnel between the 2 cities and covid. I missed these monsters.

[@MissMarinaCapri]

It's so nice to see these old videos. That was such an expensive experimentation for the Navy. We the people of course footed the bill, taxes, too high, to oppressive. Now they have something called see shadow stealthy and fast. I hope this technology works better.

[@hobbyhermit66]

Unfortunately, sea shadow was only an experimental prototype. After trials it was scrapped. Seems the Navy wanted it to have a lot more crewmembers. I think it only required a half dozen or so. So I've read.

[@Lurker1979]

Hydrofoils are so cool. Wish more ships would use them. Like the Ferry system here in the Seattle area where Boeing is located at the time this film done.

[@proximityfuse47]

I always wanted to build one. I was thinking of adding them to a kayack with a 20 hp moter.

[@p.a.reysen3185]

I believe the PCH-1 & 2 were built in Seattle, on Puget Sound. While drydocked at PSNS Bremerton, we watched them making their trials. Great conception and joked about whether the Navy Department could fit this system onto carriers.

[@daverunner3397]

There were a few of these at Key West, I was in the CG and was always amazed by them.

[@LUNATIC75]

5:44 Paint this thing black and give it to Batman. Damn, the future was cool!

[@whynot2248]

LUNATIC75 lel

[@zacharyzier314]

LUNATIC75 Uh...this was in the seventies or eighties.

[@scalycopperhead1674]

@@zacharyzier314 he's probably one of those "it was beter in the 60's"guys

[@MrR2185]

Now lets make a hydrofoil aircraft carrier.

[@Mr.Highway]

US carriers can run at 50+ kts. Loaded... They are the fastest ships EVER made. Top speed is classified. Once it hit 35 kts they ring a bell for every 5 knots.. friends on the Reagan, said it reaches speeds of closer to 60+ kts,of course off the record..

[@samanli-tw3id]

MrR2185 a hydrofoil submarine

[@JedemPoKucama]

@@Mr.Highway yeah right

[@Mr.Highway]

@@JedemPoKucama engineering isn't your strong suit is it??

[@TAllyn-qr3io]

I am a Navy veteran and was stationed at Mayport Naval Base ... went down to the keys several times (LEO in the Caribbean) and saw these...and a few would come up to Mayport. They were wicked cool looking 🤘🤘🤘

[@adama.schitt6568]

This vid, from the 60's, belongs on a history channel. If the technology was so promising, it seems never to have panned out.

[@KB4QAA]

AAS: The plan DID take off. 6 Pegasus class PHM boats served for 20 years.

[@gqualti1]

I was stationed in Key West and relisted on one of them. I have a letter stating I was the first Airedale to do so. We were flying at 60 knots. that was in 1986.

[@retiredguyadventures6211]

I got out of the Navy in 73 and was living in Key West between 78/81. While there I became friends with a few of the sailors that was stationed on the Pegasus-Class Hydrofoils. Because I was a ex-fleet sailor during active service I was gifted a tour of one of the hydrofoils by one of my friends. I told the CO that I was considering enlisting which was BS. I just wanted to tour the ship. They were a great group of sailors and the ship was awesome...

[@bfranco1519]

Neat! Why did the Navy stop using them? Seems like a great design. Hydrofoils are making a come back in wind surfing, surfing, kite surfing. Super neat to see.

[@n40tom]

Greg When my wife and I we're on a guest tour of the USS Pegasus in Annapolis we were told the ship could do 60 + knots. I asked what was the Plus and the answer was the plus is classified. I thought that was a cool answer

[@kertjj3522]

This speaker is in every 60s documentary i have seen

[@equalizer7451]

This type of videos leave me watching them again and again

[@tluck6532]

I got to take a flight on the Taurus PHM-3 when they were docked in Key West in the 80's..I was stationed on Boca Chica.

[@theninja001]

I love how these announcers talked back then! Lol

[@mangosandpineapples4301]

Yes.

[@isakjohansson7134]

We all know there was only one announcer from this era

[@michealbeers777]

...to bad the US Navy stop using Hydrofoils years ago.

[@ph11p3540]

The Italian navy dropped their version of this. Several liabilities. Fragile against submerged flotsam. Noisy as hell so a submariner could hear it for dozens of miles. It's a fuel guzzlers. Swath hulls are the way to go for high speed ships and they are easer to build at any scale. USS Independence is a type of refined hybrid between a swath hull and a trimaran.

[@fotoneurotic]

+Micheal Beers The HSV's work off of similar concepts in their catamaran design...

[@patriciadechenier5740]

+Micheal Beers The Littoral Combat Ships incorporate fast propulsion and trimaran hulls, which give similar performance to hydrofoils and even more flexibility - they can clear mines with towed gear which has robotic capacity, and have modular weapons stations that can take remote fired autocannon or missile launchers; there is great scope for other weapons at these stations. And they can host helicopters.

[@prsamerica5103]

+Patricia de Chenier ...well there you go, i knew there had to be a good reason for it.

[@jaysealenduro5618]

actually they have been using it and upgrading it

[@tweakiepop]

I guess using technical drawing boards and trial and error, amazing. Love the tracer(?) gun footage...smooth!

[@radioguy1620]

Thanks for posting,, lots of info here without the clutter

[@semco72057]

I wonder if the Navy still have any of those types of ships in service since they have many other types of ships in service. I am a retiree from the U.S. Air Force and I worked on several different aircraft and saw even more during my time on duty.

[@tstahler5420]

Nope, they were decommissioned. There's a KZbin video about a guy who won an auction, he didn't know he had actually purchased one of the decommissioned, demilitarised boats. 😂

[@AndTheCorrectAnswerIs]

When was this movie made? I kept expecting them to predict that we would all have flying cars by the year 2000.

[@mudduck754]

I remember thoses things being tested in Puget sound, we used to run the old sea scout ship in circles around it. run those twin hall scott twelve cylinder engines up,bring her old sixty three feet up on a plane to where the offset rudders finally work,and just smile and wave.

[@lydiaanderson3312]

@Hello Howlingmad, How are you doing?

[@mudduck754]

@@lydiaanderson3312 on this side of the grass

[@natkobitz893]

Terrific documentary. As great as the Pegasus class was, we developed a Suface Effect Ship which was TWICE as fast. Both have their place in a modern navy. Unfortunately, the "pointy-bow, square stern admirals have fought them since Adm Zumwalt retired in the mid-70s..

[@lydiaanderson3312]

@Hello Nat, How are you doing?

[@raymondtrendle9428]

Not around anymore and now rotting in the Philadelphia Naval Ship Yard - one left

[@joshuagodsey3731]

Raymond Trendle thats terrible such a amazing ship and there it will sit for years on end makes me so sad

[@MrPingn]

There is one being refurbished in private hands. The Ares hydrofoil museum.

[@swiftWord]

Aries..(not being a grammar nazi just want folks to be able to find it)

[@WALTERBROADDUS]

Actually the boat in Philly is a PG of the Asheville class. No foils.

[@cracklingvoice]

USS Aries (PHM-5) has been preserved. She's somewhere in Missouri.

[@ScottCalkins]

My father was one of the engineers that designed these. He got to ride on them several times, and I got to walk around on the deck once. One is still in mothballs, and the other was scrapped when the caption hit a coral reef.

[@smithers6464]

+Scott Calkins If it was foilborne when it hit the reef, then it was the easiest decommissioning/scrapping ever. Jjust go out there and pick up the pieces.

[@OMGSOMANYSURVEYS]

Okay

[@johncantrell614]

We had four of these when I worked for a place called Charleston Shipbuilding. As I remember, three of them were scrapped there, and one of them was converted to be a private yacht, without the hydrofoil option on it.

[@thelukesternater]

Why would you?!?!? The foil is where the sexiness is!!

[@johncantrell614]

@@thelukesternater yes, that’s true for sure. But the cost of repairing and them maintaining that equipment was probably far above what even the wealthy person could afford….💰💰💰

[@jamessutherland5107]

30 yrs ago the future seemed a lot cooler than it does now

[@Zomby_Woof]

The curse of knowledge. We now understand why we aren't getting flying cars.

[@jashmedia6935]

Thinking about Steven Hyde saying "And it runs on water man!"

[@edgarcardenas5476]

have you ever seem a ekranoplane? thst is a real fast ship!

[@H0kram]

An ekranoplane is not a ship, nor a plane :) Ground effect vehicles are their own kind of vehicle. But yes you're right, nothing beats their speed on sea. Especially the old soviet prototypes.

[@edgarcardenas5476]

What ? Any tipe of condition is mot a problem

[@natkobitz893]

Ekranoplanm the Russian's "Caspian Sea Monster", was a WIG (Wing In Ground Effect) craft. It was destroyed in a crash as did all of the otherv WIGs. In order to get grouund effect you must fly so close tu the surface thatwaves form a great danger. Its dwnfall.

[@natkobitz893]

Very Interesting. I saw the Caspian Sea Monster as a US rep for a seaplane conferance, at Aneppo. It crashed about 4 months later. The problem was vibration due to an undulating ground effect over waves and no anticipitory control program. I don't believe, with the current state of technology that WIGs are practicalm but, I have been wrong before. Please comment.

[@RealityIsTheNow]

ekranoplane isn't a ship. It's an aircraft.

[@MorrisDrummond]

The music makes me feel like this boat is a prize on a 70’s game show

[@wayneo7220]

In the late '80's I was working in a marina on the Hudson R. on a busy 4th of July weekend and one of the hydrofoils was there and open to the public for tours. After work I went over to get a tour but they had just ended tours for the day and was bummed out. Just then a crew member called down to me to ask if I could give directions to his family that wanted to come up to visit him from NYC. I gave them directions and the crew member was so happy he gave me a personal tour. I got to look into the front turret room, something none of the visitors that day got to see. I remember the control station operated on 600v and thought that was quite a lot for a boat. As I remember it was assigned to coastal patrols in FL, drug interdiction stuff.

[@hogey74]

I frikkin love KZbin. this stuff is great to see. thanks for the vid.

[@bigdaddy6965]

46mph on a big boat loaded with guns isn't bad 🤔 especially for that time

[@Wildstar40]

Great now I want a hydrofoil.

[@ethanspaziani1070]

Good luck with that as far as I know they've all been destroyed

[@morrissent5354]

la marina militare italiana e' stata la prima a mettere in squadra questo tipo di unita' negli anni '80. Successivamente la Us Navy ha ripreso l'idea e ha creato unita' speculari alle loro esigenze . Buon lavoro per la ricerca di questa verità' omessa.

[@doginwoods]

This is a real old video. They show an artists illustration of the Pegasus class Hydrofoils. They did become a reality, stationed in Key West. I steamed with a few of them, in the Caribbean back in the 1970's, and those babies were fast, sleek and awesome. They carried Harpoon missile systems, with a forward mounted gun. I wasn't on one, but I'd have loved to pulled duty on it... They are now removed from the fleets register.

[@hogey74]

nice. as a kid in Sydney half the ferries were hydro foils. All gone now :-(.

[@doginwoods]

John Hogan When I was in the Navy, back in the 1970's, we saw them quite often in the Mediterranean Sea. There were a lot of them moving around in Sicily, Corsica and Venice. I was told, most of them we saw, were made by the USSR, which I don't know if that meant Russia, or one of the Soviet block countries. Your name came up on my Google page and caused almost panic. I have been looking for a John Hogan, I served with in 1978. Your an Aussie, so I am pretty sure your not him.

[@hogey74]

+doginwoods geez nice memories but freaky coincidence! I was four years old in 1978, in Sydney Australia, and probably making roads for my cars out of mum's basket of clothes pegs :-). I later learned that at about the same time someone in the US was experimenting with hydro foils on a wind surfer...

[@doginwoods]

ROFL.. yeah, I'm as old as the great coral reef!.. Least, that's what I use to tell my dad when he was in his 50's!.. When we did ops in the Caribbean, these foils would cruise by, screaming like a jet fighter, and haulin butt. They had to be doing close to 50 or 60 mph.

[@hogey74]

HAHA. They're a capability that appears to have been given up. I imagine other assets achieve suitable outcomes but hydrofoils and hovercraft seem to have dropped away. Like we've contracted in some way? Hmmm.

[@aquacruisedb]

"this hydrofoil is operating in heavy seas, but maintains a constant level" - video of 72ft USS Tucumcari going WITH a force 4-5...swipe to Adams class 440ft destroyer going INTO a force 9-10 "a destroyer fighting the same conditions slams and labours" LOL - think this was originally a Boeing sales & marketing video?!

[@JudgeDredd_]

aquacruisedb hey I’m too dumb or drunk or both to comprehend your comment. Could you dumb it down if you get a sec?

[@1980VINZ]

OMG……. I was 6-7yo and I was used to go with my mother to the city library, and I remember perfectly that I took a book about this technology (my favorite library area was “technologies”…) and the photos and illustrations were EXACTLY these magnificent boats and ships!!! I was dreaming about them!! Especially the one with red wings…….. I’m so happy to see them in a video…… Huge thanks for sharing this video!! It reminds me so many memories and still amazes me!! By the way I’m surprised we don’t see anymore this technology… I’m curious to know why. I’m gonna search why Thanks again and big salut 🫡 from France!! ViNZ.

[@davidtelliho5043]

we were in seas w/waves over 5 stories high. We`d go up one,down other side & thru the next. We had extra life lines strung on 02 level, & you had to time a run forward,between waves washing over. USS Walker DD517,1968. we pulled into Samoa till seas calmed down

[@joetuktyyuktuk8635]

"Ship of the future..." that didn't age well.

[@TheMickeymental]

The destroyer at 1:27 appears to be in rougher seas.

[@MiltonFindley]

That old Gearing class tin can was indeed in rougher seas. Beyond the capability of those hydrofoils which became small boats in that kind of water.

[@neilmarsh1904]

Living in Renton in the mid-'70s. A drinking buddy was in the Navy and assigned to the Pegasus project. We could tell when things hadn't gone well on any given day - he'd refer to it as the "hydrofail."

[@1stFlyingeagle]

when I was in the Navy we escorted her. We took the crew properties and were the hauling ship. We did refueling for her. The ship I was on was LST1188 USS Sagina. Then months later heard the captain run her aground while on the foils. The sand bar we heard did some real damage. Also heard that Captain was removed from being Captain.

[@TharzZzDunN]

I kept waiting to hear, "Thunderbird's are go!"

[@flaplaya]

Pretty crazy seeing a 120 ton boat fly... Seems pretty good in the engineering dept wonder why they went away. They must have many disadvantages.

[@JohnJones1987]

Missiles are what sunk the idea. Nothing can outrun or outmaneuver a missile. Being fast lost it's advantage. The technology is being seen more and more in professional sailing yacht/racing though. And loads of ferries/etc are on foils these days. Foils are still the future, but unfortunately due to the corruption inherent to weapon system contracts, all that R&D that was paid out of the public purse will never see the light of day. It belongs to Boeing et al.

[@natkobitz893]

Not so. Fast missiles cannot correct course rapidly. PHM could do a diving stop and the missile would pass in front of it.

[@vibratingstring]

People commenting here keep assuming this was made for general consumption on the equivalent of the history channel or something. It was not. This was targeted to Navy personnel.

[@DavidGarcia-zu3hl]

What a great command for a junior officer and for the senior enlisted. Small crew, tight knit, awesome opportunity.

[@dabenzel45]

We did operations with these back in the 80's. They were amazing! 160 knots, buy the time you saw them coming they were already within firing range and then turned on a dime and were gone.

[@JedemPoKucama]

160 knots? It says they went 50..

[@dougmahone]

They did not go 160 kts

[@Ivegotnochoicesilencemyvoice]

Lol

[@dabenzel45]

Officially no. They do not go 160 knots, but in reality, yes they do. You don't believe me, then f off, I've seen it. How fast do you need to be going to raise 8 ft out of the water and travel 8 miles in 3 minutes?

[@ChristopherBoscole]

my father CMDR Robert Boscole , a naval engineer, was instrumental in the analysis and development of hydrofoils by the navy

[@natkobitz893]

If he is still here, give him my regards.

[@bspaet]

My father , a torsional vibration engineer, got a contract to study the propulsion systems on the Plainview and the Tucumcari in 1971/2. In an article about my father it said that the Tucumcari was on a round the world operational tour in 1972. wonder how that went?

[@tadficuscactus]

I would love to drive one of these technological marvels.

[@kdrapertrucker]

Imagine if they built modern versions of these hydrofoils, instead of the LCS. Modern turbines and fly by wire control, and some stealth shaping.