lets see if anyone can tell me what this is and what happened to them

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Fl...ff_(PGH-1)

USS Flagstaff (PGH-1) was the only Flagstaff-class patrol gunboat (hydrofoil) and was acquired by the United States Navy because of her relatively low cost and very high speed. She was later loaned by the Navy to the U.S. Coast Guard, as USCGC Flagstaff (WPBH-1). The Coast Guard’s interest in the craft was the craft’s speed and its ability to interdict smugglers and other suspicious craft approaching the U.S. coast.

She was decommissioned at Woods Hole on 30 September 1978 and returned to the Navy. The Coast Guard noted that: "sufficient information on the use of hydrofoils has been gathered from the evaluation program." The escalating costs of repair, and the fact that she needed an engine replacement too, figured into the decision to return her to the Navy. She was scrapped in 1978.

An awesome idea!!

i was searching for somethign and it popped up and thought i had to share with everyone. she also had a sister ship.

She was a cutter becuase she was over 65 feet it doesnt look that large to me

http://www.warboats.org/pgh.htm

WHOA! Howed you like to be a drug smuggler and see THAT coming at you...

That may be one of the most kick ass things ever.

Hahaha, that's cool lookin!

We need a crash program to develop a 25 foot RB-H (for Hydrofoil) so that the CG has a nice 60 knot (or faster) interceptor boat. It would save wear and tear on the Helo's and probably be suitable for lost of SAR cases too.

I think I may add my two cents here. As stated this is a hydrofoil. My father was a LTJG in the Coast Guard and served on the USS Pegasus back in the 80s. He told me they were great ships, he could be at Castro's front door in about half an hour from the dock in Key West. He loved them but they did cost a pretty penny and they were always getting into all kinds of trouble. In fact, the shorted sea command in the Navy came out of the Hydrofoil program, the skipper took command and on his first float he put her up on the foils and hit a sand bar. The draft while airborne was about 30 feet. This brought about the general order you could not go foil borne within 30 miles of the coast, but this regulation was broken all the time. They were a great cold war asset that kept Cuba in check and sent the drug runners... well, running.

are you sure he said 30 feet and no 30 inches? 30 feet is the same as some tankers

Yeah I have to agree... 30 FEET could fit a 3 story house under it. From that picture you couldn't fit a Datsun under the boat... so I would believe just a typo and it is 30 inches. But I could be wrong....

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Fl...ff_(PGH-1)

it is saying the draft with foils extended is 18ft.

Ok, well he was on a navy one, they were bigger and what not. I may be wrong, it's been a while.

these were from the navy but in the same boat if itis a 15ft draft they might have wanted to double that to be on the safe side

So after talking to my father I have confirmed, the draft was 30 with the foils down, but when they were foil borne the draft was variable depending on how high they were out of the water.