USS TAURUS (PHM 3)[1]
MISSION: The primary peacetime missions of the hydrofoil are to patrol straits and exists through restricted waters, support task force operations and shadow potentially hostile forces. Hydrofoils will be used to conduct surveillance, screening and special operations. The primary wartime mission of the patrol combatant missile hydrofoil is to conduct offensive operations against major hostile surface combatant ships. Other wartime missions are to patrol and blockade in coastal areas, inland waters and inland sea areas; to augment screening of local convoys against surface attack; to provide fast transport for lightly equipped troops; and to augment screening ships during arrival and departure of convoys or amphibious task forces.
HULL: Hull and superstructure are all-welded aluminum alloy.
FOILS: Fully-submerged canard configuration with approximately 32% of the dynamic provided by the bow foil and 68% by the aft foil. The aft foil retracts rearwards and the bow foil retracts forward into a recess in the bow. Bow doors preserve the hull lines when the forward foil is either fully extended or retracted. The foils and struts are 17-4 PH thickness stainless steel. Both forward and after foils are welded assemblies consisting of spars, ribs and skin. Solid stainless steel flaps are fitted to the trailing edges to provide control and lift augmentation during take-off, and foilborne operations, and to provide roll and pitch stability when the foils are extended during foilborne operations. The bow foil system incorporates a rotatable screw which provides directional control in the foilborne mode. Hydraulic actuators are used to extend and retract the foils and control the flaps.
FOILBORNE CONTROLS: The helm, throttle and automatic control system (ACS) provide continuous dynamic control during take-off, foilborne operation and landing. Once takeoff is completed, the ACS requires no attention by the crew. It controls the ship by sensing ship's attitude, motion rates and acceleration, then comparing them electronically with desired values. Any deviations are processed by analog control computer which generates electrical commands causing hydraulic actuators to reposition the control surfaces, thus minimizing detected deviations. The foilborne control surfaces consist of the flaps on each foil plus the rotatable bow strut which acts as a foilborne rudder. Manual controls and displays are grouped at the helm station to allow the helmsman to monitor all phases of foilborne and hullborne operations and to control heading, and select foil depth.
HULLBORNE CONTROLS: Heading is controlled from the helm station through vectored thrust provided by rotatable water-jets with reverser buckets linked to the hullborne engines. Throttle control is provided at both the helm and engineering control stations.
FOILBORNE POWER PLANT: The foilborne propulsion system consists of a single, two stage, two speed water-jet driven through reduction gears by a single 16,767 h.p. General Electric LM-2500 marine gas turbine engine similar to the turbine which powers the U.S. Air Force's C-5A transport and the DC-10 passenger aircraft. The single foilborne propulsor is capable of pumping 141,000 gallons per minute. The turbine operates on either JP-5 or diesel fuel. Foilborne speeds exceeding 40 knots are possible in 8-13 foot seas. Foilborne range exceeds 600 N.M.
HULLBORNE POWER PLANT: The hullborne propulsion system consists of twin water-jet pumps powered by two 819 metric h.p. Mercedes-Benz (MTU) V-8 diesel engines. Hullborne propulsor nozzles are rotatable for heading control and contain reverser assemblies to redirect thrust for backing. Each is capable of pumping up to 30,000 gallons per minute. The hullborne system provides long range cruising and slow speed maneuvering. Maximum speed hullborne is in excess of 11 knots while cruising range exceeds 1,800 nautical miles.
ACCOMMODATIONS: Four officers and 17 enlisted comprise the crew. The CO has a separate cabin on the main deck level aft of the combat information center. A three man stateroom located below decks is provided for the remaining officers, while the chief petty officers have their own 4-man quarters. The remainder of the enlisted crew is berthed just forward of the engineering spaces. The superstructure accommodates the bridge which is elevated to provide a 360 degree view. Directly below the bridge on the main deck is the combat information center containing fire control, radar, communications, navigation and electronic support measures equipment. Below deck the forward third of the hull houses the magazine and the gun control and loader assemblies. The middle third contains the crew's living and messing area as well as the berthing spaces. The aft third contains the machinery spaces. All manned spaces are air-conditioned.
- ↑ Taken in part from Jane's Surface Skimmers, 1976-77, Ed. Roy MacLeary
