USS Taurus
History
United States
NameUSS Taurus
NamesakeTaurus
Awarded20 October 1977
BuilderBoeing Marine Systems, Renton, Washington
Laid down30 January 1979
Launched8 May 1981
Commissioned10 October 1981
Decommissioned30 July 1993
HomeportKey West, Fl
MottoAd Astra (Latin) "To the stars"[1]
FateSold for scrapping, 19 August 1996
General characteristics
Class and typePegasus-class hydrofoil
Displacement255 long tons (259 t) full
Length133 ft (41 m)
Beam28 ft (8.5 m)
Propulsion
Speed
  • 12 knots (22 km/h; 14 mph) hullborne
  • 48 knots (89 km/h; 55 mph) foilborne
Complement4 officers, 17 enlisted
Sensors and
processing systems
Armament

USS Taurus (PHM-3) was the third ship of her class of hydrofoils operated by the United States Navy. Pegasus class vessels were designed for high speed and mobility, and carried a powerful (for their size) armament. The ship was named for the constellation Taurus.

In November 1972, The United States, Germany and Italy signed a Memorandum of Understanding to share the cost of the development of a Patrol Missile Hydrofoil. This brought about the building of the Pegasus class . The Taurus was the first production model.[2]

Taurus makes a high-speed turn
A sailor aboard the patrol combatant missile hydrofoil USS Taurus (PHM 3) stands beside an M60 machine gun as he keeps an eye on a small craft that was stopped after being spotted unusually far from shore

See also

References

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