USS Taurus (PHM-3)
USS Taurus | |
| History | |
|---|---|
| United States | |
| Name | USS Taurus |
| Namesake | Taurus |
| Awarded | 20 October 1977 |
| Builder | Boeing Marine Systems, Renton, Washington |
| Laid down | 30 January 1979 |
| Launched | 8 May 1981 |
| Commissioned | 10 October 1981 |
| Decommissioned | 30 July 1993 |
| Homeport | Key West, Fl |
| Motto | Ad Astra (Latin) "To the stars" |
| Fate | Sold for scrapping, 19 August 1996 |
| General characteristics | |
| Class & type | Pegasus-class hydrofoil |
| Displacement | 255 long tons (259 t) full |
| Length | 133 ft (41 m) |
| Beam | 28 ft (8.5 m) |
| Propulsion |
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| Speed |
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| Complement | 4 officers, 17 enlisted |
| Sensors & processing systems |
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| Armament |
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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.