USS California..

Let's hear it for the HMS Victory! I had the opportunity (and pleasure) to tour the Victory in 1999. A magnificant line of battle ship, the last of its kind.

Late 1940's USS Texas.

My favorite warships are no longer part of the US Navy arsenal. They (along with their support group), were decommissioned and mostly sold for scrap. There is ONLY one of them remaining and it is now in civilian hands.


USS Taurus (PHM3) ............ . All six PHMs ....... Missile test (Harpoon). Hulborne Patrol (PHM2) .

My favorite warships were Patrol Hydrofoil Missile Ships (PHM). At one time, there were 6 PHMs and their Support Group - the Navy chose to decommission them instead of retaining them - no reason was ever given for this decision..

The ships were 105 long, 28 feet wide, displaced approximately 105 tons. Manning was 21 personnel per ship. Propulsion was via a GE LM 2500 Gas Turbine and two Marine Diesel Engines. Using the turbine and a water jet for propulsion, PHMs were capable of speeds in excess of 50 knots (approximately 55 mph) - hullborne speeds were in the range of 1 to 12 knots without the turbine.

Main armament consisted of a MK 75 76mm Auto Malera Gun-mount capable of firing in excess of 1 round per second and 8 Harpoon Surface-to-Surface missiles. This armament is in the range of that carried by the Navy's Frigates with 1/10th the manning levels required. Because of their low radar signature, PHMs were able to set an ambush in shipping choke points, and take on merchant shipping and warcraft with great effectiveness - each PHM carried enough Harpoon Missiles (they were able to put the biggest Aircraft Carrier on the bottom. In conjunction with the other 5 members of the squadron, a PHM could have denied other ships access to the shipping lanes. Because of their high speeds and maneuverability (90 degree turn at 50 knots in approximately 110 feet), a foilborne gun attack on a surface target (or air target), was very accurate with a good chance that rounds fired at the PHMs would miss because of the radical and rapid course changes.

It was my very real fortune to have served on two of the six PHMs ... USS Pegasus (PHM1) and USS Taurus (PHM3). Of the two, I am a plank owner (commissioning member), of the USS Taurus (PHM3). Total service in the PHM Squadron was almost 10 and a half years.

HMCS Halifax. She bears the name of my provinces capital, and until serving onboard submarines, I would be proud to serve aboard her.