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Navy Awards Boeing $178 Million To Build Missile Firing Boats Boeing Marine Systems (BMS), Renton, Wash., has announced the signing of a $178-million U.S. Navy contract for production of five Patrol Hydrofoil Missileships (PHMs). Work will begin imme- diately on the scheduled five-year program. Boeing Marine Systems, a di- vision of The Boeing Company, delivered the prototype ship Peg- asus (PHM-1) to the Navy for commissioning in July, following successful test and evaluation of this compact weapons system over the last two years. The Pentagon announced in August that Secretary of Defense Harold Brown had released $272.7 million in previously appropriated funds for the procurement of five more of these high-speed patrol craft. The production program will require a very gradual build- up to about 1,450 additional em- ployees at BMS in Seattle at peak of production in early 1979. Initial work will focus on engi- neering and tool design. During extensive testing by the Navy, Pegasus operated in a wide spectrum of sea conditions, dem- onstrating capabilities usually af- forded only larger ships, while allowing the significantly lower costs and high maneuverability associated with smaller ships. Boeing's commercial hydrofoil, Jetfoil, exhibited unique seakeep- ing ability earlier this year on a 7,500-nautical-mile demonstration tour of six northern European countries on the Baltic and North Seas. That tour included the rec- ord crossing of the North Sea from Stavanger, Norway, to Ab- erdeen, Scotland, a distance of 260 nautical miles, in 6 hours 11 minutes. Both the commercial and mili- tary versions of the automatically controlled craft offer the great advantage of a smooth ride in rough water, ensuring passenger comfort and enabling efficient per- formance of assigned missions. Both PHM and Jetfoil operate on fully submerged foils. Capable of speeds in excess of 40 knots, PHM is ideally suited for area surveillance in support of task force operations. Design flexibility in the 131-foot-long, 230-ton hydrofoil includes weight and space reserves to permit ex- pansion of operational roles to antisubmarine (ASW) and anti- air warfare (AAW). PHM can be easily adapted for minelaying tasks. Requiring a crew of only 21, the PHM combines unique sea- keeping ability with a compact but powerful weapons system. Pegasus is equipped with eight Harpoon missiles, a 76-mm dual- purpose gun and MK-94 fire- control system. Variation in armament may in- clude ASW, AAW, mine warfare, November 15, 1977 and use as a helicopter platform. Standard design permits multi- national use. PHM is also ideal for nonmili- tary missions, such as fisheries law enforcement, protection of offshore resources, and search and rescue. BMS is presently con- ducting a study for the Ministry of Defense of the United King- dom on a military hydrofoil con- cept to perform offshore pro- tection missions as set forth in requirements by the Royal Navy. Stabilimenti Navali SpA Appoints MAREPCON For United States And Canada Frederick A. Ganter, vice presi- dent, Marine Repair and Construc- tion Corporation-International (MAREPCON), 17 Battery Place, New York, N.Y. 10004, has an- nounced that Stabilimenti Navali SpA of Taranto, Italy, has ap- pointed MAREPCON Corporation- International their sole sales rep- resentatives in the United States and Canada. Representation is in addition to the sole sales activity carried out by MAREPCON in behalf of Societa Esercizio Bacini Napole- tani SpA. MAREPCON has rep- resented SEBN for the past two years. The shipyards are associated with each other, and this appoint- ment should prove to be a bene- fit to all of MAREPCON's cus- tomers. You*d expect to find nothing but shade-tree mechanics in Savannah. Arthur Waters is proof that Savannah can grow its own first-class ship-repair talent. Besides talent, Arthur has some qualities you might not find in the big city. He's reliable, straightforward, and persis- tent. Hell stick with your job to be sure that you and the regulatory folks are satisfied. At the Savannah Yard that's the attitude everyone has. We have to have it. Because we know you won't come to Savannah just for our cranes, drydocks and specialized shops. You'll come because you've heard about guys like Arthur Waters. And our prices. And our speed. And our profes- sionalism. Savannah Machine and Shipyard Company. We do scheduled drydocking, voyage repairs, and major conversions. Check us out. And remember this. Before all those hotshots moved to the big city they were grown in places like Savannah. The Savannah Yard. Savannah Machine and Shipyard Co. RO. Box 787, Savannah, Ga. 31402 Tele. (912) 233-6621 74 Trinity Place, Suite 1800 New York, N.Y. 10006, Tele. (212)432-0350 19
