Grumman Hydrofoil For Israel Launched At Lantana Boatyard

Grumman Aerospace Corporation recently launched a 100-ton hydrofoil patrol boat under construction for Israel. The launching took place at Lantana Boatyard, Inc. in Lantana, Fla. where the vessel was built. After testing in the Atlantic Ocean near Lantana, the hydrofoil will be delivered to the Israeli government and transported to Haifa, where it will go into operational service.

The Israeli craft, designated Design M161, is a variant of Grumman's Mark II, an improved version of the company's earlier hydrofoil patrol craft, the Flagstaff (PGH-1). That vessel was delivered to the U.S. Navy in 1968, and later operated with the U.S. Coast Guard on the East and West Coasts.

The 84-foot, all-aluminum Israeli boat will be capable of speeds of 50 knots when foilborne and eight knots when operating on its hull. A 5,400-hp Allison 501-KF gas turbine powers the boat when it is riding on its foils. An over-the-stern, precision geared transmission system with a 14:1 reduction ratio is housed in the retractable, steerable tail strut. The controllable-pitch, 4- bladed stainless steel propeller has a diameter of 52 inches.

Hullborne propulsion is provided by twin 100-hp, retractable steerable drive units at the stern.

Hydraulic power from six 64-gpm hydraulic pumps, three on each gearbox of the ship's service generator sets, drive integrally mounted Rexroth hydraulic motors.

Propellers are fixed-pitch, 3-bladed pusher type of 315L stainless steel, with diameter of 26 inches.

The electric plant consists of twin Pratt & Whitney ST-6 gas turbine engines driving 200-kw generators, providing 100-percent redundancy. The engine monitoring and control system provides real-time monitoring of 22 ship subsystems having 469 parameters and direct control of 16 subsystems.

The attitude control system provides automatic roll, pitch, and heading control; radio frequency height sensor, and digital attitude control.

Maritime Reporter Magazine, page 20, Jul 1981

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Maritime Reporter

First published in 1881 Maritime Reporter is the world's largest audited circulation publication serving the global maritime industry.