USS Tucumcari ( PGH - 2 ) The Tucumcari ( PGH - 2 ) was a Boeing - built hydrofoil . Named after Tucumcari , New Mexico , it was the basis for the technology used in the subsequent " Pegasus " - class patrol boats and the Jetfoil ferries . Its unique feature was a waterjet propulsion and a computer - controlled fully submerged foil configuration of one foil at the bow and foils on the port and starboard sides . The " Tucumcari " was one of two prototype boats contracted by the Navy for the purpose of evaluating the latest hydrofoil technology . The second boat was the rival Grumman built USS " Flagstaff " ( PGH - 1 ) . Construction , operations in San Diego , and deployment to Vietnam . The first waterjet propelled Patrol Gunboat Hydrofoil Tucumcari ( PGH - 2 ) was built for operation by the Navy at a cost of $ 4 million by a Boeing subcontractor in Tacoma , Washington , and then assembled and outfitted at a Boeing facility in Seattle . Boeing ' s previous US Navy operated hydrofoil was the Patrol Craft Hydrofoil USS High Point ( PCH - 1 ) , which utilized two forward hydrofoils and propellers on an aft - mounted single foil . Before that , Boeing had built and operated several hydroplane and hydrofoil test craft for itself and for the Navy . The assembly and outfitting of Tucumcari began on 1 September 1966 at the Advanced Marine Systems Division of the Boeing Aerospace Group . ' Tucumcari ' was launched on 15 July 1967 , and delivered to the Navy on 8 March 1968 . Placed " in service with an officer - in charge " as a patrol boat ( vs . " commissioned " as a ship with a commanding officer ) on that day , the ship ' s first officer - in - charge was Navy Lieutenant Martinn H . Mandles . Tucumcari , an extremely fast , highly maneuverable , prototype hydrofoil gunboat designed to perform well even in heavy weather , represented the culmination of 10 years of hydrofoil development . The new gunboat arrived at the Naval Amphibious Base in Coronado , California , her home port , in July 1968 . She conducted operational evaluation tests and participated in exercises with the U . S . Pacific Fleet . In addition , she conducted day and night operations with Fleet ships ranging from cruisers to conventional patrol craft . After a year of operating out of Coronado , Tucumcari was deployed to Vietnamese waters . She spent most of her six months in the combat zone assigned to Operation Market Time , the coastal patrol established to stop the flow from North Vietnam of Communist arms and infiltrators . While performing this duty , she logged 200 hours of foilborne operations including day and night , all - weather , and high sea state missions . She also conducted underway replenishments with larger Fleet units and vertical replenishment from helicopters . The latter included medical evacuation operations and the transfers of cargo and fuel . Return to San Diego and transfer to the Atlantic Fleet . " Tucumcari " returned to San Diego in March , 1970 and operated off the west coast until transferred to the Atlantic Fleet in August . After operating off the east coast into 1971 , " Tucumcari " was slated to deploy to northern Europe and to the Mediterranean to demonstrate the capability of hydrofoil propulsion for other NATO nations . It was hoped that the demonstration would stimulate the development and production of a NATO guided missile hydrofoil . On 22 March 1971 , " Tucumcari " was deck - loaded " piggyback " on board the USS " Wood County " ( LST - 1178 ) , secured in a specially - constructed cradle on the main deck , at Little Creek , Virginia in preparation for a tour to promote the Navy ' s newest developments in hydrofoil technology . Three days later , the tank landing ship sailed from Little Creek , bound for the first stop on the special demonstration deployment . Arriving in Copenhagen on 5 April , " Tucumcari " was off - loaded on the 13th and readied for her first tests . While in Danish waters , the patrol craft participated in Exercise " Evil Edge , " a joint West German , Danish , and American patrol boat exercise . During " Evil Edge , " the gunboat made simulated attacks against West German destroyer s . Over the ensuing months , " Wood County " and " Tucumcari " visited seven other NATO nations and 16 ports ( including Copenhagen and Frederikshavn , Denmark ) : Kiel and Olpenitz , Germany ; Isle of Portland and Portsmouth , England ; Then , after a transit through the English Channel , she stopped at Rosyth , Scotland returning to the European mainland at Brest and Toulon , France ; Naples , Brindisi , La Spezia , and Augusta , Sicily ; Athens , Greece ; and Gölcük , Turkey . " Tucumcari " was demonstrated in hopes that NATO would develop a guided - missile hydrofoil weapons system . In addition to providing a base of operations and facilities for briefings and discussions between United States liaison officers and foreign representatives , " Wood County " provided logistics support , messing and berthing facilities , and engaged in numerous public relations efforts to promote international goodwill . Concluding the last of these tests on 25 September , " Wood County " ( with " Tucumcari " safely nestled on board ) sailed for Little Creek on 1 October . The performance of " Wood County " and " Tucumcari " both elicited praise from the Chief of Naval Operations ; Commander Amphibious Force , U . S . Atlantic Fleet ; the United States NATO Mission ; Commander in Chief , United States Naval Forces Europe , and others . Damage to the vessel . Back home at Little Creek , Virginia , " Tucumcari " continued its mission of demonstrating hydrofoil technology . Deployments included coastal surveillance with the U . S . Coast Guard out of Woods Hole , Massachusetts and further V . I . P . demonstrations at Annapolis , Maryland and Washington , D . C . On 16 November 1972 , " Tucumcari " suffered a serious accident . While participating in simulated combat operations with other amphibious forces off Vieques Island , Puerto Rico , she unexpectedly ran aground . Hitting a coral reef at 40 + knots , " Tucumcari " was stopped dead within the length of her hull , forcing the front strut aft and shearing off the port and starboard foils . Several crewmen were injured and two crewmen had to be air lifted by helicopter from the grounded vessel . Fortunately , all the crewmen recovered from their injuries . The fate of " Tucumcari " was sealed during salvage operations . While attempting to blast the boat free from the coral reef using explosives , further damage was incurred . The damage was so severe that it was deemed uneconomical to repair . However , " Tucumcari " had served its purpose . Accordingly , she was struck from the Naval Vessel Register on 7 November 1973 and transferred to the Naval Ship and Research Development Center at Annapolis , Maryland . She was subsequently used as a test hulk for structural evaluation and fire containment tests into the mid - 1970s . She was finally scrapped in 1973 . " Tucumcari " logged over 1500 " flying " hours during its brief but exemplary service . The waterjet propulsion proved highly reliable , compared to the propeller drive propulsion of " Flagstaff " ( PGH - 1 ) , and waterjet propulsion was later used for the " Pegasus " - class hydrofoil vessels .