Named for the city of High Point in central North Carolina, the U.S.S. High Point (PCH-1) was originally intended to be the Navy’s first operational hydrofoil. She was designed to evaluate the performance of hydrofoil propulsion in the modern Navy.
On January 24, 1958, the Chief of Naval Operations requested that the Bureau of ships perform a design study of hydrofoil craft for use in harbor defense and coastal patrol. Upon completion of the study it was recommended that hydrofoil patrol craft replace conventional patrol craft and submarine chasers beginning with the 1960 ship building program.
On June of 1960 the Boeing Company was awarded a $2.08 Million contract for construction of the hydrofoil. The keel was laid on February 27, 1961 at the Martinac Shipyard in Tacoma, Washington. PCH – 1 was launched on August 17, 1962 and Christened: High Point.

After completion of Final Acceptance Trials on January 28, 1963, HIGH POINT was delivered to the Navy at the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard (PSNS) on August 15, 1963. On May 7, 1964, Chief of Naval Operations approved the request of PSNS for a 9-month extension of HIGH POINT 's availability for special performance trials and, on October 22, a decision was made to effect extensive repair and refurbishment of the ship.
In April of 1975 the United States Coast Guard selected HIGH POINT and FLAGSTAFF for Hydrofoil evaluation. This program was intended to evaluate Hydrofoils as potential replacements for their aging Cutter fleet. During this trial period, elements of Navy and Coast Guard crews operated these ships. After just one month of sea trials, HIGH POINT was returned to the Navy.
In the years that followed, the expanding knowledge base of hydrofoil systems design and application led to design, construction, test, and evaluation of a number of hydrofoil test craft. In the mid 1970's this culminated in the acquisition of a squadron of six Navy Patrol Hydrofoil Missile (PHM) ships.
During her 20 year career, High Point helped to demonstrate the many advantages of this type of high performance ship with heavy firepower, and the capability of very high speeds in rough seas. The technology developed in this program also contributed to the building of several types of commercial hydrofoils such as the Boeing Jetfoil.

HIGH POINT was deactivated on December 01, 1984, and her Navy crew was reassigned. She had spent twenty good years in making major contributions to the knowledge of how to design and operate military and commercial hydrofoil ships


-Information courtesy of Wm. M. Ellsworth, P.E. and the U.S. Navy.




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