USS FLAGSTAFF (PGH-1) Coast Guard Evaluation (0153)
On 4 Nov 1974, FLAGSTAFF was loaned to the US Coast Guard on the West Coast of the USA for a period of testing to evaluate the utility of a hydrofoil craft as a Coast Guard cutter. This testing continued until Feb 1975, when FLAGSTAFF was returned to the Navy. On 29 Sep 1976, the USCG again took possession of FLAGSTAFF to enable the service to do a long-term evaluation in an actual operational environment. The vessel operated out of Woods Hole MA for a period of 16 months performing missions of law enforcement, search and rescue, and fisheries protection. This document contains information from the USCG historian's file on FLAGSTAFF, including press releases from the era and a lengthy evaluation of her operating experience.