PHM PG 01

🇯🇵Japan

Fincantieri, Sumitomo

1974 – Present

Overview

The Sparviero class, or Nibbio class, is a series of high-speed hydrofoil missile boats designed for the Italian Navy, capable of reaching 46 knots and armed with anti-ship missiles and a rapid-fire gun. Updated by the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force as the 1-go-class, these vessels featured modifications such as different armament and propulsion systems, but both iterations faced challenges with power and were ultimately decommissioned or limited in production.

Specifications

General

Crew21

Guns1 × Mk 75 76 mm OTO Melara, 62 cal. gun

Beam M8.5 m

Length M41 m

Propulsion2 × Mercedes-Benz MTU marine diesels (hullborne), 1,600 bhp (1,193 kW); 1 × General Electric LM2500 gas turbine (Foilborne), 18,000 shp (13,423 kW)

Speed Knots48 knots

Main Missiles8 × Harpoon Surface-to-surface missile

Displacement Tons241 tons

Research Notes

Japanese hydrofoil missile-boat experiment

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PG 01 belonged to Japan's small 1-go class, derived from the Italian Sparviero hydrofoil concept.

PHM PG 01 refers to Japan's 1-go-class hydrofoil fast attack craft, a small missile-boat class based on the Italian Sparviero concept. The JMSDF explored the type as a high-speed coastal combatant able to respond quickly in confined waters. Only a small number were built, making the class more of a specialized experiment than a large fleet program.

Section Sources

1-go-class fast attack craftWikipedia • 2026 Sparviero / 1-go class hydrofoil missile craftSeaForces.org • 2026

High-speed hydrofoil with missile and gun armament

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The craft used hydrofoils to achieve high speed while carrying anti-ship missiles and a rapid-fire gun.

Technically, the 1-go class used hydrofoil lift to reduce hull drag and reach high speeds. This made it attractive for fast interception and missile attack, but hydrofoil craft can be maintenance-intensive and less flexible in rough conditions than conventional hulls. Its armament gave meaningful anti-surface capability for its size, but payload, endurance, and growth margin were limited.

Section Sources

1-go-class fast attack craftWikipedia • 2026 Sparviero / 1-go class hydrofoil missile craftSeaForces.org • 2026

Coastal quick-reaction role with limited fleet impact

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The class could perform fast coastal strike missions but did not become a long-term JMSDF standard.

Operationally, PG 01-type craft were suited for rapid coastal reaction, patrol, and anti-ship missile employment near friendly support bases. Their small numbers and specialized design limited their strategic impact. The class remains important as evidence of Japan's interest in high-speed littoral strike concepts during the late Cold War and post-Cold War period.

Section Sources

1-go-class fast attack craftWikipedia • 2026 Sparviero / 1-go class hydrofoil missile craftSeaForces.org • 2026

Sources & References

NAVYPEDIA fighting ships of the worldNavypedia • 2026

Naval EncyclopediaNaval Encyclopedia • 2026

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