List of sailing frigates of the United States Navy
Encyclopedia
Frigate
A frigate is any of several types of warship, the term having been used for ships of various sizes and roles over the last few centuries.In the 17th century, the term was used for any warship built for speed and maneuverability, the description often used being "frigate-built"...
s of the United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
. Frigates were the backbone of the early Navy, although the list shows that many suffered unfortunate fates.
The sailing frigates of the United States built from 1797 on were unique in that their framing was made of American live oak
Live oak
Live oak , also known as the southern live oak, is a normally evergreen oak tree native to the southeastern United States...
, a particularly hardy genus that made very resilient hulls; as a result of this, the ships were known to withstand damage that would have scuppered frigates of other nations. American frigates were also very heavily armed; the USN's 44s carried 24-pound cannon as opposed to the 18-pounders usual in frigates, and like most ships of the period carried more than their nominal rate, 56 guns or more. On the other hand, the USN classed ships with 20 to 26 guns as "third-class frigates," whereas the Royal Navy did not.
Continental Navy
| Name | Class | Dates of Service | Fate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1778 – 1785 | abandoned near Philadelphia | ||
| 1779 – 1779 | sank after taking Serapis HMS Serapis (1779) HMS Serapis was a Royal Navy two-decked, Roebuck-class fifth rate. Daniel Brent built her at Greenland South Dockyard, Rotherhithe and launched her in 1779. She was armed with 44 guns . Serapis was named after the god Serapis in Greek and Egyptian mythology... |
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| 1777 – 1780 | captured by the British | ||
| Bourbon USS Bourbon (1783) USS Bourbon was a frigate in the Continental Navy, named for the House of Bourbon.During the American Revolutionary War, Bourbon was authorized as a 28-gun frigate by the Continental Congress 23 January 1777. Very little else is known about it, but it may have been built at Chatham, Connecticut... |
1783 | never completed | |
| Confederacy | 1778 – 1781 | captured by the British | |
| Congress (II) | 1776 – 1777 | never completed | |
| Deane USS Deane (1778) The Continental Navy frigate USS Deane, named after American commissioner to France Silas Deane, was built at Nantes, France, and brought to the United States in May 1778 to be prepared for sea... |
1778 – 1783 | ||
| Delaware USS Delaware (1776) The first USS Delaware of the United States Navy was a 24-gun sailing frigate that had a short career in the American Revolutionary War.... |
1776 – 1777 | captured by the British | |
| Effingham USS Effingham (1777) Effingham, a 32-gun frigate of the Continental Navy named after the Thomas Howard, 3rd Earl of Effingham, was built at Philadelphia in 1776 and 1777, and Captain John Barry was ordered to command her... |
1777 | never completed | |
| 1776 – 1777 | captured by the British | ||
| Montgomery USS Montgomery (1776) USS Montgomery was a three-masted, wooden-hulled sailing frigate and one of the first 13 ships authorized by the Continental Congress on 13 December 1775... |
1776 – 1777 | destroyed to prevent capture, Hudson River Hudson River The Hudson is a river that flows from north to south through eastern New York. The highest official source is at Lake Tear of the Clouds, on the slopes of Mount Marcy in the Adirondack Mountains. The river itself officially begins in Henderson Lake in Newcomb, New York... |
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| Providence USS Providence (1776 frigate) The second Providence, a 28-gun frigate, built by Silvester Bowes at Providence, Rhode Island, by order of the Continental Congress, was launched in May 1776.... |
1776 – 1780 | captured by the British, Charleston, South Carolina Charleston, South Carolina Charleston is the second largest city in the U.S. state of South Carolina. It was made the county seat of Charleston County in 1901 when Charleston County was founded. The city's original name was Charles Towne in 1670, and it moved to its present location from a location on the west bank of the... |
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| Raleigh USS Raleigh (1776) USS Raleigh was one of thirteen ships that the Continental Congress authorized for the United States Navy in 1775. Following her capture in 1778, she served in the Royal Navy as HMS Raleigh.-As USS Raleigh:... |
1776 – 1778 | captured by the British, Matinicus Isle, Maine Matinicus Isle, Maine Matinicus Isle is a plantation in Knox County, Maine, United States. The population was 51 at the 2000 census, although during the summer that number can triple or quadruple. Remote Matinicus Island is accessible by ferry from Rockland, located away, or by air taxi from Knox County Regional Airport... |
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| 1776 – 1778 | exploded in battle | ||
| 1779 – ? | transferred to the French | ||
| Trumbull USS Trumbull (1776) The second Trumbull was a three-masted, wooden-hulled sailing frigate and was one of the first 13 frigates authorized by the Continental Congress on 13 December 1775 and were superior in design and construction to the same class of European vessels in their day... |
1776 – 1781 | captured by the British | |
| Virginia USS Virginia (1776) The first USS Virginia was a 28-gun sailing frigate of the Continental Navy, a ship with a short and unfortunate career.She was one of 13 frigates authorized by the Continental Congress on 13 December 1775, laid down in 1776 at Fells Point, Maryland, by George Wells, launched that August, and... |
1776 – 1778 | captured by the British | |
| 1776 – 1779 | destroyed to prevent capture, Penobscot Expedition Penobscot Expedition The Penobscot Expedition was the largest American naval expedition of the American Revolutionary War and the United States' worst naval defeat until Pearl Harbor... |
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| Washington USS Washington (1776 frigate) USS Washington was a Continental Navy frigate laid down in 1776 but never completed.Washington was among thirteen frigates authorized to be constructed for the new Continental Navy by an Act of Congress of 13 December 1775, and among four to be built at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The act called... |
1776 – 1777 | destroyed to prevent capture, Philadelphia |
United States Navy
| Name | Type | Rate | Class | Dates of Service | Fate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2nd class Sailing frigate classification The Sailing frigate classification system used during the 19th Century was a classification scheme used in several western countries. It was officially adopted by the United States Navy. The system classified sailing frigates according to their gun rating.... |
28 | 1799 – 1814 | scuttled and burned to prevent capture | ||
| 3rd class Sailing frigate classification The Sailing frigate classification system used during the 19th Century was a classification scheme used in several western countries. It was officially adopted by the United States Navy. The system classified sailing frigates according to their gun rating.... |
20 | 1798 – 1801 | sold | ||
| 2nd class Sailing frigate classification The Sailing frigate classification system used during the 19th Century was a classification scheme used in several western countries. It was officially adopted by the United States Navy. The system classified sailing frigates according to their gun rating.... |
28 | 1799 – 1814 | burned to prevent capture | ||
| 1st class Sailing frigate classification The Sailing frigate classification system used during the 19th Century was a classification scheme used in several western countries. It was officially adopted by the United States Navy. The system classified sailing frigates according to their gun rating.... |
50 | 1825 – 1864 | destroyed by fire | ||
| 2nd class Sailing frigate classification The Sailing frigate classification system used during the 19th Century was a classification scheme used in several western countries. It was officially adopted by the United States Navy. The system classified sailing frigates according to their gun rating.... |
36 | 1800 – 1813 | captured by the British | ||
| 1st class Sailing frigate classification The Sailing frigate classification system used during the 19th Century was a classification scheme used in several western countries. It was officially adopted by the United States Navy. The system classified sailing frigates according to their gun rating.... |
44 | 1813 – 1814 | burned on the stocks to prevent capture | ||
| 1st class Sailing frigate classification The Sailing frigate classification system used during the 19th Century was a classification scheme used in several western countries. It was officially adopted by the United States Navy. The system classified sailing frigates according to their gun rating.... |
50 | 1838 – 1861 | scuttled and burned to prevent capture | ||
| 2nd class Sailing frigate classification The Sailing frigate classification system used during the 19th Century was a classification scheme used in several western countries. It was officially adopted by the United States Navy. The system classified sailing frigates according to their gun rating.... |
36 (38) | 1799 – 1834 | broken up | ||
| 1st class Sailing frigate classification The Sailing frigate classification system used during the 19th Century was a classification scheme used in several western countries. It was officially adopted by the United States Navy. The system classified sailing frigates according to their gun rating.... |
52 | 1841 – 1862 | burned and sank after action with CSS Virginia CSS Virginia CSS Virginia was the first steam-powered ironclad warship of the Confederate States Navy, built during the first year of the American Civil War; she was constructed as a casemate ironclad using the raised and cut down original lower hull and steam engines of the scuttled . Virginia was one of the... |
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| 3rd class Sailing frigate classification The Sailing frigate classification system used during the 19th Century was a classification scheme used in several western countries. It was officially adopted by the United States Navy. The system classified sailing frigates according to their gun rating.... |
24 | 1799 – 1801 | sold | ||
| 2nd class Sailing frigate classification The Sailing frigate classification system used during the 19th Century was a classification scheme used in several western countries. It was officially adopted by the United States Navy. The system classified sailing frigates according to their gun rating.... |
36 (38) | 1797 – 1853 | broken up | ||
| 1st class Sailing frigate classification The Sailing frigate classification system used during the 19th Century was a classification scheme used in several western countries. It was officially adopted by the United States Navy. The system classified sailing frigates according to their gun rating.... |
44 | 1797 | remains in commission | ||
| 1st class Sailing frigate classification The Sailing frigate classification system used during the 19th Century was a classification scheme used in several western countries. It was officially adopted by the United States Navy. The system classified sailing frigates according to their gun rating.... |
50 | 1842 – 1855 | converted to sloop 1855 sunk by CSS Virginia 1862 |
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| 3rd class Sailing frigate classification The Sailing frigate classification system used during the 19th Century was a classification scheme used in several western countries. It was officially adopted by the United States Navy. The system classified sailing frigates according to their gun rating.... |
22 | Banterer-class Banterer class post ship The Banterer-class sailing sixth rates were a series of six post ships built to an 1805 design by Sir William Rule, which served in the Royal Navy during the Napoleonic War... |
1815 – 1836 | broken up | |
| 3rd class Sailing frigate classification The Sailing frigate classification system used during the 19th Century was a classification scheme used in several western countries. It was officially adopted by the United States Navy. The system classified sailing frigates according to their gun rating.... |
20 | 1798 – 1801 | sold | ||
| 2nd class Sailing frigate classification The Sailing frigate classification system used during the 19th Century was a classification scheme used in several western countries. It was officially adopted by the United States Navy. The system classified sailing frigates according to their gun rating.... |
32 | 1799 – 1814 | captured by the British | ||
| 3rd class Sailing frigate classification The Sailing frigate classification system used during the 19th Century was a classification scheme used in several western countries. It was officially adopted by the United States Navy. The system classified sailing frigates according to their gun rating.... |
24 | 1798 – 1801 | sold | ||
| 2nd class Sailing frigate classification The Sailing frigate classification system used during the 19th Century was a classification scheme used in several western countries. It was officially adopted by the United States Navy. The system classified sailing frigates according to their gun rating.... |
30 | 1799 – 1805 | hulked; destroyed by fire 1814 | ||
| 3rd class Sailing frigate classification The Sailing frigate classification system used during the 19th Century was a classification scheme used in several western countries. It was officially adopted by the United States Navy. The system classified sailing frigates according to their gun rating.... |
24 | 1798 – 1802 | sold | ||
| 1st class Sailing frigate classification The Sailing frigate classification system used during the 19th Century was a classification scheme used in several western countries. It was officially adopted by the United States Navy. The system classified sailing frigates according to their gun rating.... |
44 | 1814 – 1841 | broken up | ||
| 1st class Sailing frigate classification The Sailing frigate classification system used during the 19th Century was a classification scheme used in several western countries. It was officially adopted by the United States Navy. The system classified sailing frigates according to their gun rating.... |
44 | 1828 – 1844 | broken up | ||
| 1st class Sailing frigate classification The Sailing frigate classification system used during the 19th Century was a classification scheme used in several western countries. It was officially adopted by the United States Navy. The system classified sailing frigates according to their gun rating.... |
54 | 1836 – 1912 | Built 1814 as a 90-gun ship of the line, razeed 1836, scrapped 1915 at San Francisco | ||
| 2nd class Sailing frigate classification The Sailing frigate classification system used during the 19th Century was a classification scheme used in several western countries. It was officially adopted by the United States Navy. The system classified sailing frigates according to their gun rating.... |
32 | 1799 – 1800 | lost at sea | ||
| 1st class Sailing frigate classification The Sailing frigate classification system used during the 19th Century was a classification scheme used in several western countries. It was officially adopted by the United States Navy. The system classified sailing frigates according to their gun rating.... |
44 | 1814 – 1842 | broken up, Norfolk, Virginia Norfolk, Virginia Norfolk is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia in the United States. With a population of 242,803 as of the 2010 Census, it is Virginia's second-largest city behind neighboring Virginia Beach.... |
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| 2nd class Sailing frigate classification The Sailing frigate classification system used during the 19th Century was a classification scheme used in several western countries. It was officially adopted by the United States Navy. The system classified sailing frigates according to their gun rating.... |
28 | 1799 – 1867 | razeed to 20-gun corvette 1807; rebuilt as 24-gun frigate 1812 sold |
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| 2nd class Sailing frigate classification The Sailing frigate classification system used during the 19th Century was a classification scheme used in several western countries. It was officially adopted by the United States Navy. The system classified sailing frigates according to their gun rating.... |
38 | 1812 – 1828 | broken up, Norfolk, Virginia Norfolk, Virginia Norfolk is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia in the United States. With a population of 242,803 as of the 2010 Census, it is Virginia's second-largest city behind neighboring Virginia Beach.... |
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| 2nd class Sailing frigate classification The Sailing frigate classification system used during the 19th Century was a classification scheme used in several western countries. It was officially adopted by the United States Navy. The system classified sailing frigates according to their gun rating.... |
36 | 1836 – 1852 | razeed to sloop-of war, 1852 sold 1871 |
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| 3rd class Sailing frigate classification The Sailing frigate classification system used during the 19th Century was a classification scheme used in several western countries. It was officially adopted by the United States Navy. The system classified sailing frigates according to their gun rating.... |
24 | 1798 – 1801 | sold | ||
| 2nd class Sailing frigate classification The Sailing frigate classification system used during the 19th Century was a classification scheme used in several western countries. It was officially adopted by the United States Navy. The system classified sailing frigates according to their gun rating.... |
38 | 1814 – 1823 | sunk | ||
| 3rd class Sailing frigate classification The Sailing frigate classification system used during the 19th Century was a classification scheme used in several western countries. It was officially adopted by the United States Navy. The system classified sailing frigates according to their gun rating.... |
20 | 1798 – 1799 | sold | ||
| 2nd class Sailing frigate classification The Sailing frigate classification system used during the 19th Century was a classification scheme used in several western countries. It was officially adopted by the United States Navy. The system classified sailing frigates according to their gun rating.... |
36 | 1800 – 1814 | burned by the British | ||
| 1st class Sailing frigate classification The Sailing frigate classification system used during the 19th Century was a classification scheme used in several western countries. It was officially adopted by the United States Navy. The system classified sailing frigates according to their gun rating.... |
44 (36) | 1799 – 1804 | captured by Tripoli boarded and burned by Stephen Decatur Stephen Decatur Stephen Decatur, Jr. , was an American naval officer notable for his many naval victories in the early 19th century. He was born on the eastern shore of Maryland, Worcester county, the son of a U.S. Naval Officer who served during the American Revolution. Shortly after attending college Decatur... |
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| 1st class Sailing frigate classification The Sailing frigate classification system used during the 19th Century was a classification scheme used in several western countries. It was officially adopted by the United States Navy. The system classified sailing frigates according to their gun rating.... |
1814 – 1825 | sold on ways | |||
| 3rd class Sailing frigate classification The Sailing frigate classification system used during the 19th Century was a classification scheme used in several western countries. It was officially adopted by the United States Navy. The system classified sailing frigates according to their gun rating.... |
24 | 1798 – 1801 | sold | ||
| 1st class Sailing frigate classification The Sailing frigate classification system used during the 19th Century was a classification scheme used in several western countries. It was officially adopted by the United States Navy. The system classified sailing frigates according to their gun rating.... |
50 | 1831 – 1877 | sold | ||
| 1st class Sailing frigate classification The Sailing frigate classification system used during the 19th Century was a classification scheme used in several western countries. It was officially adopted by the United States Navy. The system classified sailing frigates according to their gun rating.... |
44 | 1800 – 1815 | captured by the British | ||
| 1st class Sailing frigate classification The Sailing frigate classification system used during the 19th Century was a classification scheme used in several western countries. It was officially adopted by the United States Navy. The system classified sailing frigates according to their gun rating.... |
50 | 1843 – 1861 | destroyed to prevent capture | ||
| 1st class Sailing frigate classification The Sailing frigate classification system used during the 19th Century was a classification scheme used in several western countries. It was officially adopted by the United States Navy. The system classified sailing frigates according to their gun rating.... |
52 | 1855 – 1883 | sold | ||
| 1st class Sailing frigate classification The Sailing frigate classification system used during the 19th Century was a classification scheme used in several western countries. It was officially adopted by the United States Navy. The system classified sailing frigates according to their gun rating.... |
52 | 1855 – 1912 | sank at moorings | ||
| 1st class Sailing frigate classification The Sailing frigate classification system used during the 19th Century was a classification scheme used in several western countries. It was officially adopted by the United States Navy. The system classified sailing frigates according to their gun rating.... |
50 | 1844 – 1857 | converted to sloop 1857 sold 1883 |
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| 1st class Sailing frigate classification The Sailing frigate classification system used during the 19th Century was a classification scheme used in several western countries. It was officially adopted by the United States Navy. The system classified sailing frigates according to their gun rating.... |
50 | 1848 – 1875 | sold | ||
| 1st class Sailing frigate classification The Sailing frigate classification system used during the 19th Century was a classification scheme used in several western countries. It was officially adopted by the United States Navy. The system classified sailing frigates according to their gun rating.... |
1814 – 1825 | sold | |||
| 3rd class Sailing frigate classification The Sailing frigate classification system used during the 19th Century was a classification scheme used in several western countries. It was officially adopted by the United States Navy. The system classified sailing frigates according to their gun rating.... |
24 | 1799 – 1801 | sold | ||
| 1st class Sailing frigate classification The Sailing frigate classification system used during the 19th Century was a classification scheme used in several western countries. It was officially adopted by the United States Navy. The system classified sailing frigates according to their gun rating.... |
44 | 1797 – 1861 1862 – 1866 |
broken up for scrap | ||
| 3rd class Sailing frigate classification The Sailing frigate classification system used during the 19th Century was a classification scheme used in several western countries. It was officially adopted by the United States Navy. The system classified sailing frigates according to their gun rating.... |
24 | 1799 – 1801 | sold | ||
Ten additional ships of the Potomac class were appropriated, but never built.