Quite a few people have asked about this colossal four decker that I included in my Cape Fear, 1828 scenario, which I ran at Dragonflight two years ago. Many have asked about my sources and what books should they look up to learn more about this and other sailing ships of the United States Navy in this period. So I thought I would list the three best books I know of on the American sailing ships of the early 19th century, and give some background on the U.S.S. Pennsylvannia. The three best books I know on the subject are:

Frigates by Time-Life Books, part of the Seafarers series
The American Sailing Navy by Howard. I. Chapelle
American Ships Of The Line by E.M. Eller, RearAdm., USN(retired); Naval History Division, Navy Department

The Perinsylvannia was authorized by an act of Congress in 1816, her keel was laid in 1821. The ship was then built slowly and carefully over the. next 16 years until her launching and completion in 1837. She could have been completed far sooner, if necessity had warranted it,.

In Appendix XIII of The Ship of the Line by Brian Lavery is A Report on the US Navy, 1826, a report given by a British naval captain in late November 1826 to the Admiralty after spending a few months "vacationing" in the United States. In that report he states that the U.S.S. Perinsylvannia could be completed in under four months.

According to Howard I. Chapelle the ships originally mounted 102 32 pounder cannon, 32 32 pounder carronades, and 2 9 pounder cannon bow chasers. The following page was copied verbatum from - page 38 of the book American Ships Of The Line by E.M. Eller

Ship-Of-The-Line Pennsylvannia

U.S. Ship-Of-The-Line Pennsylvannia, named for the State of Pennsylvania, was one of "nine ships to rate not less than 74 guns each" authorized by Congress 29 April 1816. She was designed and built by Samual Humphreys in Philaphia Navy Yard. Her keel was laid in Septembef 1821 but economy measures slowed construction so that she did not launch until 18 July 1837. The largest sailing warship ever built for the U.S. Navy, she had four complete gun decks, of which three were covered. Her hull was pieced for 136 guns.

Shell guns were replacing cannon by the time Pennsylvannia was fitting out. A Bureau of Ordnance Gun Register for 1846 records her armament as follows:, Spar deck: two 9-pounder cannon and one small brass swivel. Main deck. four 8-inch chambered cannon received from Norfolk in 1842, and thirty-two 32-pounder cannon. Middle deck: four 8-inch chambered cannon received from Norfolk in 1842, and thirty 32- pounder cannon. Lower deck: four 8-inch chambered cannon received from Norfolk in 1842, and twenty-eight 32-pounder cannon.

Pennsylvannia measured 210 feet between perpendiculars; had a molded beam of 56 feet 9 inches, depth of hold, 24 feet 4 inches, tonnage 3,105; and a designed complement of 1,100 officers and men.