Guide to the US Navy
1797-1815

Ships of the US Navy (List)

by Barry J. Fox


SHIPS OF THE US BLUE WATER NAVY

The first entry is the established number of guns carried by each vessel. The next entry is the number and type of guns carried with (c) denoting carronade. The third entry is the tonnage by the British measure, rather than the American.

Due to the ubiquity of the Royal Navy it is easier to use their tonnage method as a standard for all vessels of the period. The fourth entry is that of the crew complement. The rest of the information is self-explanatory, except to state that all vessels listed are three-masted, ship-rigged unless otherwise noted.

7430-32#, 33-med. 32#, 24-32#c. 2,243. 790. (U.S.S. Franklin) 1815-1853 *,**
7430-32#, 33-med. 32#, 24-32#c. 2,277. 790. (U.S.S. Independance) 1814-1836
74 30-32#, 33-med. 32#, 24-32#c. 2,250. 750. (U.S.S. Washington) 1814-1843
44 30-24#, 22-32#c. 1,533. 450. (U.S.S. Constitution) 1797-present *,**,***
44 32-24#, 20-42#c. 1,533. 450. (U.S.S. President) 1800-1815
44 32-24#, 22-42#c. 1,533. 450. (U.S.S. United States) 1797-1866
44 32-24#, 20-44 32#c. 1,562. 450. (U.S.S. Columbia) 1813-1814 (burned before completion) (others in class- Java 1813-1842. Guerriere 1814-1841. tonnage, guns, and crew as Columbia)
38 28-18#, 10-24#c.(original-28-24#, 10-12#) 1,219. 340. (U.S.S. Constellation) 1797-1854
38 24-18#, 20-32#c.(original-28-18#, 12- 9#) 1,219. 340. (U.S.S. Congress) 1799-1836
36 28-18#, 16-32#c. 1,081. 307. (U.S.S. Philadelphia) 1799-1803
36 28-18#, 14- 9#.(9# replaced by carronades later) 888. 340. (U.S.S. New York) 1799-1814
36 28-18#, 20-32#c. 1,135. 340. (U.S.S. Chesapeake) 1799-1813
36 26-18#, 10-12#, 4-32#c. 939. 340. (U.S.S. Insurgent) 1799-1800 (F)
36 28-18#, 16-32#c, 2-12#, 2- 9#. 1,082. (U.S.S. Macedonian) 1812-1835 (B)
32 6-18#, 40-32#c. (original-26-12#, 10- 6#) 867. 300. (U.S.S. Essex) 1799-1813 *,**
30 24-32#c. 2,042. 200. (U.S.S. Demologos/Fulton) 1815-1829. (catamaran steam frigate) (U.S.S. Fulton was two-masted, lateen-rigged; capable of 6 knots per hour under steam)
28 24-12#, 4- 6#. 569. 220. (U.S.S. Adams) 1799-1812 (rebuilt-1812-see below)
28 26-12#, 12-32#c.(original-26-12#, 12- 9#) 717. 280. (U.S.S. Boston) 1799-1814
28 24-12#, 8- 9#.(original-24-12#, 6- 6#) 661. 250. (U.S.S. General Greene) 1799-1805
28 24-12#, 2- 9#, 6-24#c. 653. 220. (U.S.S. John Adams) 1799-1829
28 26-18# columbiads, 1-12#. 662. 220. (U.S.S. Adams) 1812-1814 (heavy corvette)
24 24-12# 593. 220. (U.S.S. Portsmouth) 1798-1801
24 26-12#. 492. 220. (U.S.S. Connecticut) 1799-1801
24 26- 9#. 509. 220. (U.S.S. Ganges) 1798-1801
24 24- 9#, 8- 6#. 624. 220. (U.S.S. George Washington) 1798-1803
24 20- 9#, 8- 6#. 460. 220. (U.S.S. Merrimack) 1798-1801
24 2-12#, 22- 9#. ?. 220. (U.S.S. Berceau) 1800 (F)
24 2-12#, 22-32#c, 8-18#c, 2-12#c. 540. 185. (U.S.S. Cyane) 1815-36 (B)
20 18- 9#, 6- 4#. 427. 180. (U.S.S. Baltimore) 1798-1801
20 16- 9#, 8- 6#. 325. 180. (U.S.S. Deleware) 1798-1801
20 20- 9#, 6- 6#. 380. 180. (U.S.S. Maryland) 1799-1801
20 20- 9#. 347. 180. (U.S.S. Montezuma) 1798-1799
20 20- 9#, 6- 6#. 380. 180. (U.S.S. Patapsco) 1799-1801
20 ?. 385. 160. (U.S.S. Warren) 1799-1801
20 2-12#, 18-32#c. 393. 100. (U.S.S. Alert) 1812-1829 (B)
20 10- 6#, 10-18#c. 355. 60. (U.S.S. Essex Jr.) 1813-1815 (ex-British whaler Atlantic)
20 ?. 338. 25. (U.S.S. Greenwich) 1813. (captured British letter of marque "LM" ship)
18 16- 6#, 6- 4#. 283. 140. (U.S.S. Herald) 1798-1801
18 18-12#. 400. 220. (U.S.S. Trumbull) 1799-1801
18 2-12#, 18-32#c. 436. 140. (U.S.S. Hornet) 1811-1829 (sloop of war- rebuilt from brig)
18 2-12# , 16-32#c. 434. 140. (U.S.S. Wasp) 1806-1812
18 2-18#, 20-32#c. 523. 140. (U.S.S. Erie) 1813-1841 (also in this class-U.S.S. Ontario 1813-43. Argus 1813-1814 (burned on stocks) Same as Erie.)
18 2-12#, 20-32#c. 539. 140. (U.S.S. Frolic) 1813-1814 (also in this class-Wasp 1813-1814. Peacock 1813-1828. Same as above)
16 16- 9#. 414. (U.S.S. Hornet). 1805-1811. (brig- rebuilt as sloop of war in 1811)
16 4-24#, 8-12#, 4- 6#. 345. 160. (U.S.S. Louisiana) 1812-1821 (sloop of war)
16 10- 6#, 6-18#c. 280. 46. (U.S.S. Georgiana) 1813-14. (ex-British whaler)
18 18- 6#. 200. 140. (U.S.S. Norfolk) 1798-1800. (brig)
18 18- 6#. 179. (U.S.S. Pinckney) 1798-1801.
18 18- 6#. 200. 104. (U.S.S. Richmond) 1798-1801. (brig)
18 2-12#, 16-24#c. 312. 125. (U.S.S. Argus) 1803-1813. (brig)
18 2-18#, 16-32#c. 388. 128. (U.S.S. Epervier) 1814-1815. (brig) (B)
16 2- 9#, 2-42#c., 12-24#c. 298. 137. (U.S.S. Syren) 1803-1814 (brig)16 2-12#,
16- 9#, 2-18#c. 180. (U.S.S. Troup) 1812-1815. (brig) (ex-British mail packet)
16 2-18#, 2-12#, 14-32#c. 390. 90. (U.S.S. Chippewa) 1815-1816 (brig)
14 14- 6#. 144. 70. (U.S.S. Eagle) 1798-1801 (brig-ex-revenue cutter)
14 14- 6#. 132. 70. (U.S.S. Scammel) 1798-1801. (brig-ex-revenue cutter)
14 14- 4#. 138. 90. (U.S.S. Pickering) 1798-1800. (brig-ex-revenue cutter)
14 10- 6#, 4- 4#. 175. 100. (U.S.S. Augusta) 1799-1801. (brig)
14 2- 9#, 12-18#c. 199. 130. (U.S.S. Vixen) 1811-1812. (brig)
14 2- 9#, 12-18#c. 213. 103. (U.S.S. Nautilus) 1810-1812 (brig)
14 ? & 2- 9# 278. 131. (U.S.S. Rattlesnake) 1813-1814. (purchased privateer brig)
14 4-18#, 10-18#c. 329. 100. (U.S.S. Flambeau) 1814-1816 (brig)
14 4-18#, 10-18#c. 418. 90. (U.S.S. Firefly) 1814-1816 (brig)
14 2-12#, 14-32#c. 360. 90. (U.S.S. Saranac) 1815-1818 (brig)
14 2-18#, 2-12#, 12-32#c. 370. (U.S.S. Boxer) 1815-1817. (brig)
12 2-18#, 10-18#c. 289. 90. (U.S.S. Spark) 1814-1826 (brig)
12 2- 9#, 12-18#c.175. 64. (U.S.S. Viper-ex Ferret) 1810-1813 (brig- Rerigged from a cutter)
16 1-18#(piv), 2-12#, 14-12#c. 248. 130. (U.S.S. Revenge) 1813 (hired priv. schooner)
14 4- 6#, 10- 4/#. 107. 76. (U.S.S. Retaliation) 1798-1799. (schooner) (ex- French privateer)
14 14- 6#. 138. 70. (U.S.S. Governor Jay) 1797-1801 (schooner- ex-revenue cutter)
14 14- 6#. 148. 70. (U.S.S. Scammel) 1798-1801 (schooner-ex-revenue cutter)
14 6- 6#, 8- 4#. 111. 70. (U.S.S. Virginia) 1798-1799 (schooner-ex-revenue cutter)
14 ?. ?. 61. (U.S.S. Norwich) 1812-1814. (hired schooner)
14 3- 9#, 12-12#c. 236. 100. (U.S.S. Carolina) 1812-1814. (hired schooner)
14 2- 9#, 12-12#c. 220. 110. (U.S.S. Comet) 1813. (hired privateer schooner)
14 2-12#, 12-12#c. 286. 40. (U.S.S. Patapsco) 1813-1814. (hired privateer schooner)
12 12- 6#. 107. 50. (U.S.S. Diligence) 1798-1801 (schooner- ex-revenue cutter)
12 12- 6#. 107. 70. (U.S.S. South Carolina) 1798-1801 (schooner- ex-revenue cutter)
12 12- 6#. 191. 70. (U.S.S. Enterprise) 1799-1811 (schooner) (also in this class-Experiment 1799-1801.Vixen 1803-1812. Rerigged, with Enterprise, as brigs)
12 12- 6#. ?. 43. (U.S.S. Revenge) 1806-1811. (schooner)
12 1-12#, 12-12#c. 172. 60. (U.S.S. Nonsuch) 1812-1826 (schooner)
12 1-18#, 1- 4#, 10-18#c. 325. 60. (U.S.S. Torch) 1814-1816 (schooner)
12 2-32#, 4- 9#, 6-32#c. 325. 60. (U.S.S. Prometheus) 1814-1819. (schooner)
12 ?. 260. 90. (U.S.S. Tom Bowline) 1814-1818) (supply schooner or brig)
10 10- 9#, 1-13" mortar, 2-24#c. 212. 30. (U.S.S. Aetna) 1805-1812 (bomb ketch)
10 10- 9#, 1-13" mortar, 2-24#c. 231. 30. (U.S.S. Vesuvius) 1806-1829. (bomb ketch)
10 1-18#, 2- 9#, 8-18#c. 301. 100. (U.S.S. Spitfire) 1814-1816 (schooner-ex LM Grampus))
10 (probable-10-12#c) 114. 65. (U.S.S. James Madison) 1812 (schooner-ex revenue cutter)
10 10- 4#. 98. 40. (U.S.S. Gen. Greene) 1798-1801 (one-masted sloop/ ex-revenue cutter)
9 8- 12#c, 1-9#c. 73. 40. (U.S.S. Alligator) 1813-15. (schooner/ex gunboat # 166)
8 1- 12#, 8- 6#. 175. 53. (U.S.S. Ferret) 1812-1814. (schooner)
7 ?. ?. (U.S.S. Roanoke) 1814-1816. (schooner)
7 6-12#, 1- 6#. 135. 52. (U.S.S. Firebrand) 1815-1819 (schooner)
6 ?. 150. 50 (U.S.S. Lynx) 1814-1820. (schooner)
6 ?. ?. (U.S.S. Surprise) 1815. (ketch/guard vessel)
5 1- 6#, 4-18#c. (U.S.S. Buffalo) 1814-1820. (one-masted sloop/tender)
5 2- 18#, 1- 4#, 2-24#c. ?. 40. (U.S.S. Camel). 1813-1816. (one-masted sloop/tener)
5 1- 18#, 4-18#c. ?. 57. (U.S.S. Hornet). 1813-1820. (schooner/dispatch boat)
4 4- 4#. ?. (U.S.S. Helen) 1813-1815. (schooner/dispatch boat)
3 2- 9#, 1-13" mortar. 92. 25. (U.S.S. Spitfire) 1803-1820. (sloop converted to bomb ketch)
3 1- 18#, 2-18#c. 56. 25. (U.S.S. Asp) 1813-1824. (schooner)
3 1- 9#(piv), 2-9#c. 77. 40. (U.S.S. Wasp) 1813 (hired schooner)
2 2- 6#, 2- 7 1/2" howitzers. 220. 30. (U.S.S. Aetna) 1813-1816 (bomb ketch)
2 1-24#, 1-18#, 2-12#c. 66. 25. (U.S.S. Scorpion) 1812-1814 (sloop-rigged block vessel)
2 ?. 50. (U.S.S. Corporation) 1814-1820. (schooner)
2 ?. ?. (U.S.S. Bulldog) 1814-1821. (felucca-purchased at New Orleans)
2 ? 52. 23. (U.S.S. Despatch) 1814-1820. (schooner/survey vessel)
1 1-24#. 95. 35. (Neapolitan gunboats used by U.S.N. at Tripoli) single-mast/lateen rig
1 1-13" mortar. 270. 40. (bombs used by U.S.N. at Tripoli) ketch rigged
1 1- 4#. 76. 8. (U.S.S. Alligator) 1812-1814. (one-masted sloop/gunboat)
1 1- 6#. 73. 15. (U.S.S. Seahorse) 1812-1814. (schooner)
1 1-18#. 277. 42. (U.S.S. Ranger) 1814-16. (schooner-ex- LM Transit)
? ?. 50. (U.S.S. Tickler) 1812-1818. (one-masted sloop/dispatch boat)
? ?. (U.S.S. Torpedo) 1814-1818. (schooner)
.(B) denotes British naval vessel captured.
(F) denotes French naval vessel captured.
(LM) denotes letter of mark- an armed merchant vessel with a commission to capture enemy vessels.
(*) denotes 1/1200 model available from NavWar. (**) Triton. (***) GHQ.

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