| Ships of the US Navy November 1807 |
| While searching through some old periodicals, I came across this list of US Navy ships in November 1807, as reported by Secretary of the Navy R. Smith to Congress, and decided to post it here. FRIGATES (10) Constitution, 44 - In service (double listed as "Requiring inconsiderable repair") United States, 44 - Repairing, nearly ready for service President, 44 - Requires considerable repair Chesapeake, 44 - In service Constellation, 36 - Ready for service Congress, 36 - Requiring considerable repair New York, 36 - Requiring considerable repair Essex, 32 - Repairing, nearly ready for service Adams, 32 - Ready for service John Adams, 32 - Repairing, nearly ready for service SHIPS (1) Wasp, 16 - In service BRIGS (4) Hornet, 16 - In service Argus, 16 - In service Siren, 16 - Ready for service Vixen, 14 - Requiring inconsiderable repair SCHOONERS (3) Nautilus, 14 - Requring inconsiderable repair Enterprise, 14 - Ready for service Revenge, 12 - In service KETCHES (4) Spitfire, 7 - In Service Vengeance, 7 - In service Etna, 14 - In service Vesuvius, 14 - In service GUNBOATS (67) 60 unnamed - In service 7 unnamed - Building (one double listed as "ready for service") TOTALS In service - 2 frigates, 1 ship, 2 brigs, 1 schooner, 4 ketches, 60 gunboats - 70 vessels Ready for service - 2 frigates, 1 brig, 1 schooner, 1 gunboat - 5 vessels Repairing, nearly ready for service - 3 frigates - 3 vessels Requiring inconsiderable repair - 1 frigate, 1 brig, 1 schooner - 3 vessels Requiring considerable repair - 3 frigates - 3 vessels Thus, the Navy had 22 seagoing vessels in various states of repair and service, as well as 67 coastal vessels available in the months following the Chesapeake-Leopard affair of 1807. A separate communication from the Navy to Congress showed that the Navy estimated 257 gunboats would be needed to defend the nation's "sea port towns and harbors" and stated 69 had been provided. (I am not sure of the discrepancy between the number of gunboats in the two sources used.) Return to WELCOME PAGE Return to TABLE OF CONTENTS |
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