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USS Delaware (1776)

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Name
  
USS Delaware

Captured
  
27 September 1777

Beam
  
32 ft 11 in (10.03 m)

Weight
  
572 tons

Builder
  
Warwick Coates

Ordered
  
13 December 1775

Class and type
  
Launched
  
July 1776

Displacement
  
510,700 kg

Length
  
119 ft (36 m) (pp)117 ft 10 in (35.92 m) (deck)

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.

She was built under the 13 December 1775 order of the Continental Congress in the yard of Warwick Coates of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, under the direction of the Marine Committee. Upon her launching in July 1776, Captain C. Alexander took command.

Delaware served in the Delaware River, joining with Commodore John Hazelwood's Pennsylvania state ships in operations which delayed the British Fleet in approaching Philadelphia and supplying the British Army. When the British took possession of Philadelphia 26 September 1777, Delaware, now under the command of John Barry, in company with several smaller ships advanced upon the enemy fortifications which were being erected, and opened a destructive fire while anchored some 500 yards from shore. On 27 September she went aground on the ebb tide and came under the concentrated fire of the British artillery. After a brave defense against overwhelming odds, Captain Alexander was compelled to strike his colors. Delaware was taken into the Royal Navy, and sold in March 1783.

References

USS Delaware (1776) Wikipedia


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