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NavSource Online: "Old Navy" Ship Photo Archive

USF Boston (II)

Frigate:
  • Built circa 1775 as the Continental Navy Frigate Boston by Stephen and Ralph Cross, Newburyport, MA.
  • Launched 3 June 1776
  • Completed in 1777
  • USF Boston was commissioned, 21 May 1777, CAPT. Hector McNeill in command
  • Boston sailed in company with the Continental Navy frigate USS Hancock for a cruise in the North Atlantic;
    The two frigates captured HMS Fox (28 guns), 7 June 1777
    The two frigates together with Fox engaged HMS Flora, HMS Rainbow, and HMS Victor, 7-8 July 1777
    Hancock and Fox were captured
    Boston escaped to the Sheepscot River on the Maine coast
    CAPT. McNeill was court-martialed in June 1779 for his failure to support Hancock and was dismissed from the Navy
  • 15 February to 31 March 1778 Boston, CAPT, Samuel Tucker in command, carried John Adams to France capturing one prize en route
  • While cruising European waters Boston took four additional prizes before returning to Portsmouth, New Hampshire, 15 October 1779
  • During the periods 29 July to 6 September 1778 and 23 November to 23 December 1778 Boston cruised the North Atlantic capturing at least nine prizes
  • Boston joined the squadron sent to assist in the defense of Charleston, South Carolina
  • There the British captured her when the town surrendered on 12 May 1780
  • Boston was taken into Boston service as the frigate HMS Charlestown and armed her with 28 guns and six 18 pounders (8.2 kg) carronades
  • Charlestown was sold by the Royal Navy in 1783
  • Final Disposition, fate unknown
    Specifications:
    Displacement 513 t.
    Length 114'3"
    Beam 32'
    Depth of Hold unknown
    Draft 10'3"
    Speed 8.5 kts
    Complement unknown
    Armament
    five 12-pdrs
    two 6-pdrs
    four 4-pdrs
    Propulsion sail
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		 Size Image Description Contributed
    By
    Boston (II)
    US Navy photo # KN-4783 (Color)    		 80k Photograph of a painting of USS Boston (II) by Rod Claudius, Rome, Italy, 1962. This artwork was made for display on board USF Boston (CAG-1).
    US Navy photo #'s KN-4783 (Color) and KN-4781 (Color) by PHCS G.R. Phelps, Boston Naval Shipyard, 10 April 1963    		 Robert Hurst
    Boston (II)
    US Navy photo # KN-4781 (Color)    		 90k
    Hancock (II) 36k Continental Frigates Hancock and Boston capturing British Frigate Fox 7 June 1777.
    US Navy photo from DANFS.    		 USNH&HC
    Hancock (II) 96k "USS HANCOCK, BOSTON and FOX vs. HMS FLORA and RAINBOW, 7 July 1777".
    Painting by Francis Holman, 1779 of HMS Flora (left) recaptures the American prize Fox. At right, the Continental Frigate Boston escapes into the distance, while at left, HMS Rainbow is in chase of the Continental Frigate Hancock, which was finally captured the following day. Fox was formerly a British frigate, which had been taken by Hancock and Boston, 7 June 1777.
    Commissioned by Captain Brisbane, Commanding Officer of HMS Flora. Fourth of a set of four.
    Description: Courtesy of Carl L. Crossman, Childs Gallery, Boston, 1971. Purchased by Peabody Museum, Salem, Massachusetts, in 1976.
    US Naval History and Heritage Command photo # NH 76838    		 USNH&HC
    Hancock (II) 166k "British and American Vessels in Action"
    Painting by Thomas Buttersworth of the American frigates Boston under command of Captain Hector McNeill, and Hancock under Captain John Manley, in action against the British frigate HMS Flora and British ship HMS Rainbow, off Cape Sable, Newfoundland, 7 July 1777. Following the action, HMS Fox was recaptured from the Americans by Flora, Hancock was captured by Rainbow after a 39 hour chase, and Boston escaped.
    US Naval History and Heritage Command photo # NH 56431. Print received from M. Knoedler and Co. Courtesy of Mr. Daniel Farr, New York City    		 USNH&HC
    USF Boston (II)
    Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships (DANFS)
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    Last Updated 19 August 2016