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NavSource Online: "Old Navy" Ship Photo Archive

USF Confederacy

Frigate:
  • Laid down, date unknown as the Continental Navy Frigate USF Confederacy at Chatham, CT.
  • Launched, 8 November 1778, towed to New London, CT. for fitting out
  • Confederacy's first assignment, 1 May to 24 August 1779, under the command of CAPT. S. Harding, involved cruising the Atlantic coast convoying merchantmen
  • On 6 June Confederacy in company with USF Deane captured three prizes, drove off two British frigates and brought the convoy safely into Philadelphia, PA.
  • Sailing for Europe on 17 September 1779 Confederacy carried the French Minister and family back to France as well as John Jay, the first American Minister to Spain and family
  • During the return voyage on 7 November 1779 Confederacy was completely dismasted and almost lost, managing to make Martinique early in December
  • In March 1781, once again on convoy duty, Confederacy encountered the British ships HMS Roebuck (44 guns) and HMS Orpheus (32 guns) while homeward bound from the West Indies, forcing Confederacy to strike her colors
  • The Royal Navy took her into service as HMS Confederate, under the command of Captain James Cumming. He paid her off in September 1781
  • Final Disposition, She was broken up at Woolwich in March 1782.
    Specifications:
    Displacement 959 t.
    Length 153'
    Beam 35' 6"
    Depth of Hold unknown
    Draft unknown
    Speed unknown
    Complement 260
    Armament
    twenty-eight 12-pdrs
    eight 6-pdrs
    Propulsion sail
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		 Size Image Description Contributed
    By
    Confederacy 556k Undated Revolutionary War painting by William Nowland Van Powell, depicting the Continental Navy 36-gun sailing frigate USF Confederacy displayed at the Navy Art Gallery at the Washington Navy Yard.
    US Navy photo # 090625-N-9671T by MC2 Kenneth G. Takada    		 Robert Hurst
    Confederacy
    098660002    		 111k A 1:48. scale plan showing the body plan, stern board with decoration detail, sheer lines with inboard detail and figurehead, and longitudinal half-breadth for Confederate (Ex-USF Confederacy), a captured American Fifth Rate. The plan illustrates the ship as she was taken off at Woolwich Dockyard. The plan includes a table of mast and yard dimensions. Robert Hurst
    USF Confederacy
    Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships (DANFS)
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    This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo
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    Last Updated 15 November 2021