Please report any broken links or trouble you might come across to the Webmaster. Please take a moment to let us know so that we can correct any problems and make your visit as enjoyable and as informative as possible.

NavSource Online: "Old Navy" Ship Photo Archive

Continental Navy Sloop Ranger (I)

Ship sloop:

Laid down as Hampshire by James K. Hackett, Portsmouth, N.H. in 1776-77

Commissioned as the Continental Navy ship sloop Ranger CAPT. John Paul Jones in command

Ranger was the first U.S. vessel to hoist the new Stars & Stripes, they first flew from her mast on 4 July 1777

Ranger sailed for France 1 November 1777, carrying dispatches telling of General Burgoyne's surrender to the Commissioners in Paris, where Jones delivered the news of the victory at Saratoga to Dr. Franklin

Ranger received the first official salute to the new American flag, the "Stars and Stripes," given by the French fleet at Quiberon Bay, 14 February 1778. This was actually coercion by John Paul Jones. He had told the French officers that he would not salute them if they did not first salute his ship

Ranger sailed from Brest, 10 April 1778, for the Irish Sea, taking several prizes, raiding ports and burning ships in British harbors

Ranger defeated HMS Drake in late April and arrived at Brest with her prizes

Captain Jones was detached to command Bonhomme Richard, leaving LT. Simpson, his first officer, in command.

Ranger departed Brest 21 August, reaching Portsmouth, N.H., 15 October

The sloop departed Portsmouth 24 February 1779 joining with the other ships of the Continental Navy to prey on British shipping in the North Atlantic

Ranger departed for Charleston arriving their 23 December 1779, to support the garrison there under siege by the British

Ranger was captured on the Cooper River, 11 May 1780

The ship was taken into the Royal Navy and commissioned HMS Halifax

Final Disposition, Sold 13 October, 1781

Specifications:
Displacement 308 t.
Length 116'
Beam 28'
Depth 13' 4"
Draft unknown
Speed unknown
Complement 140
Armament

designed for twenty 6-pdrs only eighteen installed, John Paul Jones felt that she was too heavy in the bow and had the forward 2 guns struck below as ballast

Propulsion sail

Click On Image For Full Size Image	Size	Image Description	Contributed By
NS020457a	369k	"Engagement off Carrickfergus, Ireland, 24 April 1778. ('USS *Ranger* versus HMS Drake,' Arthur N. Disney, Sr., Navy Art Collection)." From U.S. Navy: A Complete History, Naval Historical Foundation, 2003.	John Slaughter, Webmaster USS Ranger History & Memorial site
NS020457b	476k	"Mural depicting the continental sloop *Ranger* receiving the salute of the French fleet at Quiberon Bay. ('First Foreign Salute to the Stars and Stripes, 14 February 1778.' Howard B. French, U.S. Naval Academy)." From U.S. Navy: A Complete History, Naval Historical Foundation, 2003.
	79k	US naval legend John Paul Jones raised the Star Spangled Banner above the *Ranger* on July 4, 1777. Painting of the USS Ranger by Edward Moran.	Tommy Trampp
	187k	*Ranger* and HMS Drake ©Helen Tilton, 1905.	Arnold Putnam
	546k	Ship model of *Ranger*.	Arnold Putnam
	495k	John Paul Jones recruiting poster for crewing *Ranger* was the first recruiting poster for what would become the United States Navy. It is understood that the promised payments were not as readily forthcoming as was to be expected.	John Slaughter

Ranger (I)
Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships (DANFS)

Back To The Navsource Photo Archives Main Page

Back To The Old Navy" Steam and Sail Index

Comments, Suggestions, E-mail Webmaster.

This page is created by Gary P. Priolo and maintained by Michael Junge

Last Updated 16 January 2024