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USS Spitfire (III)

Schooner:
  • Built, date and location unknown
  • Purchased at Baltimore between October and December 1814
  • Assigned to the "flying squadron," commanded by COMO. David Porter, slated to cruise the West Indies to wage war on British commerce
  • However, the ratification of the Treaty of Ghent on 18 February 1815 terminated hostilities before the squadron could get to sea
  • Five days after hostilities with Great Britain ceased the United States declared war on Algeria
  • A squadron under the command of CAPT. Stephen Decatur, in Guerriere, set sail from New York on 20 May, bound for the Mediterranean
  • Spitfire with Epervier, Torch, and Spark ran the 22-gun brig Estedio aground a Cape Palos
  • The Americans took possession of the enemy brig and 83 prisoners.
  • Spitfire then sailed with the squadron to Algiers where its presence forced the Dey to agree to American terms
  • The squadron then sailed in turn to Tunis and Tripoli and successfully demanded indemnities for violations of treaties with the United States during the recent American war with England
  • Spitfire returned home to the United States and was sold 3 April 1816
  • Final Disposition, fate unknown
    Specifications:
    Displacement 286 t.
    Length 106'
    Beam 25' 6"
    Draft unknown
    Depth of Hold 11' 9"
    Speed unknown
    Complement unknown
    Armament
    eight 18-pdr carronades
    one long 18-pdr
    two long 9-pdrs
    Propulsion sail
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		 Size Image Description Contributed
    By
    Guerriere 111k COMO.. Stephen Decatur squadron off Algiers comprised of the frigates;
    USF Guerriere, the flagship with 44 guns, commanded by Captain William Lewis,
    USF Constellation with 36 guns, commanded by Captain Charles Gordon;
    USF Macedonia with 38 guns, under the command of Captain Jacob Jones;
    the sloops-of-war USS Eperyie, commanded by Captain John Downes,
    and USS Ontario with 16 guns, commanded by Captain Jesse D. Elliott;
    the brigs USS Firefly,
    USS Spark and
    USS Flambeau, each with 14 guns, commanded by Lieutenants George W. Kodgers, Thomas Gamble, and John B. Nicholson;
    and the schooners USS Torch
    and USS Spitfire, both with 12 guns, commanded by Lieutenants Wolcott Chauncey and Alexander J. Dallas.
    Gardner Weld Allen (1856-1944) - "Our Navy and the Barbary Corsairs".    		 Tommy Trampp
    Macedonian
    098654913    		 112k Print by George G.Smith (1795-1878) engraver George Girdler Smith of the United States squadron under Com. Bainbridge returning triumphant from the Mediterranean in 1815, The print shows the American squadron at sea, includes, on the left;
    USS Macedonian (I),
    USS Firefly (I),
    USS Torch,
    USS Boxer (I), at center,
    USS Independence,
    USS USS Spark (I),
    USS Saranac (I),
    USS Enterprise (III),
    USS Lynx (I),     and on the right,
    USS Congress (III),
    USS Chippewa (II),
    USS Spitfire (III) and
    USS Flambeau.
    United States Library of Congress's Prints and Photographs division under the digital ID cph.3a47975    		 Robert Hurst
    USS Spitfire (III)
    Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships (DANFS)
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    Last Updated 13 May 2022