# U S Navy 1780-81 **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [July 26, 2000, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/u-s-navy-1780-81/26851 "2000-07-26T00:51:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 4\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![eddie8099](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8baadc/32.png) [@eddie8099](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eddie8099)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2000, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/u-s-navy-1780-81/26851/1 "2000-07-26T00:51:16Z")
I was looking for information about the number and names of official Continental Navy vessels (not privateers)in the years 1780-81. I have found conflicting info that there were 6 or 8. List of names, types, # guns, and final disposition, if known. No, I am not a student doing a paper. Curiosity aroused by rumors about a sunken wreck. ---
**Author:** ![bibliophage](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bibliophage/32/7615_2.png) [@bibliophage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bibliophage)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2000, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/u-s-navy-1780-81/26851/2 "2000-07-26T01:39:54Z")
I’m not sure if there was a clearcut distinction between Continental warships and privateers. From [http://www.dell.homestead.com/revwar/files/SEA.HTM](http://www.dell.homestead.com/revwar/files/SEA.HTM) > [@](#): > > The Continental Navy eventually put into service 50 or 60 ships; the Colonies’ navies added another 40 or so. This site [http://www.cronab.demon.co.uk/br.htm](http://www.cronab.demon.co.uk/br.htm) names a dozen or more ships. After the frigate _Alliance_ was sold in 1785, there were essentially no warships until 1797 when _Constitution, United States, and Constellation_ were launched. ---
**Author:** ![mipsman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e99b99/32.png) [@mipsman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mipsman)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2000, 2:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/u-s-navy-1780-81/26851/3 "2000-07-26T02:34:22Z")
From The Oxford History of the American People by Samuel Eliot Morison) In 1776, Congress authorized the building of 13 frigates, 3 masted square riggers, around 125 feet long, in a number of shipyards between Portsmouth and Baltimore. Four were burned in their stocks to prevent the British from capturing them. The Warren and Providence were bottled up in Narragansett Bay by the Brits for 2 years. The Raleigh, lay in port until mid-1777 and was captured by the Brits with a year. The Virginia, built in Baltimore, was captured before it left Chesapeake Bay. The Trumbull was captured off the Connecticutt River around 1781. The Randolph was deserted by her crew in Charleston and on her next voyage she blew up. The Hancock was captured by the British in 1777 and, as a British vessel, captured the Trumbull. By the end of the war, the US Navy consisted of only one or two ships larger than an armed schooner. In French waters, JP Jones had the Ranger, the Bonhomme Richard, the Alliance, and the French frigate Pallas. Privateering was too much competition for the US Navy during the Revolution. The privateers faced little discipline, the chance to make big money and almost no danger since the privateers were fast and could run from any powerful opponent. In 1798, during the undeclared war with France, there were 14 American men-of-war. I can only find the names of United States, Constitution, Constellation, President, Congress, Boston, Retaliation and Chesapeake. ---
**Author:** ![Ringo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/779978/32.png) [@Ringo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ringo)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2000, 2:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/u-s-navy-1780-81/26851/4 "2000-07-26T02:45:44Z")
You might email the folks in the Early History Branch of the [Naval Historical Center](http://www.history.navy.mil/index.html). [The Continental Navy Foundation](http://home.sprintmail.com/~tmwing/) might be able to help you out. [Here](http://www.ushistory.org/more/commodorebarry.html)’s a site about Commodore John Barry that includes a references section.