Original six frigates of the United States Navy information
First six ships of the US Navy
USS Constitution, the last of the original six frigates of the United States Navy still in commission
Class overview
Operators
United States Navy
Built
1794–1800
In service
1794–1881
In commission
1797–present
Planned
6
Completed
6
Active
1
Lost
2
Retired
3
General characteristics (Constitution, President, United States)
Class and type
44-gun frigate[2]
Tonnage
1,576[1]
Displacement
2,200 tons[1]
Length
204 ft (62 m) (length overall);
175 ft (53 m) at waterline[2]
Beam
43 ft 6 in (13.26 m)[2]
Draft
21 ft (6.4 m) forward
23 ft (7.0 m) aft[1]
Depth of hold
14 ft 3 in (4.34 m)[3]
Complement
450 officers and enlisted, including 55 Marines and 30 boys[2]
General characteristics (Congress and Constellation)
Class and type
38-gun frigate[4]
Tonnage
1,265 tons[4]
Length
164 ft (50 m) between perpendiculars[4]
Beam
41.0 ft (12.5 m)[4]
Complement
340 officers and enlisted[4]
General characteristics (Chesapeake)
Class and type
38-gun frigate[5]
Tonnage
1,244[5]
Length
152.8 ft (46.6 m) between perpendiculars[5]
Beam
41.3 ft (12.6 m)[5]
Draft
20 ft (6.1 m)[5]
Depth of hold
13.9 ft (4.2 m)[6]
Complement
340 officers and enlisted[5]
The United States Congress authorized the original six frigates of the United States Navy with the Naval Act of 1794 on March 27, 1794, at a total cost of $688,888.82 (equivalent to $19,833,259.52 in 2024). These ships were built during the formative years of the United States Navy, on the recommendation of designer Joshua Humphreys for a fleet of frigates powerful enough to engage any frigates of the French or British navies, yet fast enough to evade any ship of the line.
^ abcHollis (1900), p. 39.
^ abcd"US Navy Fact File – Constitution". United States Navy. July 7, 2009. Archived from the original on July 1, 2017. Retrieved June 30, 2011.
^"Constitution". Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. Navy Department, Naval History and Heritage Command.
^ abcde"Constellation". Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. Navy Department, Naval History & Heritage Command.
^ abcdef"Chesapeake". Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. Navy Department, Naval History & Heritage Command.
^Chapelle (1949), p. 535.
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