USS Raleigh (1776)
Model of Raleigh in the U.S. Navy Museum
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| History | |
|---|---|
 United States
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| Name: | USS Raleigh |
| Ordered: | 1775 |
| Builder: | Colonel James Hackett |
| Laid down: | 21 March 1776 |
| Launched: | 21 May 1776 |
| Captured: | 25 September 1778 |
| Fate: | Grounded and abandoned |
 United Kingdom
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| Name: | HBMS Raleigh |
| Launched: | 28 September 1778 (refloated) |
| Acquired: | 25 September 1778 |
| Decommissioned: | 10 June 1781 |
| Fate: | Sold July 1781 |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type: | Hancock Class, 32 gun Frigate |
| Tons burthen: | 697 tons (displ.) |
| Length: |
131 ft 5 in (40.06 m) keel 110 ft 7 in (33.71 m) |
| Beam: | 34 ft 5 in (10.49 m) |
| Draft: | 11 ft (3.4 m) |
| Propulsion: | Sail |
| Complement: | 180 officers and enlisted |
| Armament: |
32 x 12 pounders
also reported
26 x 12 pdrs; 10 x 6 pdrs |
131 ft 5 in (40.06 m)
32 x 12 pounders
USS Raleigh was one of thirteen ships that the Continental Congress authorized for the Continental Navy in 1775. Following her capture in 1778, she served in the Royal Navy as HBMS Raleigh.
Raleigh, a 32-gun frigate, was authorized by Continental Congress on 13 December 1775. Built by Messrs. James Hackett, Hill, and Paul under supervision of Thomas Thompson, the keel was laid on March 21, 1776 at the shipyard of John Langdon on what is now Badger's Island in Kittery, Maine. She was launched on May 21, 1776.
With a full-length figure of Sir Walter Raleigh as figurehead, Raleigh put to sea under Captain Thomas Thompson, who also supervised her construction, on August 12, 1777. Shortly thereafter, she joined Alfred and sailed for France. Three days out they captured a schooner carrying counterfeit Massachusetts money. Burning the schooner and her cargo, except for samples, the frigates continued their transatlantic passage. On September 2 they captured the British brig, Nancy, and from her they obtained the signals of the convoy which the brig had been escorting from the rear. Giving chase, the Americans closed with the convoy on September 4, 1777.
Raleigh, making use of the captured signals, intercepted the convoy and engaged HMS Druid. In the ensuing battle she damaged Druid, but the approach of the remaining British escorts forced her to retire.
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Wikipedia