USS Spitfire (1776)
| Career (USA) | Union Navy Jack 100x35px |
|---|---|
| Name: | USS Spitfire |
| Owner: | General Assembly of Rhode Island |
| Ordered: | late in 1775 |
| Laid down: | date unknown |
| Completed: | 1776 |
| In service: | circa January 1776 in Narragansett Bay |
| Out of service: | circa October 1776 |
| Fate: | reported “captured or destroyed by the enemy” |
| General characteristics | |
| Type: | row galley |
| Displacement: | not known |
| Length: | not known |
| Beam: | not known |
| Draft: | not known |
| Propulsion: | rowed by oars |
| Speed: | dependent on direction of river current |
| Complement: | 60 crew |
| Armament: | One 18-pounder gun |
USS Spitfire (1776) was a row galley authorized and constructed by Rhode Island during the American Revolution, and was placed in service in 1776. During this age of sail, row galleys were highly maneuverable compared to sailing ships whose movements were dependent on the wind. Spitfire had a reportedly successful career, helping to capture British cargo ships and engaging in the fight against British warships.
Contents
Ordered by Rhode Island
Late in 1775, the General Assembly of Rhode Island ordered the construction of two galleys, Washington and Spitfire. In January 1776, the General Assembly appointed John Grimes Commodore of the galleys and, presumably soon thereafter, they were placed in service in Narragansett Bay.
Capturing British cargo ships
They cruised in defense of American shipping, acted as transports, and assisted landing parties seeking forage and supplies. On 11 April 1776, they recaptured brigantine Georgia Packet and sloop Speedwell which HMS Scarborough had captured and brought into the bay, braving the fire of Scarborough's guns as they took the prizes from under her stern.
In July 1776, the galleys were ordered to New York City to help protect the Hudson River, and they reached New York harbor on 1 August. There they cooperated with a flotilla created by George Washington.
Attacking British warships
On the afternoon of the 3d, Spitfire joined Lady Washington and Washington in a daring attack on Phoenix and Rose and engaged the British warships for over two hours before retiring. One man on Spitfire was killed and two were badly wounded. Her hull and rigging sustained much damage.
The two galleys returned to Providence, Rhode Island, late in the month. In mid-September, libels were filed in court on
| “ | three large cables and two large anchors, which late belonged to the British Ship-of-War, called the Scarborough; which…were captured… by…the Row-Galley called the Spitfire. | ” |
Little is known about the curious action which resulted in this litigation in Admiralty court-not even when it occurred.
Swashbuckling
The quotation above does suggest that Spitfire, on at least one more occasion, continued her swashbuckling. Few records have survived to fill out the galley's subsequent career. She was apparently sent to New London, Connecticut, early in October 1776 “to strengthen the naval force as much as possible.”
Captured or destroyed
Then, we know nothing of the galley until the summer of 1778, by which time we are told Spitfire “had been captured or destroyed by the enemy.”
See also
References
- This article includes text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. The entry can be found here.
