USS Guerriere (1814) facts for kids
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Quick facts for kids History |
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 United States |
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| Name | Guerriere |
| Namesake | HMS Guerriere |
| Ordered | 1812 |
| Builder | Philadelphia Navy Yard |
| Laid down | 1812 |
| Launched | 20 June 1814 |
| Decommissioned | 19 December 1831 |
| In service | 1815-1831 |
| Fate | Broken up, 1841 |
| General characteristics | |
| Type | First class frigate |
| Tonnage | 1508 |
| Length | 175 ft (53 m) |
| Beam | 45 ft 6 in (13.87 m) |
| Draft | 14 ft 6 in (4.42 m) |
| Propulsion | Sail |
| Sail plan | Full-rigged ship |
| Complement | 400 officers and enlisted |
| Armament |
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The USS Guerriere' was a special ship. It was the first frigate built in the United States since 1801. A frigate is a type of warship. The ship was named after a British frigate, the HMS Guerriere. The American ship USS Constitution had captured and destroyed the British Guerriere in 1812. This victory was important for the United States during the War of 1812.
The USS Guerriere was built at the Philadelphia Navy Yard. It was launched on June 20, 1814. Commodore John Rodgers was its first commander. The ship served in the United States Navy. It played a big role in the Second Barbary War.
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The Guerriere in the Second Barbary War
After being prepared for sea, the Guerriere became the main ship for Captain Stephen Decatur. He led a group of ships from New York on May 20, 1815. Their mission was to stop pirates from Algiers and other Barbary States. These pirates were attacking American merchant ships.
Battles and Peace Treaties
On June 17, 1815, off the coast of Algeria, the frigate Constellation chased an Algerian ship. This ship was the Meshuda, the main ship of the Algerian fleet. The Meshuda ended up near the Guerriere. The Guerriere fired its guns twice. This caused the Meshuda to surrender. A top Algerian naval officer, Rais Hamidu, was killed.
Two days later, the Guerriere led its group of ships again. They chased a 22-gun Algerian ship called the Estedio. They drove it onto the shore.
A relative of President James Monroe, Lieutenant James Monroe, was on the Guerriere during these battles. He was wounded but later served in Congress.
The Guerriere arrived in Algiers on June 28, 1815. Its squadron was ready to capture any Algerian ship leaving port. This was to make the leader of Algiers, called the Dey, agree to a peace treaty. The treaty was signed on board the Guerriere on June 30, 1815. This agreement stopped the United States from paying money to Algiers. It also made Algiers pay for damages to American trade.
The Guerriere then led its ships to Tunis and Tripoli. They showed their strength, and peace agreements were made. This happened with Tunis on July 13, 1815, and with Tripoli on August 9, 1815.
A Powerful Fleet in the Mediterranean
The Guerriere and its squadron finished their mission quickly. They had enforced peace in less than six weeks. Then, they joined the entire Mediterranean Squadron at Gibraltar. This group of ships was led by Commodore William Bainbridge.
This fleet had 18 warships. It included a large ship-of-the-line, five frigates, two sloops-of-war, seven brigs, and three schooners. It was the biggest American fleet ever in the Mediterranean Sea at that time. This event marked the start of a permanent American naval presence in the Mediterranean. Today, this presence has grown into the powerful 6th Fleet. Just like today, this fleet helped keep peace and strengthen international relations.
The Guerriere in Peacetime
The Guerriere returned to New York on November 12, 1815. It was then taken to the Boston Navy Yard for repairs.
Training Midshipmen
On April 22, 1818, the ship was put back into service. Captain Thomas Macdonough was its new commander. On July 24, 1818, it sailed to carry the American Minister to Russia. After visiting other ports, it dropped off the Minister in Kronstadt, Russia, on September 17, 1818.
The Guerriere then sailed around the Mediterranean until July 26, 1819. It left Leghorn and arrived in Norfolk, Virginia, on October 4, 1819. For the next seven years, the Guerriere was used as a schoolship. It helped train young naval officers called midshipmen. This was before the official naval academy was created.
Duty in the Pacific Ocean
In November 1828, the Guerriere stopped being a schoolship. It was prepared to be the main ship for a U.S. Navy squadron going to the Pacific Ocean. It sailed on February 13, 1829. It dropped off passengers in Rio de Janeiro. Then, it sailed around Cape Horn to Callao, Peru.
For the next two years, the Guerriere protected American trade. This included the whaling fleet. It sailed along the western coast of South America and as far as the Hawaiian Islands. The ship left Callao on September 8, 1831. It arrived back in Norfolk on November 29, 1831.
The USS Guerriere was officially taken out of service on December 19, 1831. It stayed at the Norfolk Navy Yard until it was taken apart in 1841.
Images for kids
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The USS Guerriere
