USS Porpoise (1836) facts for kids
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USS Porpoise
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Quick facts for kids History |
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 United States |
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| Name | USS Porpoise |
| Ordered | 30 June 1834 |
| Laid down | 1835 |
| Launched | 31 May 1836 |
| Commissioned | 1836 |
| Decommissioned | ca. July 1847 |
| Recommissioned | 1 January 1848 |
| Decommissioned | 3 August 1852 |
| Recommissioned | May 1853 |
| Fate | Disappeared September 1854 |
| General characteristics | |
| Type | Brig |
| Displacement | 224 long tons (228 t) |
| Length | 88 ft (27 m) |
| Beam | 25 ft (7.6 m) |
| Draft | 11 ft (3.4 m) |
| Propulsion | Sail |
| Complement | 80 officers and enlisted |
| Armament | 2 × 9 pdr (4.1 kg) guns, 8 × 24 pdr (11 kg) carronades |
The second USS Porpoise was a sailing ship called a brigantine. It was later changed into a brig. It weighed 224 tons and was built like another ship, the Dolphin.
The United States Congress approved building the Porpoise in 1834. It was built in 1835 and launched on May 31, 1836. Lieutenant William Ramsay was its first commander.
Contents
Early Voyages and Surveys
The Porpoise began its journey from Boston, Massachusetts on August 25, 1836. It visited several southern ports. In the summer of 1837, it helped survey the coast. This work was led by Lieutenant Charles Wilkes. In October 1837, the ship searched for pirates along the southern coast. It then continued its survey work in December.
Exploring the World with Wilkes
The Porpoise, commanded by Lieutenant Cadwalader Ringgold, joined a special group of ships. This group was led by Charles Wilkes. Their mission was to explore the world. The Porpoise left Hampton Roads on August 18, 1838. It was part of the United States Exploring Expedition.
The ship helped with important exploration and mapping. The expedition confirmed that the Antarctic Continent existed. They also mapped huge areas of the South Pacific. The ships sailed all the way around the world. Four years later, the Porpoise returned to New York. During this trip, the USS Oregon and the USS Porpoise visited the French Frigate Shoals in 1841.
Patrols and Conflicts
After its long journey, the Porpoise was repaired in New York in late 1842. On February 8, 1843, it sailed to the west coast of Africa. There, it joined other ships looking for illegal slave trading ships. The Porpoise returned to New York on November 19, 1844.
From February 1845 to July 1847, the Porpoise sailed in the Gulf of Mexico. It took part in naval actions during the Mexican–American War. These actions included operations near Tampico, Pánuco, and Veracruz. After this, the ship returned to Norfolk, Virginia. It was then taken out of service until January 1, 1848.
Final Missions and Disappearance
For the next three and a half years, the Porpoise continued to search for illegal slave trading ships off the west coast of Africa. It visited the U.S. in the spring of 1850. The ship returned to New York from this long trip on December 19, 1851. It was taken out of service again on August 3, 1852.
The Porpoise was put back into service in May 1853. It was assigned to the North Pacific Exploring and Surveying Expedition. This expedition was led by Commander Cadwalader Ringgold. He was a veteran of the earlier Wilkes Expedition, just like the Porpoise. The ship joined the group in Hampton Roads. They sailed out to sea on June 11, 1853.
The Porpoise sailed around the Cape of Good Hope. With the other ships, it explored and mapped many islands and shallow areas in the Pacific. They arrived in China in March 1854. The group of ships went to sea again to explore the Bonins, the Ladrones, and the Marianas.
The Porpoise separated from the other ships on September 21, 1854. This happened between Formosa and China. The ship was never seen or heard from again. It is believed that it sank in a very strong typhoon. This storm happened a few days after it separated from the other ships.
