Tracing The Build Date Of The USS United States Explained
- 01. The USS United States Built Date: Exact Facts Confirmed
- 02. Two Ships Share the Name: Critical Distinction
- 03. Construction Timeline of the Original Frigate
- 04. Commissioning and First Command
- 05. Technical Specifications and Design Innovation
- 06. Historical Service Record and Legacy
- 07. Why the Date Confusion Persists
- 08. Authoritative Sources Confirm the Facts
- 09. Preservation Status and Current Location
- 10. Summary of Key Dates
The USS United States Built Date: Exact Facts Confirmed
The USS United States was built with its keel laid down on March 27, 1795 at Joshua Humphreys' shipyard in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and officially launched on May 10, 1797, making it the first American warship launched under the Naval Act of 1794 and the first ship commissioned in the United States Navy.
Two Ships Share the Name: Critical Distinction
Confusion around the "USS United States built date" stems from two distinct vessels sharing the same name. The 1797 sailing frigate was a wooden warship that served during the Quasi-War with France, while the SS United States (often mistakenly called "USS") is the 1952 ocean liner that holds the trans-Atlantic speed record.
| Attribute | USS United States (1797) | SS United States (1952) |
|---|---|---|
| Keel Laid Down | March 27, 1795 | July 1950 |
| Launch Date | May 10, 1797 | June 23, 1951 |
| Commissioned | July 11, 1797 | Not commissioned (civilian liner) |
| Builder | Joshua Humphreys' Shipyard, Philadelphia | Newport News Shipbuilding, Virginia |
| Displacement | 1,576 tons | 53,326 tons |
| Top Speed | Approximately 12 knots | 42 knots (Blue Riband holder) |
Construction Timeline of the Original Frigate
The construction process for the original USS United States spanned approximately two years from keel laying to launch. Naval architect Joshua Humphreys designed this 44-gun frigate specifically to be larger and more heavily armed than any contemporary foreign warship.
- March 27, 1794: Congress authorizes six frigates under the Naval Act
- 1795: Keel laid down at Humphreys' Philadelphia shipyard
- 1796-1797: Hull construction and assembly progresses
- May 10, 1797: Ship officially launched into Philadelphia Bay
- Spring 1798: Final fitting out completed at Philadelphia
- July 3, 1798: Ordered to proceed to sea for first mission
The frigate entered water four months before its sister ship Constellation at Baltimore and five and one-half months before Constitution at Boston, establishing its historical primacy.
Commissioning and First Command
The USS United States was commissioned on July 11, 1797, with Revolutionary War naval hero Captain John Barry in command as its first commanding officer. This commissioning date marked the official birth of the United States Navy as an organized military force.
"United States -- the first American warship to be launched under the naval provisions of the Constitution -- entered the water four months before the launching of sister ship Constellation"
The ship immediately began duties protecting American merchant shipping during the Quasi-War with France (1798-1800), demonstrating its strategic importance from day one.
Technical Specifications and Design Innovation
The frigate measured 175 feet between perpendiculars with a beam of 43 feet 6 inches and displaced 1,576 tons, making it significantly larger than typical frigates of the era. Its 44-gun battery included 28 x 18-pounder long guns on the main gun deck plus additional carriage guns and carronades on the spar deck.
- Hull Material: Live oak and white oak construction for maximum durability
- Sail Plan: Full-rigged ship with three masts and approximately 4,200 square yards of sail
- Crew Complement: Approximately 340 officers and sailors
- Design Speed: Designed for 12+ knots, occasionally achieving 14 knots under favorable conditions
- Armament: 44 guns total (28 x 18-pounders, plus 16 x 32-pounder carronades and 6 x 18-pounder chase guns)
This innovative design by Humphreys and Capt. Thomas Truxtun established the template for American naval superiority in the late 18th century.
Historical Service Record and Legacy
The USS United States served actively for approximately 64 years before being captured by Confederate forces in 1861 during the Civil War, later becoming the CSS United States. Its service history includes the Quasi-War with France (1798-1800), the Barbary Wars, and various patrols protecting American interests worldwide.
The ship's distinguished career established American naval credibility on the world stage and demonstrated the effectiveness of Humphreys' revolutionary frigate design. Its capture at Norfolk Navy Yard in January 1861 marked the end of its active service, though its legacy endured through subsequent vessels bearing the same name.
Why the Date Confusion Persists
Search queries for "USS United States built date" frequently return mixed results because three different vessels exist in historical records: the 1797 frigate, the 1815 vessel of the same name, and the 1952 SS United States ocean liner. Additionally, the civilian liner SS United States is often incorrectly prefixed with "USS" despite never serving in the U.S. Navy.
The SS United States ocean liner was constructed from 1950-1952 at Newport News Shipbuilding in Virginia, launched June 23, 1951, and commenced maiden voyage July 3, 1952-a completely different timeline from the 1797 frigate. This construction cost of $79.4 million (equivalent to $724 million today) funded an aluminum-hulled vessel that still holds the trans-Atlantic speed record.
Authoritative Sources Confirm the Facts
The U.S. Navy Historical Center and Wikipedia's documented entry both confirm the 1797 launch date with primary source documentation from the National Archives. The Naval Act of 1794 authorized construction on March 27, 1794, with actual building commencing in 1795 and launch occurring precisely two years and 1½ months later on May 10, 1797.
Maritime historian records indicate the ship was first American warship to be launched under the Constitution's naval provisions, predating the USS Constitution by over five months and establishing a direct lineage to modern U.S. Navy vessel naming conventions.
Preservation Status and Current Location
The original 1797 USS United States was captured in 1861 and ultimately destroyed, but the SS United States ocean liner remains moored in Philadelphia as a potential museum ship under preservation efforts by the SS United States Conservancy. The ocean liner's aluminum construction saved 8,000-10,000 tons compared to steel equivalent and provided superior fireproofing properties.
Current preservation efforts aim to convert the SS United States into a floating museum honoring American maritime engineering excellence, though funding challenges have delayed this project for over a decade.
Summary of Key Dates
The definitive answer to "USS United States built date" depends on which vessel you reference: the 1797 frigate (keel: March 27, 1795; launch: May 10, 1797) or the 1952 ocean liner (construction: 1950-1952; launch: June 23, 1951). The naval frigate represents the first commissioned warship of the United States Navy, while the ocean liner represents the fastest passenger ship ever built.
For historical accuracy in naval contexts, the 1797 dates are primary; for maritime speed record contexts, the 1952 dates apply. Understanding this distinction eliminates confusion and ensures accurate historical documentation.
What are the most common questions about Tracing The Build Date Of The Uss United States Explained?
When was the USS United States launched?
The USS United States was launched on May 10, 1797 at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, becoming the first American warship launched under the Naval Act of 1794.
When was the USS United States commissioned?
The USS United States was commissioned on July 11, 1797, with Captain John Barry as its first commanding officer.
Where was the USS United States built?
The USS United States was built at Joshua Humphreys' shipyard in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the same location where its keel was laid down in 1795.
Who designed the USS United States?
The USS United States was designed by naval architect Joshua Humphreys in collaboration with Captain Thomas Truxtun, creating the most powerful frigate of its era.
What was the USS United States tonnage?
The USS United States displaced 1,576 tons with a length of 175 feet between perpendiculars and a beam of 43 feet 6 inches.
Did the USS United States hold a speed record?
No, the SS United States (1952 ocean liner) holds the Blue Riband for fastest trans-Atlantic crossing at 42 knots, not the USS United States (1797 frigate) which averaged approximately 12 knots.