USS Savannah (1842)

The second USS Savannah was a frigate in the United States Navy. She was named after the city of Savannah, Georgia.

For other ships with the same name, see USS Savannah.
History
United States
Name: Savannah
Builder: New York Navy Yard
Laid down: 1820
Launched: 5 May 1842
Decommissioned: 11 February 1862
Out of service: 1870
Fate: Sold, 1883
Notes: Razeed to sloop of war in 1857
General characteristics
Class and type: Brandywine
Type: Frigate
Tonnage: 1726
Beam: 47 ft (14 m)
Depth of hold: 22 ft 8 in (6.91 m)
Propulsion: Sail
Complement: 480 officers and enlisted
Armament:
  • 4 × 8 in (200 mm) shell guns
  • 28 × 32-pounder guns
  • 22 × 42-pounder carronades

Savannah was begun in 1820 at the New York Navy Yard, but she remained on the stocks until 5 May 1842, when she was launched. She was one of nine frigates to be built from a prototype design by naval architect William Doughty.

Savannah, with Captain Andrew Fitzhugh in command, joined the Pacific Squadron as flagship in 1844. As the prospect of war with Mexico became imminent, the Squadron moved into position off the California coast. On 7 July 1846, the Squadron captured Monterey without firing a shot. On 8 September 1847, Savannah returned to New York for repairs.

She served as flagship for the Pacific Squadron again from 1849–52. Repairs at Norfolk, Virginia took her into 1853, and on 9 August of that year, she sailed for a three-year cruise on the Brazil Station. In November 1856 she was inactivated, and in 1857, razeed, or reduced to a 24 gun sloop of war. She then served as flagship for the Home Squadron on the east coast of Mexico during 1859 and 1860.

USS Savannah, USS Saratoga and two charted steamers fought the small Battle of Anton Lizardo in 1860. Two armed Mexican vessels were captured by the Americans after they were deemed pirates by the Mexican government.

With the outbreak of the American Civil War in 1861, Savannah was deployed off the coast of Georgia, where she shared in the capture of two Confederate prizes, the schooner, E. J. Waterman, and the ship, Cheshire. On 11 February 1862, Savannah was taken out of active service and placed in use as an instruction and practice ship at the United States Naval Academy.

While in service as a practice ship, one of Savannah's commanding officers, Captain Edward Gabriel André Barrett, wrote and published two texts, still available at present, known for rapid education of voluntary officers: "NAVAL HOWITZER"[1] and "GUNNERY INSTRUCTIONS" [2]

In 1870, after conducting her last training cruise to England and France, she was laid up at the Norfolk Navy Yard. She remained there until sold to E. Stannard and Company of Westbrook, Connecticut, in 1883.

See also

References
  1. "Naval Howitzer", Edward Barrett 1863, reprint of 2005 – Wind Canyon Books (Brawley-CA 92227)
  2. Lieut-Commander Edward Barrett (1863). Gunnery Instructions.

This article incorporates text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. The entry can be found here.

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