Massachusetts Naval Militia

The Massachusetts State Navy was the state navy of Massachusetts during the American Revolutionary War. It was founded on December 29, 1775 to defend the state's commerce and coastal communities along with engaging in offensive operations against British forces and merchant ships. The state navy acquired 25 vessels over the course of the war, which were used in varying roles such as cruisers, prison ships and dispatch boats. Its most prominent engagement was the 1779 Penobscot Expedition, during the state navy was entirely destroyed. The Massachusetts State Navy was disbanded on June 4, 1783 when its last ship was sold.

During the War of 1812, the state navy was raised again in 1812 to perform the same actions as it had done during the Revolutionary War before being disbanded in 1815 with the war's end. The Massachusetts Naval Militia was raised in 1898 to assist the United States Navy and defend Massachusetts, but saw no action before being disbanded in the same year. Under 10 U.S. Code §7851, naval militias form part of the United States militia and therefore are considered as such. Any attempt to reactivate a naval militia in Massachusetts must be done either by the governor of Massachusetts or the Massachusetts General Court.