Original six frigates of the United States Navy
USS Constitution, the last of the original six frigates of the United States Navy still in commission | |
| Class overview | |
|---|---|
| Operators | United States Navy |
| Succeeded by | Java-class frigate |
| Built | 1794–1800 |
| In service | 1794–1881 |
| In commission | 1797–present |
| Planned | 6 |
| Completed | 6 |
| Active | 1 |
| Lost | 2 |
| Retired | 3 |
| General characteristics (Constitution, President, United States) | |
| Class & type | 44-gun frigate |
| Tonnage | 1,576 |
| Displacement | 2,200 tons |
| Length |
|
| Beam | 43 ft 6 in (13.26 m) |
| Draft |
|
| Depth of hold | 14 ft 3 in (4.34 m) |
| Complement | 450 officers and enlisted, including 55 Marines and 30 boys |
| General characteristics (Congress and Constellation) | |
| Class & type | 38-gun frigate |
| Tonnage | 1,265 tons |
| Length | 164 ft (50 m) between perpendiculars |
| Beam | 41.0 ft (12.5 m) |
| Complement | 340 officers and enlisted |
| General characteristics (Chesapeake) | |
| Class & type | 38-gun frigate |
| Tonnage | 1,244 |
| Length | 152.8 ft (46.6 m) between perpendiculars |
| Beam | 41.3 ft (12.6 m) |
| Draft | 20 ft (6.1 m) |
| Depth of hold | 13.9 ft (4.2 m) |
| Complement | 340 officers and enlisted |
The United States Congress authorized the original six frigates of the United States Navy with the Naval Act of 1794 on March 27, 1794, at a total cost of $688,888.82 (equivalent to $18.1 million in 2023). These ships were built during the formative years of the United States Navy, on the recommendation of designer Joshua Humphreys for a fleet of frigates powerful enough to engage any frigates of the French or British navies, yet fast enough to evade any ship of the line.
One of these original six, the USS Constitution, is still in commission and is the world's oldest commissioned naval warship still afloat.