The Navies of the Revolution

From the USNA

1.   The “Army’s Fleets” (active 1775-1776)

George Washington’s Navy

• Goal: to confiscate military supplies and equipment from the British
• Thus central purpose was to practice guerre de course warfare
• Total of 55 prizes

Benedict Arnold’s Fleet

• Battle of Valcour Island (Lake Champlain)

 2.   Continental Navy (est. 1775)
 

• Maximum size (1777): 34 vessels
• Minimum size (1781): 2 ships
• Practiced guerre de course warfare; transported soldiers; ferried diplomats across the Atlantic
• Source of first naval “heroes” (including John Paul Jones)

 3.   Privateering (est. 1775)
 

• MA and RI were the first colonies to authorize privateering
• During war, 1697 letters of marque issued; and American privateers captured some 600 prizes
• 1781: peak prize year: 450 prizes
• Practiced guerre de course warfare

 4.   States Navies (est. 1777)
 

• 11 states had navies: Virginia’s was ultimately the biggest
• MA and RI were the first states to establish state navies
• Created to protect the states’ ports and harbors

 5. The French Navy (allied since 1778; decisive in 1781)
 

• A proxy navy for the Americans
• This large and established European navy was capable of facing the Royal Navy in fleet warfare (guerre d’escadre)
• Battle of the Chesapeake/Battle of the Capes ( (Sept. 1781)
• Thus played a fundamental role in the achievement of American independence.