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The US Brig Eagle fought in the War of 1812 on Lake Champlain (The Battle of Plattsburg Bay). The Eagle was built at Vergennes, Vermont between July 23rd and August 11th of 1814 by shipwright Adam Brown. An amazing feat in itself when you consider it generally took many months to build a ship of this size and the shipbuilders who built this ship did it in only 19 days. But time was of the essence. Finished in bare time to participate in the decisive Battle of Lake Champlain on 11 September 1814, Eaglerendered service. The first vessel in the American line, she fought HMS Chub, HMS Linnet, and HMS Confiancealongside the USS Saratoga. During the course of the battle she was holed 39 times and had 13 men killed and 20 wounded. After the battle she was laid up for preservation at Whitehall, New York, but was sold in 1825. Type: Brig Displacement: 500 long tons (508 t) Propulsion: Sail Complement: 150 officers and enlisted Armament: 8 × 18-pounder guns + 12 × 32-pounder carronades Rate: I do not know how the rating system works Plans (3 Pictures) + other Pictures press Show of Spoiler to see it. sources: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Eagle_(1814) http://www.modelshipbuilder.com/news.php http://modelshipbuilder.com/e107_images/custom/The%20US%20Brig%20Eagle%201814%20practicum.pdf http://nautarch.tamu.edu/cmac/report1.shtml http://modelshipworld.com/index.php/topic/3138-oneida-plans/#entry88426 http://www.historicships.com/TALLSHIPS/Corel/Eagle%20SM61/Eagle%20SM61.htm http://modelshipworld.com/index.php/gallery/album/544-us-brig-eagle/ http://www.modelshipbuilder.com/e107_plugins/forum/forum_viewtopic.php?2701 http://shipmodelsvic.org.au/index.php?page=forums http://fp.reverso.net/history-uniforms-over-blog/5719/en/10-index.html PS: I used the search function of this forum, but i didn't find this ship here, if this ship is already posted @mods pls delete it.

USS Essex The USS Essex, a thirty-two-gun frigate built in Salem, Massachusetts, in 1799, was not the most glorious vessel in the history of the American navy, yet she was unique. Sailors throughout the world remarked on her speed and beauty of line, and the list of men who commanded her—Edward Preble, William Bainbridge, James Barron, and David Porter—reads like a who's who of the early American navy. She was the first U.S. warship to round the Cape of Good Hope into the Indian Ocean. Thirteen years later, she became the first American man-of-war to round the Horn into the Pacific, where her crew fought and lost one of the bloodiest sea battles in U.S. history. Plans:

USS Syren (later Siren) was a brig of the United States Navy during the First Barbary War and the War of 1812 until being captured by the Royal Navy in 1814. Syren was built for the Navy in 1803 at Philadelphia by shipwright Nathaniel Hutton and launched on 6 August 1803. She was commissioned in September and Lieutenant Charles Stewart was appointed in command. Type: Brig Displacement: 240 long tons (244 t) Length: 94 ft 4 in (28.75 m) Beam: 27 ft 9 in (8.46 m) Draft: 12 ft 6 in (3.81 m) Propulsion: Sail Complement: 120 officers and enlisted Armament: 16 × 24-pounder carronades Plans: Other Pictures: Sources: http://parus.ucoz.lv/forum/7-142-1 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Syren_(1803) http://www.shipmodel.com/models/syren-full-hull---expose http://www.segelschiffsmodellbau.com/t2535f723-USS-Syren-Kitbash-for-the-win-4.html here you can find much more detailed pictures especially of small Details page 1-8 !! PS: Pictures of United States Navy Ships 1775-1941

The prettiest ship you would ever see. The Pickle on steriods. Smooth lines, unique sail plan, sharp bite. This is the ultimate privateer ship. The Victory might be a sledgehammer, the Constitution a Bowie Knife, this here is a surgeon's scalpel. Yes, it lost in the player selected ship poll for 2015, but this would be a very good addition to the game. It carries a hermaphrodite rig similar (yet very different from) the Pickle and is heavily armed (18 guns) and manned (130 crew). It is extremely fast. At the least make it a premium ship if you don't want it to be a regular ship. I and others would pay good RL money for her. http://www.1812privateers.org/United%20States/PRINCE/princeINDEX.html

My suggestion is to add some depth/specialization to the shipbuilders/shipyards in the game. Currently any T3 shipyard can build any ship. What I'm proposing is to have these specialized. As the builders/yards are set up require the player to specialize in a particular style of ships. French ships, British, Spanish, American and Baltic (Swedish, Dutch, Danish, Prussian, Russian). This makes it so that while this puts more effort into getting these ships, 1 person cant just pump out L'Oceans and Aggys for everyone, since one is French and the other British. The rigging and perks I don't have an opinion on, that's after market if you think about it.

Constellation 1794 Plans Large visit of USS Constellation. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=YpWpPoVYB2s

There are several things I must apologize for in advance: 1. The title is slightly misleading. The scans I will be posting are taken from the book "History of the American Sailing Navy" by Howard Chapelle. The scans are of vessels proposed and/or built for both the Continental Navy and the American Navy up to the year 1820. There are further sketches, sail plans, draughts, etc beyond that cut-off, should any request them, however, for the sake of avoiding arguments, I have not included them. 2. I was heartily disappointed to discover that the larger plans are on facing pages within the book, thus forcing me to remove the cover of the book and do the best I can to provide the most accurate scans possible; being an amateur with book binding, no easy feat. All of the plans on facing pages are tucked into the book spine itself and as such, the plans are slightly off in the middle and may require some guesswork. 3. Lastly, I realize some of the plans posted are more than likely already on the forums. I skipped some plans because I knew for a fact they were already on the forums, but I may have missed a few during the scan & upload process. Don't flame this poor lubber too hard. The plans I will be uploading range from small vessels such as schooners, galleys, brigs and sloops, up to frigates ranging from 28 to 44 guns, and finally plans for the American ships of the line up to, but not including the USS Pennsylvania, as the date on the plans for that particular ship are after 1820. Again, any particular requests for plans can be mailed to me via the forum messaging system. Fishnuts

U.S.S. Independence I think this ship has been mentioned before a few times but there was never a thread made for her: In 1836 she was razee'd into a 54-gun frigate: Originally I think she was closer to 90 guns, but they had to cut down on her armament some due to her weight and draft proportions *insert fat Murican joke*. I'm still looking for the original 2nd/3rd rate plans, but am having trouble finding them so far in US Library of Congress, US National Archives, or DANFS mil site... Tonnage: 2243 Length: 190 ft 9 in (58.14 m) Beam: 54 ft 7 in (16.64 m) Draft: 21 ft 3 in (6.48 m) Complement: 790 officers and enlisted Armament: 90 × 32-pounder (15 kg) guns (**not sure about this) Excerpt from here at least confirms her dimensions and armaments: http://www.hazegray.org/danfs/line/sotl.htm#inde Independence was the first to launch and the first to make a foreign cruise of any ship-of-the-line of the U.S. Navy. She was one of "four ships to rate not less than 74 guns" authorized by Act of Congress 9 January 1813. Her sister ships were Franklin, Washington, and Columbus. She launched 22 June 1814 in the Boston Navy Yard, immediately took on guns, and was stationed with the frigate USS Constitution to protect the approaches of Boston Harbor. Her design was identical to Franklin and Washington: Length, 190 feet 10 inches; extreme beam, 54 feet 71/2 inches; tonnage, 2,243; draft, 24 feet 4 inches; and a complement of 790 officers and men. Their original armament was 30 long 32-pounders of 0.55 hundredweight; 33 long 32-pounders of 0.50 hundredweiglht; and twenty-four 32-pounder carronades. The lower deck gun ports of Independence came too near the water with all her armament, provisions and complement on board. Some of her heavy guns were exchanged for the lighter 24-pounders of the USS Constitution to help remedy her deep draft. After trials, it was necessary to further increase buoyancy by landing "a considerable weight of carronades, spars, provisions, water, and other articles of equipment." The Navy Commissioners ordered Independence not to sail with a view of converting her to a "razee" to improve her efficiency. Before the order reached Boston, she sailed 3 July 1815 under command of Capt. William M. Crane. She wore the broad pennant of Commodore William Bainbridge commanding the second squadron dispatched to deal with the renewed piratical acts of the Barbary ~States. Her lower deck ports were caulked in to overcome the problem of her deep draft in crossing the Atlantic. Commodore Bainbridge deplored the proposal to razee Independence for "such a process would have spoiled one of the finest two deck ships in the world." "It is true," he wrote the Navy Commissioners, "the ship is built too shallow a depth for her other dimensions, which makes her lee guns in action rather low . . ." But Bainbridge continued: "You may sir, be assured of one fact; that there is not an officer or seaman on board the Independence who would not willingly engage in her (with all her faults) any ship of two deck that floats." He stated that Independence was a ship of superior stability who was able to outsail the fastest frigates of her squadron. Bainbridge proposed to raise her gun decks but would not be a party to altering one line of the design that might affect her superior speed, handling, and stability. Peace with the Barbary States had been enforced by the squadron under Stephen Decatur by the time Independence entered the Mediterranean. But she led an impressive show of American naval might before Barbary ports that encouraged them to keep the peace treaties concluded. Having served adequate notice of rising U.S. seapower and added to the prestige of the Navy and the Nation, she returned to Newport 15 November 1815. Economy measures reduced her status to that of station flagship for Commodore Bainbridge until 29 November 1819. She then was station flagship of Commodore John Shaw until placed in ordinary at Boston in 1822. The controversy continued as to whether Independence was capable of performing "services indispensible [sic] for a 74 at all times." Surveys were held with the warship carrying 5 months provisions, water for 700 men, stores, and her original heavy armament. Some of the scuppers of her lower gun deck ports sank beneath the water. Naval constructor William Doughty reported that "Independence carries her guns too near the water to 'enable her to perform the services indispensible [sic] for a 74 at all times with certainty,'because, in blowing weather, she could not fight her lower lee guns and would therefore be liable to be captured by a ship of inferior force . . .". On the other hand, Oliver H. Perry wrote that "Commodore Chauncey, Captain Creighton and several other officers of rank and reputation, were clearly of opinion that no vessel could surpass the Washington and I see little or no difference between her and Independence." US engineers just have high quality standards IMO

This is the USS Virginia launched in 1776 and although the plans list her as a 32 gun frigate she was actually a 28 . Unlike most 28 gun vessels of the time she shipped 12 lb guns instead of the usual 9 lb guns, making her very powerful for her size. Given her armament and size she was a powerful ship for her time and had she broken the British blockade could have been a thorn in the side of the British. It is a great pity that her captain was such a coward and fled the ship when faced with HMS Emerald (32 gun commanded by Captain Caldwell ). Her demoralized crew surrendered her without a fight. It would be very nice to see how she would have preformed in actual combat against a British 32 like HMS Emerald.

'Confederacy' Ship Plans: https://drive.google...ZTA&usp=sharing USS Confederacy was a 36-gun sailing frigate of the Continental Navy in the American Revolutionary War. She was launched 8 November 1778 at Chatham (Norwich?), Connecticut, and towed to New London to be prepared for sea. From 1 May to 24 August 1779 she cruised on the Atlantic coast under the command of Captain Seth Harding. While convoying a fleet of merchantmen, on 6 June, she and Deane captured three prizes, drove off two British frigates and brought the convoy safely into Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. On 17 September 1779 Confederacy was ordered to carry the French Minister and his family back to France. Later John Jay, the first American Minister to Spain, his secretary, and family were added to the passenger list. During the passage on 7 November 1779 Confederacy was completely dismasted and almost lost, but managed through the skillful seamanship of Captain Harding to reach Martinique early in December. After repairs, she returned to convoy duty. While homeward bound from Cape Francois in the West Indies in 1781 with military stores and other supplies, Confederacy was forced to strike her flag to the British ships HMS Roebuck (44) and Orpheus (32). She was subsequently taken into the British service as HMS Confederate.

USS Spark Complement: 90 Armament: Two long 18-pounder guns Ten 18-pounder carronades USS Spark (1813) was a heavily armed brig in the services of the United States Navy, built for service in the War of 1812. However, she was completed too late for that war and was assigned, instead, to the Barbary Wars in the Mediterranean. After two voyages in support of that action, she was assigned to suppress pirates in the Caribbean, where she was successful in capturing a number of pirate ships and their crews. The first ship to be so named by the Navy, Spark -- a privateer built in 1813 at Sag Harbor, Long Island, New York -- was purchased by the Navy at Baltimore, Maryland, in 1814 for service in the war with England. However, the war ended before the brig could get to sea for active service against the Royal Navy. Spark, commanded by Lt. Thomas Gamble, departed New York City on 20 May 1815 and sailed for the Mediterranean for operations in Commodore Stephen Decatur's squadron against pirates of Algiers. She reached Gibraltar on 15 June and, two days later, helped in operations resulting in the capture of the Algerian flagship, Mashuda, near Cape de Gatt. On the 19th, she aided Epervier, Torch, and Spitfire in running Estedio ashore where she was boarded and captured. After cruising in the Mediterranean through the summer, Spark sailed for home on 6 October in a squadron commanded by Commodore William Bainbridge and reached Newport, Rhode Island, on 15 November and was laid up for repairs. In the autumn of 1821, Spark, now commanded by Lt. John H. Elton, departed Boston, Massachusetts, for the Caribbean for operations against pirates. In January 1822, he captured a Dutch sloop and brought her and seven pirates to Charleston, South Carolina, for trial. She returned to the Caribbean and spent over three years suppressing buccaneers. The brig returned home in 1825 and was sold at New York City in 1826.

USS Vandalia (1828) The first Vandalia was an 18-gun sloop-of-war in the United States Navy during the Second Seminole War and the American Civil War. She was named for the city of Vandalia, Illinois. Vandalia was laid down at the Philadelphia Navy Yard in 1825; launched in 1828; and commissioned on 6 November of that year, Commander John Gallagher in command. Complement: 150 officers and enlisted Armament: 4 × 8 in (200 mm) shell guns 16 × 32-pounder guns

Hey guys i posted this in a discussion about carronades but thought it deserved its own thread. https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1NF_NYwhMjD81wQkU9Ce-k0tOngRN4PxXot2nH5FfxGQ/edit?usp=sharing This is a chapter in one of my books 'The Frigates' which cover the essex in her prime. If there is much interest i may post another slideshow with pictures and diagrams of interest concerning her. Cheers Dazed Edit. Sorry about the flash

On the subject of possible ships to put in the game, are the 1820 US lineships under consideration? Example is the USS Delaware. Crew compliment: 820 men Armament 30 long 32-pound guns 30 medium 32-pound guns 2 x 32 pound carronades

'Independence' USS Independence was a wooden-hulled, three-masted ship, originally a ship of the line and the first to be commissioned by the United States Navy. Originally a 90-gun ship, in 1836 she was cut down by one deck and re-rated as a 54-gun frigate. Launched on 22 June 1814 in the Boston Navy Yard, she immediately took on guns and was stationed with frigate USS Constitution to protect the approaches to Boston Harbor. Independence remained in ordinary at Boston until 1836 when she was razeed (cut down to one covered fighting deck with poop and forecastle). She was rated down to 54 guns as her configuration gave way to that of a very large frigate. She proved to be one of the fastest and most powerful "frigates" of the Navy. ​Original armament - 90 × 32-pounder (15 kg) guns Possible Frigate armament - 54 × 32-pounder (15 kg) guns Do you think we need this ship as 54-gun Heavy Frigate? Discuss and post plans or more info. I would pay coin to see her in NA who will take over Constitution. 90 Guns Cut down to 54 Frigate Possible look

'Oliver Cromwell' This vessel, 80 feet keel, 27 feet beam, 12 feet depth of hold, was ordered built at Saybrook (Essex) by the General Assembly January 81st, 1776, and was the largest full-rigged ship constructed for the State under the general direction of the Governor and Council of Safety. Uriah Hayden, ship builder, was chosen to do the work under the supervision of Capt. Seth Harding, who was paid £32.6.9 for his services, according to voucher dated Jan. 30, 1776, on file, and various payments were made beginning April 2,1776, and continuing to October 23, 1776, as the work progressed, during which time £1750 had been paid, according to orders on the Committee of the Pay Table drawn by Benjamin Huntington, Clerk of the Council. These payments included provision for rigging which was furnished by Ephraim Bill; Wm. Lax for making the gun carriages; Nathaniel Wales for muskets and gun locks, and Capt.. Benj. Williams for iron and blacksmith work. The Cromwell was launched at Saybrook on Thursday, June 13, 1776. On Thursday night, August 1, 1776, she was struck by lightning, which did considerable damage to her main and mizzen masts, but repairs were quickly made, and on Sunday, August 18th, the new ship of war Oliver Cromwell, commanded by William Coit, Esq., sailed out of Connecticut River and arrived at New London on Tuesday, August 20th, 1776, the largest craft that had ever come over Saybrook bar, and piloted by James Harris. On Oct. 22, 1776, Titus Hosmer, a member of the Council, gave an order to Mr. Buell for 40 firearms to be delivered to Captain Coit for the use of the ship. The next day James Tilly of Saybrook was allowed £400 for cordage, and Levi Young was appointed Master and warrant as such issued by the Governor. Captain Coit also received two months cruising orders and Nathaniel Shaw of New London was directed to supply the ship with whatever it needed. On Nov. 15th, Captain Colt was allowed £1,000 for the use of the ship and Mr. Shaw £2,000 for public use. Dr. Samuel Lee of Windham was appointed Surgeon of the Cromwell on the same day. On Dec. 14, 1776, Nathl. Shaw was authorized to draw a letter of credit in favor of Captain Coit, for use when necessary, for repairs or supplies while in any foreign port, and Dr. Albigence Waldo was appointed Chief Surgeon of the ship, as evidently Dr. Lee resigned...

'Boston'

'Raleigh' USS Raleigh was one of thirteen ships that the Continental Congress authorized for the United States Navy in 1775. Following her capture in 1778, she served in the Royal Navy as HMS Raleigh. Feel free to post more plans or details. Ship Plan http://www.dlumberyard.com/Plans/raleigh.pdf ---

'President' USS President was a wooden-hulled, three-masted heavy frigate of the United States Navy, nominally rated at 44 guns. George Washington named her to reflect a principle of the United States Constitution. She was launched in April 1800 from a shipyard in New York City. President was one of the original six frigates whose construction the Naval Act of 1794 had authorized, and she was the last to be completed. Characteristics Class and type: 50-gun 60-gun (1817) Tons burthen: 1533 7⁄94 (bm) Length: 173 ft 3 in (52.8 m) (overall); 146 ft 4 3⁄4 in (44.6 m) (keel) Beam: 44 ft 4 in (13.5 m) Depth of hold: 13 ft 11 in (4.2 m) Armament: 30 × 24-pounder guns (10.9 kg) 28 × 42-pounder (19 kg) carronades 2 × 24-pounder guns (10.9 kg) Plans

Lexington, Specifications: Length between perpendiculars: 127’ Beam (molded): 33’6” Depth in hold: 15’3” Tonnage: 691 tons Complement: 190 US-Corvet "Lexington", 26 guns 18-pdr. A big thank you to Talos who recognized the ship in an instant and provided some very interesting information. For a more elaborate history, scroll down a few comments! The more detailed plans, courtesy of Talos, are found is his comment as well.

Wasp was a ship-rigged sloop-of-war constructed in 1813 at Newburyport, Massachusetts, by Cross & Merrill. She was commissioned early in 1814, Master Commandant Johnston Blakeley in command. She remained at Portsmouth, New Hampshire, until late spring awaiting sailing orders and, upon receipt of them, put to sea on 1 May 1814 for a war cruise to the western approaches to the English Channel. Here is a list of the ships captured by Wasp during her first raiding voyage in the English Channel. June 2, 1814, Wasp captured her first vessel, the 207-ton barque Neptune. June 13, 1814, she took William, a 91-ton brig. June 18, 1814, Wasp encountered the 131-ton armed brig Pallas without resistance. June 23, 1814, 171-ton galiot Henrietta, June 26, 1814, Wasp captured the 325-ton ship Orange Boven. June 28, 1814, Wasp engaged the 18-gun Cruizer class brig-sloop HMS Reindeer. July 4, 1814, 112-ton brig Regulator July 6, 1814, 151-ton schooner Jenny Second raiding voyage August 30, 1814, she captured the brig Lettice August 31, 1814, she captured Bon Accord. September 1, 1814, she captured the brig Mary and the 18-gun, 391-ton brig HMS Avon. September 12, 1814, she encountered Three Brothers, a brig, September 14, 1814, she sank the brig Bacchus. September 21, 1814, captured the eight-gun brig, Atlanta Fate Wasp was last seen by a Swedish merchantman bound from Rio de Janeiro to Falmouth, England, about three weeks after the Atalanta capture and was said to be headed for the Caribbean. Wasp probably foundered in a storm. Specifications Tonnage: 509 Length: 117 ft 0 in (35.66 m) Beam: 31 ft 6 in (9.60 m) Draft: 14 ft 6 in (4.42 m) Complement: 173 officers and enlisted men Armament: 2 x long 12-pounder guns + 20 x 32-pounder carronades USS Wasp had a short but illustrious carer during the war of 1812, capturing 15 enemy ships. She would also be the basis for future American flush-decked sloop of war designs. She would be a nice ship to sail in Naval Action.

The USS Constellation was a Sloop of War built in 1854... Before I go any further, yes I am aware that this ship was built later than the timeframe of Naval Action (The Brig Mercury 1820 is the latest built ship in the game) So to have Constellation in the game her armament could be reduced or have some other changes made. Moving on. Constellation was constructed in 1854 in Norfolk VA. She was constructed using materials from the salvaged frigate of the same name. Constellation is the last sail-only warship designed and built by the Navy. Despite being a single-gundeck "sloop," she is actually larger than her frigate namesake, and more powerfully armed with fewer but much more potent shell-firing guns Service 1855–58 performed diplomatic duties as part of the U.S. Mediterranean Squadron. 1859–61 flagship of the African Squadron, taking part in African Slave Trade Patrol operations to disrupt the Atlantic slave trade. December 21, 1859, captured the brig Delicia September 26, 1860, Constellation captured the Cora with 705 slaves, who were set free in Monrovia, Liberia. May 21, 1861, Constellation overpowered the slaver brig Triton Constellation spent much of the war as a deterrent to Confederate cruisers and commerce raiders in the Mediterranean Sea. Specifications Displacement: 1,400 long tons (1,400 t) Length: 181 ft (55 m) (waterline) 199 ft (61 m) (overall) Beam: 41 ft (12 m) (waterline) 43 ft (13 m) extreme Draft: 21 ft (6.4 m) Propulsion: Sail Complement: 20 officers, 220 sailors, 45 marines Armament: 16 × 8 in (200 mm) chambered shell guns 4 × 32-pounder (15 kg) long guns 1 × 20-pounder (9 kg) Parrott rifle 1 × 30-pounder (14 kg) Parrott rifle 3 × 12-pounder (5 kg) bronze boat howitzers So on to balancing I was thinking that her armament could be 22 x 18 pd cannons or 32 pd carronades (gundeck) 2 x 9 pd cannons or 32 pd carronades (bow chasers) I think that with the armament I've suggested could make her a balanced ship in Naval Action, while not totally historically accurate, it could work.

The Brig The Brig is a two masted square-rigged vessel modeled after the Fair American. As far as the smaller vessels go, she is one of the largest in actual size, being quite larger than the snow and privateer, and being smaller than the Mercury, and barely so. She is rather wide as well as long, making her somewhat unwieldy and causing maneuvering to a bit more tricky than her smaller sisters. She does, however, carry a respectable complement of guns: 16 6-lb cannon ( or 12-lb carronades) as her main armament, making it a +4 gun increase from the Privateer/Cutter/Pickle, as well as 2 additional stern-chasers. As a brig she naturally has a shallow draft and sits rather low in the water, presenting a challenging target to hit from ling distances. However, her decks- and therefore her crew- are very much exposed, leaving them vulnerable to anti-personnel shot. Otherwise, the Brig serves as a general purpose vessel, and a decent upgrade from her smaller Fore-and-Aft predecessors. Her most notable feature is her square-rig setup, the Brig being the first vessel of this sort available to players. As such, the brig will serve as the training vessel upon which players can learn the "Manual Sails" mechanic for almost all future vessels. The brig will be the teacher for vital maneuvers which rely on manual sails. Her square rig means she sails best with the bind, most notably at 45° from the wind's direction (Broad reach). All-in-all, the Brig is a superb stepping stone to the mores specialized vessels like the Snow or Navy Brig and Mercury. Navy Brig The Navy variant of the Brig adds additional guns to her broadside (18 in total) and improves her planking dramatically. The Navy Brig can take impressive amounts of damage and still performing. A Live-Oak Naval Brig will prove to be an impressive and daunting foe to even larger vessels. She also carries a few more crew than the standard Brig, meaning she is ready to fend off boarders and is capable of leading boarding actions herself. In shallow-water engagements and Port Battles, the Navy Brig is a superb vessel to have amongst either an attacking or defending fleet. Both the Brig and Navy Brig serve valuable purposes as impressive vessels for their size as well as introducing the player to the square-rigged system. Check out my other short ship synopses The Snow - A Pirate's Best Friend Lynx/Privateer - The Pirate's Little Helper Coming Soon - The Pickle

I finally got around to posting the only ship of the line I will personally champion. Ladies, gentlemen, bastards, and wenches, I present to you: USS America Laid Down: May 1777 Launched: November 5, 1782 Builder: Colonel James Hackett Admiralty Model by: Robert Bruckner General Characteristics: Country of Origin: United States/13 Colonies Operators: United States, France Type: Ship of the Line Guns: 74 Crew: 626 Length: 182.5ft (55.63m) Beam: 50.5ft (15.39m) Draught: 23ft (7.01m) Displacement: 2,014 tons Speed: 12 knots Armament: 30 x 18-pounder guns 30 x 12-pounder guns 14 x 9-pounder guns (Source) Plans: History: There is, historically, very little information to be gleaned about the nation's very first ship of the line, other than what is readily available on Wikipedia and other public sources. The plans were obtained from Howard Chapelle's "The American Sailing Navy", and are available in my pinned thread American Ship Collection along with other ship drafts belonging to the Continental and American Navies. I'm going to extrapolate on why the armament of the USS America was so light compared to contemporary third rates of the era. I had given the idea in a previous post in the aforementioned thread that the guns for the USS America were probably obtained from the Continental Army after there was no longer a need for it (indeed the Continental Navy was shortly disbanded after the war and some of her armament may have come from ships that were sold off). It seemed my earlier hypothesis was a bit incorrect, as I assumed the guns available to the Continental Army were not much larger than 18-pounder guns. But I do believe that most of her armament, came from the Army, and not other ships in the Navy, though I have no sources to prove this. Little is gleaned of her history and armament after she was transferred to France. I wish her history was a bit more fleshed out and glorious than a trans-atlantic voyage to serve in the French Navy as a gift to replace the loss of Magnifique. Although there are other American ships of the line with longer service in the United States Navy that followed, I feel that their designs would be more out of place than the nation's first large warship. If the devs considered giving the US player base a ship of the line, I feel there is no better proposal.

Surprise new vessel announcement! The extreme clipper-built brig USS Niagara will be added to Naval Action. Niagara served as flagship for the United States' other War of 1812 triumph, the Battle of Lake Erie. If you've seen this video, you can see why USS Lawrence started the battle as flagship, but Niagara ended it. A century later, her remains were raised from the lakebed, and some of her timbers incorporated in the sail training vessel that operates out of Erie, PA. Her very low, sharp hull and towering rig make her a sort of Lynx with square rig, and Niagara ought to be one of the game's fastest vessels. The brig's very shallow draft made her comparatively leewardly, however, so we might expect to see her speed drop off sharply any closer than 80 degrees to the wind. Perhaps the most exciting thing about this announcement is that a certain 'shipbuilder Andrew' has been credited. I am speculating, but could he be the first to provide usermade content to the game?