So with these local advantages the US frigate fleet put to sea let us focus on the USS Constitution. As an example, a typical British frigate HMS Java carried 49, 18-pounder cannons whilst the USS United States mounted 55, 24-pounder cannon.Clearly, the American frigate, which was a sister-ship to the USS Constitution, possessed a firepower advantage in both numbers and size of shot. Thirdly, the US had commissioned a new fleet of frigates whose size and armament was superior to the Royal Navy’s frigates. Captain Isaac Hull, Commodore Stephen Decatur and Commodore William Bainbridge are notable figures who each gained successes against the British and whose actions will feature shortly. Mahan’s famous thesis on sea power which predicted victory for a navy with closer port facilities.Secondly, the crews of the US ships were well-trained and led by officers who possessed skill and ability. Compare this to the British, who had to sail across the Atlantic Ocean to Britain or northwards to Halifax in Canada in order to reach home bases. Firstly, the US Navy was fighting in home waters in close proximity to friendly harbors which meant that repairing and resupplying ships was straightforward. However, whilst the US Navy was hopelessly outnumbered there were three initial advantages. In contrast to the Royal Navy, the United States Navy appeared woefully inadequate.

For instance, at the outbreak of war the Royal Navy had 83 warships in American waters, and by 1813 this number had increased to 129 warships, including a number of 74 gunned ships of the line.Macintyre makes the point that only a fraction of the Royal Navy would be dispatched to the US but regardless of British focus on Napoleon in Europe, victory against the United States seemed to be assured. This decision could not be taken lightly by the United States because the Royal Navy was not only highly skilled but also superior in size. In his popular study of the USS Constitution Donald Macintyre views the British infringement on the United States’ shipping as deeply wounding to American national pride.Today this diplomatic incident may have resulted in increased naval activity or tense diplomatic discussions but in 1812 the only viable option for the US Government was war.

In naval terms, impressment is the term for forced servitude on board ship and is best known from ‘press-gangs’ which searched harbor towns for Royal Navy recruits.

The naval war was driven by the British Royal Navy’s aggressive impressment of United States’ Navy sailors into British service.In fact, the British warships would stop and send Marines aboard the American ship and forcibly remove Royal Navy deserters.

Did the us navy do well in war 1812