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Naval History and Heritage Command

Naval History and Heritage Command

USS COLUMBUS, 1816-1861. Detail from sail plans of the ship's boats by C. Ware Boston Navy Yard circa 1840.
Ships of sail, such as frigates, brigs, sloops, and schooners, comprised the U.S. Navy's first fleets.

Ships of Sail

Ships of sail, such as frigates, brigs, sloops, and schooners, comprised the U.S. Navy's first fleet. Even though the Navy started experimenting with steam-powered ships as early as the War of 1812, ships of sail remained the backbone of the fleet until the Civil War. The Navy still has one sailing ship in commission, USS Constitution