Decatur USS

USS Decatur

History
United States

Laid down:
date unknown

Launched:
1838

Acquired:
1839 at New York Navy Yard

Commissioned:
circa 16 March 1840

Decommissioned:
20 June 1859

In service:
March 1863

Out of service:
1865

Struck:
1865 (est.)

Fate:
sold, 17 August 1865

General characteristics

Displacement:
566 tons

Length:
117 ft (36 m)

Beam:
32 ft (9.8 m)

Draft:

• depth of hold 15'
• draft 15' 8"

Propulsion:
 

USS Decatur was a sloop-of-war in the United States Navy during the mid-19th century. She was commissioned to protect American interests in the South Atlantic Ocean, including the interception of ships involved in the African slave trade. Decatur served in both the Mexican–American War and the American Civil War. The sloop-of-war was named in honor of Commodore Stephen Decatur (1779–1820), one of the United States Navy's greatest heroes and leaders of the first two decades of the 19th century.