This is a list of sailing frigates of the United States Navy. Frigates were the backbone of the early Navy, although the list shows that many suffered unfortunate fates.
The sailing frigates of the United States were unique in that their hulls were made of American live oak, a particularly hardy genus that made very resiliant hulls; as a result of this, the ships were known to withstand damage that would have scuppered frigates of other nations. American frigates were also very heavily armed; the USN's 44s were actually armed with approximately 54 to 60 guns, giving them the firepower of a third rateship of the line. Because of the toughness and firepower of American frigates, British fighting instructions to their frigate captains prohibited them from engaging an American frigate unless there were at least two British frigates for each American.
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