Please report any broken links or trouble you might come across to the Webmaster. Please take a moment to let us know so that we can correct any problems and make your visit as enjoyable and as informative as possible.

NavSource Online: "Old Navy" Ship Photo Archive

Yankee Hero

Sloop-of-War:

Yankee Hero was an American privateer sloop-of-war commissioned in Massachusetts, 13 January 1776, for use by the new Continental Navy, under the command of Captain James Tracy

Yankee Hero departed Newburyport with a skeleton crew for Boston to take on a full crew for a six-month patrol

As the ship rounded Cape Ann, they spotted another sail, since Yankee Hero was shorthanded, Captain Tracy decided to let it pass

However, some local sailors rendezvoused with them at sea and told them that several transports had been seen close to the Cape that day

Supplemented with fourteen of the local men, bringing his crew to 40, Tracy set after the distant ship

When they had approached to within six miles, they could see that it was a ship of war, the HMS Milford

Shorthanded and ill prepared for a fight, Captain Tracy ordered the ship around. However, Milford had spotted them by this time and gave chase

Heavily outgunned and outmanned, Yankee Hero's crew was decimated and the ship disabled

After two hours Yankee Hero struck her colors and surrendered to Milford, four of her crew were killed and thirteen wounded, including Captain Tracy

Considering the great difference in capabilities of the two ships (the Americans had 14 guns, while the British had 32 guns), Yankee Hero and her crew fought well before Captain Tracy ordered the colors struck

Yankee Hero was refitted and taken into the Royal Navy as HMS Postillion in August 1776.

Final Disposition, condemned and sold at Halifax 29 September 1779

Specifications:
Displacement 120 t.
Length unknown
Beam unknown
Depth of Hold unknown
Draft unknown
Speed unknown
Complement unknown
Armament 14 guns
Propulsion sail

Click On Image For Full Size Image	Size	Image Description		Source
There are no images of Yankee Hero available at *NavSource*

Yankee Hero
Wikipedia

Commanding Officers
01	CAPT. Thomas, Thomas	January 1776 - February 1776
02	CAPT. Tracy, James	February 1776 - June 1776

Back To The Navsource Photo Archives Main Page

Back To The Old Navy" Steam and Sail Index

Comments, Suggestions, E-mail Webmaster.

This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo

Last Updated 11 February 2022