USS Boxer
The USS Boxer is the name of ships in the United States Navy. Six ships[1] have born the name Boxer.
The name Boxer originate from His Majesty’s Brig Boxer (Captain Samuel Blyth). In the War of 1812, the Boxer was encountered and captured by the U.S. 12-gun brig Enterprise commanded Lieutenant William Burrows, off of Portland, Maine, on 5 September 1813. It was never converted nor used by the US Navy, instead it was sold as a merchant ship. [2]
United States Navy
The six ships are:
- The first Boxer was a 14-gun brig 2-mast sailing ship constructed and commission in 1815, Middletown, Connecticut. The ship was built by C. and D. Churchill and commanded by Lt. John Porter.[2]
- The second Boxer was a 10-gun schooner built 22 November, 1831 and commissioned in 1832. It was built by the Boston Navy Yard and commanded by Lt. Benjamin Payne.[3]
- The third Boxer was the blockade runner Tristram Shandy, captured during the American Civil War, 15 May 1864 off of Wilmington, North Carolina and renamed to Boxer in 12 June 1865. It was a schooner-rigged, iron-hulled, sidewheel steamer. [4]
- The fourth Boxer was a training brigantine launched 11 October 1904 by Portsmouth Navy Yard, Portsmouth, New Hampshire, sponsored by Miss Helen Drury and commissioned 11 May 1905 with Lt. Hilary H. Royall in command. Until 20 October 1912 she served as training vessel at the Naval Training Station, Newport, Rhode Island. She then shifted to the United States Naval Academy where she remained until 25 June 1914 when she returned to Newport. Boxer continued in service at Newport until transferred to the Department of the Interior 14 May 1920 for use in Alaska by the Bureau of Education.[5]
- The fifth Boxer (CV-21) was an aircraft carrier that was launched 14 December 1944 by Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Co., Newport News, Virginia. This Boxer was sponsored by Miss Ruth D. Overton, daughter of the Senator from Louisiana; The Boxer was commissioned 16 April 1945 and commanded by Capt. D. F. Smith.[6] See USS Boxer (CV-21) for details.
- The sixth Boxer (LHD-4) is an amphibious assault ship commissioned 11 February 1995 and currently on active duty.[7] See USS Boxer (LHD-4) for details.
British Royal Navy
Nine ships of the British Royal Navy have been named HMS Boxer.
See HMS Boxer for more details.