Original six frigates of the United States Navy

USS Constitution, the last of the original six frigates of the United States Navy still in commission
Class overview
Operators	United States Navy
Built	1794–1800
In service	1794–1881
In commission	1797–present
Planned	6
Completed	6
Active	1
Lost	2
Retired	3
General characteristics (Constitution, President, United States)
Class and type	44-gun frigate[2]
Tonnage	1,576[1]
Displacement	2,200 tons[1]
Length	204 ft (62 m) (length overall); 175 ft (53 m) at waterline[2]
Beam	43 ft 6 in (13.26 m)[2]
Draft	21 ft (6.4 m) forward 23 ft (7.0 m) aft[1]
Depth of hold	14 ft 3 in (4.34 m)[3]
Complement	450 officers and enlisted, including 55 Marines and 30 boys[2]
General characteristics (Congress and Constellation)
Class and type	38-gun frigate[4]
Tonnage	1,265 tons[4]
Length	164 ft (50 m) between perpendiculars[4]
Beam	41.0 ft (12.5 m)[4]
Complement	340 officers and enlisted[4]
General characteristics (Chesapeake)
Class and type	38-gun frigate[5]
Tonnage	1,244[5]
Length	152.8 ft (46.6 m) between perpendiculars[5]
Beam	41.3 ft (12.6 m)[5]
Draft	20 ft (6.1 m)[5]
Depth of hold	13.9 ft (4.2 m)[6]
Complement	340 officers and enlisted[5]

The United States Congress authorized the original six frigates of the United States Navy with the Naval Act of 1794 on March 27, 1794, at a total cost of $688,888.82 (equivalent to $19,833,259.52 in 2024). These ships were built during the formative years of the United States Navy, on the recommendation of designer Joshua Humphreys for a fleet of frigates powerful enough to engage any frigates of the French or British navies, yet fast enough to evade any ship of the line.