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John Paul Jones' Ship Ranger.Attack on Carrickfergus. |
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The
Ranger was built in 1777 in Portsmouth USA it was a sloop of war, Jones and his crew took the Ranger to France from where they attacked the English town of Whitehaven in Cumbria destroying some shipping in the harbour. They also made a raid on Carrickfergus County Antrim after which they captured the British warship Drake, details of the aforementioned event are here. the French king decorated Jones for his bravery. After he returned to America he oversaw the fitting out of The America the largest warship the country had built to date. Command of the Ranger went to Captain Thomas Simpson under who's command she carried out many successful missions in association with several other ships, together they are reputed to have taken over $1,000,000 worth of prizes, she was captured by the British in 1780 while defending Charleston, South Carolina, she was renamed Halifax, it was the British who took the measurements listed below. No drawings or images of the ship have come to light, although naval historians can make a good guess as to her appearance, the British navy took her to Portsmouth England in 1781 where she was decommissioned and sold as a merchant ship for a sum said to have been 3 percent of her original construction cost. Gone but not forgotten The Ranger holds a venerated position in American folk history. There was a plan to build a replica of the Ranger this was regrettably abandoned in 2000, presumably lack of financial support caused this worthy project to founder. It is interesting to reflect on the vast amounts of money the USA and its allies expend on unpopular foreign wars which rob the countries not only of financial resources, but more importantly the flower of the younger generation. A very small percentage of this budget would build a Ranger replica enabling the youth of America to experience life onboard a ship, deeply steped in American culture and one which played an not insignificant part in the birth of their country so long ago. An added benefit would be its tourist potential, the Pride Of Baltimore is reputed to have made a significant contribution to the town which bears its name. So is there anyone out there who agrees, why not have another attempt to resurrect the Ranger project? Try this pertinent link. Details of the Ranger.
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to be called
the Hampshire under the command of Captain John Roche, Roche was dismissed
for misconduct and the command given to John Paul Jones (1747-92) a native
of Kirkcudbright Scotland, the ship was renamed Ranger.
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