Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: USS Superior
- Type: Frigate
- Year Built: 1814
- Builder: Henry Eckford
- Dimensions: ~180 ft (55 m) × 43 ft; registered at ~1,580 tons
- Registered Tonnage: 1,580 tons
- Location: Navy Point, Sackets Harbor, New York
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
- Heavy war frigate for Lake Ontario, carrying:
- 30 × medium 32-pound Columbiads
- 2 × long 24-pounders
- 26 × 42-pounder carronades
- Crew complement ~500 officers and enlisted
Description
The USS Superior was a heavy war frigate launched on May 2, 1814, at Sackets Harbor, New York. Designed by Henry Eckford, she was approximately 180 feet long and 43 feet wide, with a registered tonnage of around 1,580 tons. The vessel was armed with a combination of Columbiads and carronades, making her a formidable presence on Lake Ontario during the War of 1812.
History
During the summer of 1814, the USS Superior served under Commodore Isaac Chauncey’s squadron, blockading Kingston, Ontario. Commanded by Lt. John H. Elton, she played a crucial role in transporting troops and supporting U.S. Army operations on Lake Ontario and the Niagara frontier in late 1814.
Significant Incidents
- Laid up ‘in ordinary’ at Sackets Harbor following the War of 1812 armistice.
- By 1823, the USS Superior had sunk and decayed in situ, listed among several Eckford-built warships similarly abandoned.
- Sold on March 23, 1825, to Robert Hugunin for disposal or breaking.
Final Disposition
The USS Superior was abandoned and left to decay in the shallow anchorage at Navy Point, Sackets Harbor. Archaeological surveys indicate that her remains, likely hull fragments, are buried in sediment, with no known formal excavation conducted.
Current Condition & Accessibility
The wreck site is unexcavated, with likely hull fragments buried in sediment. Similar decay has been observed for sister ships like Jefferson and Mohawk. Archaeological surveys of Lake Ontario ship remains noted widespread sinking and decay of War of 1812 vessels by the early 1820s.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”uss-superior-1814″ title=”References & Links”]
The USS Superior remains a significant historical artifact, representing early U.S. naval capabilities during the War of 1812. Her remains contribute to an underwater cultural landscape that reflects the transition from wartime to peacetime naval operations.
Legacy Notes & Full Historical Record
This section preserves the original unedited Shotline content for this wreck so that no historical detail is lost as we transition to the new logbook format.
(44 guns, 1,580 tons)
Identification & Builders
- Launched: 2 May 1814 at Sackets Harbor, New York
- Designer/Builder: Henry Eckford at Sackets Harbor naval yard (Thousand Islands Life Magazine, paulinespiratesandprivateers.blogspot.com)
- Dimensions: ~180 ft (waterline) × 43 ft beam; registered at ~1,580 tons (Wikipedia, lcps-stamps.org)
Vessel Type
- Heavy war frigate for Lake Ontario, carrying:
- 30 × medium 32‑pound Columbiads
- 2 × long 24‑pounders
- 26 × 42‑pounder carronades
- Crew complement ~500 officers and enlisted (Thousand Islands Life Magazine)
History & Service
- Served under Commodore Isaac Chauncey’s squadron blockading Kingston, Ontario during summer 1814; commanded by Lt. John H. Elton (Thousand Islands Life Magazine)
- Transported troops and supported U.S. Army operations on Lake Ontario and the Niagara frontier in late 1814 (Thousand Islands Life Magazine)
Final Disposition
- Following War of 1812 armistice, Superior was laid up “in ordinary” at Sackets Harbor. By 1823 she had sunk and decayed in situ, listed among several Eckford-built warships similarly abandoned (Thousand Islands Life Magazine)
- Sold 23 March 1825 to Robert Hugunin for disposal or breaking (tilife.org, Wikipedia)
Site & Archaeological Context
- Wreck Location: Shallow anchorage/basin at old Navy Point (Sackets Harbor)
- Condition: Likely hull fragments buried in sediment; no known formal excavation. Similar decay observed for sister ships like Jefferson and Mohawk (tilife.org, ORB)
- Archaeological surveys of Lake Ontario ship remains noted widespread sinking and decay of War of 1812 vessels by early 1820s (Thousand Islands Life Magazine)
Summary Table
| Attribute | Details |
|---|---|
| Name | USS Superior |
| Type/Armament | 44‑gun frigate: Columbiads, carronades |
| Builder / Launch | Henry Eckford, Sackets Harbor, 2 May 1814 |
| Tonnage / Dimensions | 1,580 tons; ~180 × 43 ft |
| Service | Lake Ontario naval operations, 1814–1815 |
| Final Fate | Sank and decayed on station by 1823 |
| Sold for disposal | 23 Mar 1825, to Robert Hugunin |
| Wreck site | Navy Point, Sackets Harbor—unexcavated |
Significance
- Among the largest warships assembled on Lake Ontario during the War of 1812. Her assembly under Henry Eckford showcased remarkable rapid construction capabilities at Sackets Harbor, enabling U.S. naval parity with Britain in inland waters (Thousand Islands Life Magazine).
- Post-war deactivation was swift; numerous vessels—including Superior—were abandoned and left to rot in harbor basins. Their remains constitute an underwater cultural landscape that reflects early U.S. naval infrastructure and material transition to peacetime conditions (tilife.org, nmgl.org).
Further Research Suggestions
- Locate archival Sackets Harbor naval logs or Chauncey’s correspondence (1814–15) for incident details on decommissioning and yard activities.
- Access Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships (DANFS) for detailed armament lists and shipyard records.
- Review New York State Military Museum archives or War of 1812 Underwater Archaeology reports regarding Navy Point submerged ship remains.
- Contact underwater archaeologists or institutions (e.g., NEHA/Nautical Archaeology Society) documenting decayed warship sites in Black River Bay at Sackets Harbor (nmgl.org).