What is the name of the first ship of the U.S. Navy?

The first ship of the U.S. Navy is known as USS Alfred. Launched in 1775, it played a significant role during the early years of the American Revolutionary War. USS Alfred was originally a merchant ship that was purchased and fitted out as a war vessel, becoming part of the Continental Navy to defend against British forces.

This historical context emphasizes the importance of USS Alfred as a pioneer of naval warfare for the fledgling United States, marking the beginnings of what would become a formidable naval force. While options like USS Constitution are historically significant and often associated with the U.S. Navy, they were not the first ship commissioned. USS Nautilus and USS Enterprise, while iconic in their own right, belong to later periods and serve different contexts within the Navy's history.