At least seven United States Navy ships have borne the name Boston, in honor of the city of Boston, Massachusetts.
The first Boston was a gondola built at Skenesborough (present day Whitehall), New York, in 1776, mounting one 18-pounder and 2 12-pounder guns, and wth a crew of 45. She took part in the Battle of Lake Champlain that delayed the British invasion and was burned to avoid capture by the British squadron, at Buttonmold Bay, New York, 13 October 1776.
The second Boston was a 24-gun frigate, launched 3 June 1776 by Stephen and Ralph Cross, Newburyport, Massachusetts, and completed the following year with Captain H. McNeill in command.
On 21 May 1777, Boston sailed in company with Hancock for a cruise in the North Atlantic. The two frigates captured three prizes including the 28-gun frigate HMS Fox (7 June). Boston, Hancock, and Fox were engaged (7-8 July) by HMS Flora, [[HMS Rainbow|Rainbow, and Victor. Her consorts were taken by the British squadron, but Boston escaped to the Sheepscot River on the Maine coast.
During 15 February-31 March 1778 Boston carried John Adams to France, capturing one prize enroute. She then cruised in European waters taking four prizes before returning to Portsmouth, New Hampshire, 15 October. In 1779 she made two cruises (29 July-6 September and 23 November-23 December) in the North Atlantic capturing at least nine prizes. Boston then joined the squadron sent to assist in the defense of Charleston, South Carolina, and was captured there by the British when the town surrendered 12 May 1780.
(Fr.: T. 514; l. 114'3"; b. 32'; dph. 10'3"; s. 8.5 k; a. 5 12-pdr. S. B., 19 9-pdr. S. B., 2 6-pdr. S. B., 4 4-pdr. S. B.)
The third Boston, was a 28-gun frigate, built by public subscription in Boston under the Act of 30 June 1798. She was launched 20 May 1799 by Edmund Hartt, Boston Mass., and commissioned soon afterwards, Captain G. Little in command.
Boston cruised in the West Indies (July 1799-June 1800) protecting American commerce against French privateers. Returning to Boston 25 June 1800, she cruised along the American coast until September when she sailed to the Guadaloupe Station in the West Indies. In 22°52' N., 52°56' W., 12 October 1800, she engaged and captured the small French frigate Le Berceau. Boston lost seven killed and eight wounded in the encounter. She towed her prize to Boston, arriving in November. During her West Indian cruises Boston captured seven additional prizes (two in conjunction with General Greene).
During the winter of 1801 Boston carried Minister Livingston to France and then joined the Mediterranean Squadron off Tripoli. She fought an action with six or seven Tripolitanian gunboats 16 May [1802]], forcing one ashore. Boston returned to Boston in October 1802 and then proceeded to Washington where she was laid up. Considered not worth repairing on the outbreak of the War of 1812, she remained at Washington until 24 August 1814 when she was burned to prevent her falling into British hands.
(Fr.: T. 400; l. 134'; b. 34'6"; dr. 11'6"; cpl. 220; a. 26 12-pdr. S. B., 12 9-pdr. S. B.)
The fourth Boston, was an 18-gun sloop of war, launched 15 October 1825 by Boston Navy Yard and commissioned the following year, Master Commandant B. V. Hoffman in command.
Boston served on the Brazil Station 1826-1829 and the Mediterranean Station 1830-1832. She was then laid up at Boston Navy Yard until joining the West Indies Squadron in [[1836]. Except for two short periods in ordinary at New York Navy Yard she served continuously for the next ten years. Boston' cruised on the West Indies (1836-39), East Indies (1841-43), and Brazil (1843-46) Stations, returning to the United States in 1846. She was then ordered to join Commodore D. Conner's Home Squadron blockading the Mexican east coast. While enroute to her new station Boston was wrecked on Eleuthera Island, Bahamas, during a squall 15 November 1846. Although the sloop was a total loss, all hands were saved.
(Slp: T. 700; l. 127'; b. 33'9"; dr. 16'; s. 11 k.; cpl. 125; a. 20 24-pdr. S. B.; cl. Boston)
The fifth Boston, a protected cruiser, was launched 4 December 1884 by John Roach and Sons, Chester, Pennsylvania, and commissioned 2 May 1887, Captain F. M. Ramsey in command.
Boston, being the second cruiser of the New Navy completed, was not ready for active service until 1888. She then made a cruise to Guatemala and Haiti to protect American citizens. She joined the Squadron of Evolution 30 September 1889 and cruised to the Mediterranean and South America (7 December 1889 - 29 July 1890), and along the east coast in 1891. Boston departed New York 24 October 1891 for the Pacific, via Cape Horn, arriving at San Francisco 2 May 1892. Except for a cruise to protect American interests in Hawaii (11 August 1892-10 October 1893), she remained on the west coast until laid up at Mare Island Navy Yard 4 November 1893.
Recommissioned 15 November 1895, Boston joined the Asiatic Station at Yokohama, Japan, 25 February 1896. She remained in the Orient protecting American interests for the next four years and during the Spanish-American War took part in the Battle of Manila Bay (1 May 1898) and the capture of Manila (13 August 1898). She remained in the Philippines assisting in their pacification until 8 June 1899. Boston returned to San Francisco 9 August 1899 and went out of commission at Mare Island Navy Yard 15 September 1899. She remained out of commission until 11 August 1902 and then rejoined the Pacific Squadron. During 16-25 June 1905 she helped represent the Navy at the Lewis and Clark Exposition at Portland, Oregon, and between 23 April and 10 May 1906 she helped care for the victims of the San Francisco earthquake and fire. She went out of commission again at Puget Sound Navy Yard 10 June 1907.
From 15 June 1911 to September 1916 she served as a training vessel with the Oregon Naval Militia and was loaned to the Shipping Board (24 May 1917-June 1918). On 18 June 1918 she was recommissioned at Mare Island Navy Yard as a receiving ship and towed to Yerba Buena Island, California, where she served as a receiving ship until 1946. She was renamed Despatch 9 August 1940 and reclassified IX-2, 17 February 1941. Despatch was towed to sea and sunk off San Francisco 8 April 1946.
(C: dp. 3189; l. 283'; b. 42'; dr. 17'; s. 13 k.; cpl. 284; a. 2 8", 6 6"; cl. Boston)
The sixth Boston (CA-69) was launched 26 August 1942 by Bethlehem Steel Company, Fore River, Massachusetts; sponsored by Mrs. M. J. Tobin, wife of the Mayor of Boston; and commissioned 30 June 1943, Captain J. H. Carson in command.
Boston reported to the Pacific Fleet, arriving at Pearl Harbor 6 December 1943. She joined TF 58 in January and took part in the raids on the Marshall Islands in support of the invasions of Kwajalein, Majuro, and Eniwetok (31 January-28 February 1944); Palaus and Western Carolines (30 March-1 April); Hollandia and Western New Guinea (21-24 April); Truk, including Satawan Island, bombardment (29 April-1 May); invasion of Saipan (11-24 June); 1st Bonins raid (15-16 June); Battle of the Philippine Sea (19-20 June); 2nd Bonins raid (24-26 June); 3rd Bonins raid (3-4 July) invasion of Guam (12 July-15 August); Palau-Yap-Ulithi raid (25-27 July); Morotai landings (15 September); seizure of the southern Palaus (6 September-14 October); and Philippine Islands raids (9-24 September). She served with TF 38 during the Okinawa raid (10 October); northern Luzon and Formosa raid (11-14 October); Luzon raids (15 and 24-26 October, 13-14 and 19-20 November, and 14-16 December); Battle of Leyte Gulf (24-26 Octo ber); Formosa raids (3-4, 9, 15, and 21 January 1945); Luzon raids (6-7 January); China coast raids (12 and 16 January); Nansei Shoto raid (22 January); Honshu and Nansei Shoto raids (15-16 February and 1 March), in which she bombarded Japan itself.
Boston then returned to the United States for overhaul, arriving at Long Beach, California, 25 March 1945. Returning to the Western Pacific, via Pearl Harbor and Eniwetok, she joined TF 38 for the raids on the Japanese home islands (20 July-15 August), including the bombardment of Kamaishi, Honshu (9 August). Following the Japanese surrender Boston remained in the Far East on occupation duty until 28 February 1946. She then returned to the United States and was placed out of commission in reserve at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard 12 March 1946.
Boston was reclassified CAG-1 on 4 January 1952. In February 1952 she was towed from Bremerton, Washington, to Philadelphia for conversion to a guided missile heavy cruiser by New York Shipbuilding Corporation, Camden, New Jersey. During conversion her aft 8-inch turret was replaced with anti-aircraft missile launchers and she was otherwise modernized. Boston was recommissioned 1 November 1955 and operated along the east coast and in the Caribbean conducting missile evaluations and participating in fleet exercises until departing for the Mediterranean 23 November 1956. She returned in May 1957.
Boston received ten battle stars for her World War II service.
(still need ultimate fate)
(CA-9: dp. 13,600; l. 673'5"; b. 71'10"; dr. 26'10"; s. 33 k.; cpl. 1142; a. 9 8", 12 5"; cl. Baltimore)
The seventh Boston (SSN 703) is a Los Angeles-class nuclear attack submarine.