 1857 depiction of the Firefly
| |
| History | |
|---|---|
 United States | |
| Name | Volant |
| Builder | Baltimore, Maryland |
| Acquired | 8 Dec 1814 |
| Renamed | USS Firefly |
| Fate | Sold at New York, 3 April 1816 |
| General characteristics | |
| Type | Brig |
| Tons burthen | 333 (bm) |
| Length |
|
| Beam | 29 ft 4 in (8.94 m) |
| Draft | 11 ft 6 in (3.51 m) |
| Complement | 100 |
| Armament |
|
The USS Firefly, was a brig with two masts, square-rigged, formerly named Volant and originally built as a schooner for use as a privateer. The U.S. Navy purchased Volant on 8 December 1814 at New York by and was fitted her out as US naval 14-gun brig. She served during the War of 1812 and the Second Barbary War of 1815. Firefly was purchased because of the several US blockade efforts where smaller ships with better maneuverability were needed for the task. The Navy sold her in 1816 and she became a Portuguese slave ship.