BONHOMME RICHARD

USS Bonhomme Richard (original name: Duc de Duras) is an American sailing frigate introduced from the second half of the 18th century. The unit was launched in 1766 and entered service shortly afterwards. The length of the vessel was 46 meters and a width of 12 meters. Full displacement did not exceed 1000 tons, and the crew consisted of about 380 people. The USS Bonhomme Richard was armed with: 6 18-pounder cannons, 28 12-pounder cannons and 8 9-pounder cannons. USS Bonhomme Richard originally entered service as Duc de Duras as a merchant ship for the French East India Company and was intended for navigation between Europe and the countries of the Middle and Far East. In 1769, however, it was incorporated into the French Navy and modernized, mainly by adding artillery weapons, but in 1771 it was sold to private hands. However, in 1779 he was bought from them by Louis XVI and placed under the command of the American commander John Paul Jones. At that time, the unit changed its name. The vessel, already under the American flag, was sunk in September 1779 in a clash with the British fleet.