USS Queen of the West

USS Queen of the West
History
United States
Name	USS Queen of the West
Launched	1854
Commissioned	1862
Fate	Captured by Confederate States Army, February 14, 1863
Confederate States
Name	CSS Queen of the West
Commissioned	February 1863
Fate	Attacked and destroyed, April 11, 1863
General characteristics
Type	Sidewheel steamer
Displacement	406 tons[1]
Length	180 ft (55 m)
Beam	37 ft 6 in (11.43 m)
Propulsion	Steam engine
Complement	120 officers and men
Armament	1 × 30-pounder cannon 3 × 12-pounder howitzers

The USS Queen of the West was a sidewheel steamer ram ship and the flagship of the United States Ram Fleet and the Mississippi Marine Brigade. It was built at Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1854. It served as a commercial steamer until purchased by Colonel Charles Ellet Jr. in 1862 and converted for use as a ram ship. The ship operated in conjunction with the Mississippi River Squadron during the Union brown-water navy battle against the Confederate River Defense Fleet for control of the Mississippi River and its tributaries during the American Civil War.

The ship played a critical role in the Union Navy victory at the First Battle of Memphis and sank the Confederate flagship CSS Colonel Lovell. In actions south of Vicksburg, Mississippi, she severely damaged the CSS City of Vicksburg and captured four transport ships supplying Confederate forces.

On February 14, 1863, the USS Queen of the West was captured by Confederate forces on the Red River, repaired and returned to service as the CSS Queen of the West. Together with the CSS Webb, it was used to force the surrender of the USS Indianola on the Mississippi River.

On April 11, 1863, she was attacked and destroyed on the Atchafalaya River by the USS Estrella, USS Calhoun and USS Arizona.