USS Providence (1776 frigate)
The second Providence, a 28-gun frigate, built by Silvester Bowes at Providence, Rhode Island, by order of the Continental Congress, was launched in May 1776. After being blockaded in the Providence River for more than a year, the new frigate, under command of Captain Abraham Whipple, ran the British blockade on the night of 30 April 1778, returning the heavy fire of the British frigate HMS and damaging that vessel, killing 3 of her crew and wounding 17, firing on frigate HMS and damaging a tender that was sent to dock in Newport, Rhode Island where it sank. She sailed directly for France, arriving at Paimboeuf 30 May to procure guns and supplies for Continental Navy vessels under construction. During the voyage she captured brigantine "Lord Grossvenor" at (). Three days later Grossvenor was recaptured by Letter of Marque "Nancy" and then retaken by Providence. She sailed from Paimboeuf 8 August and six days later, joined frigate at Brest, France. The two ships sailed back to America 22 August. They took 3 prizes on the return voyage and Providence arrived Portsmouth, New Hampshire, 15 October. Transferred to Boston to seek a crew, Providence sailed from Boston 18 June 1779 as