Hartford was only four years old, had already served as a squadron flagship in East Asian waters, and possessed the accommodations needed for a fleet staff. Her engines could make roughly thirteen and a half knots. The armament described here combines twenty 9-inch Dahlgren guns with a 20-pounder Parrott rifle and smaller 12-pounder guns. Farragut therefore selected a ship with useful speed, substantial firepower, and proven command facilities for his first fleet appointment. Choosing a tested platform reduced avoidable uncertainty before he accepted the risks of operations.
Notable Point · 2:02:18-2:05:37
Why Farragut chose USS Hartford as his flagship
USS Hartford offered proven flagship spaces, modern machinery, useful speed, and balanced armament for an officer taking his first fleet command.