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The U.S. Sloop of War <em>Alert</em>.

Alert

The U.S. Sloop of War Alert.

Rig of an American Sloop.

American Sloop

Rig of an American Sloop.

A sailing vessel with two masts rigged like the foremast and mizzen-mast of a full-rigged ship.

Brig

A sailing vessel with two masts rigged like the foremast and mizzen-mast of a full-rigged ship.

The U.S. Sloop of War <em>Marion</em>.

Marion

The U.S. Sloop of War Marion.

"A small fore-and-aft rigged vessel with one mast and fixed bowsprint."&mdash;Finley, 1917

Sloop

"A small fore-and-aft rigged vessel with one mast and fixed bowsprint."—Finley, 1917

"A small fore-and-aft rigged vessel with one mast, generally carrying a jib, fore-staysail, mainsail, and gaff-topsail. Some sloops formerly had a square topsail. It is generally understood that a sloop differs from a cutter by having a fixed instead of a running bowsprit, but the names are used somewhat indiscriminately." &mdash;Whitney, 1889

Sloop

"A small fore-and-aft rigged vessel with one mast, generally carrying a jib, fore-staysail, mainsail,…