<P> On the British side, William Bell served as constructor and built Detroit, which was the best - built ship on the lake . However, Detroit was built slowly, in part due to Bell's perfectionism, and indeed it was the only purpose - built British warship constructed on Lake Erie during the war . The guns intended for Detroit were seized by the Americans at the time of their raid on Fort York the year before . This building imbalance, given the fact that six American ships were built in the same time frame, was another important cause of the American victory (although it might be argued that, even if Barclay had possessed more hulls, he would have been unable to obtain armament and crews for them). </P> <P> The court - martial of Captain Barclay and his surviving officers determined that the Captain, his officers and men had "conducted themselves in the most gallant manner" and found that the defeat was the result of American superiority, an insufficient number of able seamen and the early fall of superior officers in the action . </P> <P> Listed in order of sailing: </P> <Table> <Tr> <Th> Navy </Th> <Th> Name </Th> <Th> Rig </Th> <Th> Tonnage </Th> <Th> Crew </Th> <Th> Armament </Th> <Th> Commander </Th> <Th> Notes </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Royal Navy </Td> <Td> Chippeway </Td> <Td> Schooner </Td> <Td> 70 tons </Td> <Td> 15 </Td> <Td> 1 × 9 - pounder long gun </Td> <Td> Master's Mate J. Campbell </Td> <Td> captured </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Detroit </Td> <Td> Ship </Td> <Td> 490 tons </Td> <Td> 150 </Td> <Td> 1 × 18 - pounder (on swivel) 2 × 24 - pounder long guns 6 × 12 - pounder long guns 8 × 9 - pounder long guns 1 × 24 - pounder carronade 1 × 18 - pounder carronade </Td> <Td> Commander Robert Heriot Barclay </Td> <Td> captured </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Hunter </Td> <Td> Brig </Td> <Td> 180 tons </Td> <Td> 45 </Td> <Td> 4 × 6 - pounder long guns 2 × 4 - pounder long guns 2 × 2 - pounder long guns 2 × 12 - pounder carronades </Td> <Td> Lieutenant George Bignall </Td> <Td> captured </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Queen Charlotte </Td> <Td> Ship </Td> <Td> 400 tons </Td> <Td> 126 </Td> <Td> 1 × 12 - pounder long gun 2 × 9 - pounder long guns 12 × 24 - pounder carronades </Td> <Td> Commander Robert Finnis </Td> <Td> captured </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Lady Prevost </Td> <Td> Schooner </Td> <Td> 230 tons </Td> <Td> 86 </Td> <Td> 1 × 9 - pounder long gun 2 × 6 - pounder long guns 10 × 12 - pounder carronades </Td> <Td> Lieutenant Edward Buchan </Td> <Td> captured (lost rudder) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Little Belt </Td> <Td> Sloop </Td> <Td> 90 tons </Td> <Td> 18 </Td> <Td> 1 × 12 - pounder long gun 2 × 6 - pounder long guns </Td> <Td> Lieutenant John F. Breman </Td> <Td> captured </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Total </Td> <Td> 6 warships </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 1,460 tons </Td> <Td> 450 </Td> <Td> 330 lb shot from long guns 474 lb shot from carronades </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> United States Navy </Td> <Td> Scorpion </Td> <Td> Schooner </Td> <Td> 86 tons </Td> <Td> 35 </Td> <Td> 1 × 32 - pounder long gun 1 × 32 - pounder carronade </Td> <Td> Sailing Master Stephen Champlin </Td> <Td> Long gun dismounted (overcharged) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Ariel </Td> <Td> Schooner </Td> <Td> 112 tons </Td> <Td> 36 </Td> <Td> 4 × 12 - pounder long guns </Td> <Td> Lieutenant John H. Packet </Td> <Td> One gun exploded (overcharged) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Lawrence </Td> <Td> Brig </Td> <Td> 480 tons </Td> <Td> 136 </Td> <Td> 2 × 12 - pounder long guns 18 × 32 - pounder carronades </Td> <Td> Master Commandant Oliver Hazard Perry </Td> <Td> surrendered but recaptured </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Caledonia </Td> <Td> Brig </Td> <Td> 180 tons </Td> <Td> 53 </Td> <Td> 2 × 24 - pounder long guns 1 × 32 - pounder carronade </Td> <Td> Lieutenant Daniel Turner </Td> <Td> captured from British 9 October 1812 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Niagara </Td> <Td> Brig </Td> <Td> 480 tons </Td> <Td> 155 </Td> <Td> 2 × 12 - pounder long guns 18 × 32 - pounder carronades </Td> <Td> Master Commandant Jesse Elliott </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Somers </Td> <Td> Schooner </Td> <Td> 94 tons </Td> <Td> 30 </Td> <Td> 1 × 24 - pounder long gun 1 × 32 - pounder carronade </Td> <Td> Lieutenant A.H.M. Conklin </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Porcupine </Td> <Td> Schooner </Td> <Td> 83 tons </Td> <Td> 25 </Td> <Td> 1 × 32 - pounder long gun </Td> <Td> Acting Master George Serrat </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Tigress </Td> <Td> Schooner </Td> <Td> 82 tons </Td> <Td> 35 </Td> <Td> 1 × 32 - pounder long gun </Td> <Td> Sailing Master Thomas C. Abny </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Trippe </Td> <Td> Sloop </Td> <Td> 60 tons </Td> <Td> 35 </Td> <Td> 1 × 24 - pounder long gun </Td> <Td> Lieutenant Thomas Holdup Stevens </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Total </Td> <Td> 9 warships </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 1,657 tons </Td> <Td> 540 </Td> <Td> 288 lb shot from long guns 1,248 lb shot from carronades </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> </Table>

Which us naval ship gained fame as old ironsides when fighting the british