The American Revolution was fought, in the early stages, in a certain condition of chaos. Months before there was a Continental Navy there was a Continental Army. Before the Continental Army there were colonial militias and semi-organized bodies of men acting on the necessities of the moment. Since the main transportation and communication method in the colonies was the sea, rivers and lakes, fighting began on the water quite early. The seizure of Fort Ticonderoga early in May 1775 led to the establishment of a Continental Army - Lake Champlain Squadron. Benedict Arnold was influential in the actions of this force and it is sometimes known as Arnold's Fleet or . The invasion of Canada led to the Continental Army - St. Lawrence River Squadron. When the Americans retreated from Canada this force was lost. As the Americans prepared for Burgoune's invasion in 1777, a Continental Army - Lake George Squadron was begun.

When the Continental Army was established in June 1775 and George Washington assumed command he recognized the need to attack the British supply line into Boston and established a squadron to do so. The Continental Army Squadron - Boston is frequently referred to as Washington's Fleet or Washington's Navy. When the British retreated from Boston and Washington moved to New York City to defend it, he established another small squadron there, the Continental Army Squadron - New York. In 1779 the operations against the British in Newport led to the Continental Army - Narragansett Bay Squadron. The links to the left will take you to the information on the warships of these squadrons, and others operated by the Continental Army.