The first Boxer in American history was actually the HMBS Boxer , a brig of 14 guns. The HMBS Boxer, commanded by Captain Blyth, was sailing off the coast of Portland, Maine when she was met by the USS Enterprise, commanded by Lieutenant William Burrows. The fight that ensued was heroic for both ships, and in the end Boxer's crew surrendered her to US forces. In January 1815, Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry endeavored to build a squadron of four ships to aid fighting in the Mediterranean resulting from the War of 1812. The first USS Boxer would be one of these ships. She was launched on May 17, 1815. Her keel measured 98 feet in length and just over 28 feet in breadth. Boxer bore fourteen 32 pound cannons and two long 9 pound cannons. She was first Commanded by Lieutenant John Porter who sailed her to the Mediterranean to join Commodore Perry's squadron. The second USS Boxer, a schooner, was launched on November 22, 1831 at the Boston Navy Yard. She was the sister ship of the fourth Enterprise. This Boxer, which cost $30,697, was 88 feet long and 23 feet wide, with a battery of 10 guns. Her 17 years of service Boxer busied herself on the seas of the world. The only USS Boxer not constructed specifically for the US Navy was the third. Originally known as the TRISTAM SHANTY she was used to run blockades the US had established during the Civil War. This iron "side-wheeled" steamer measured 222 feet in length and 23 feet in width. After her capture by USS Kansas on May 15, 1864 she was purchased from the Boston Prize Court and commissioned into service on August 12, 1864. The fourth Boxer was built as a training brigantine, and was launched on October 11, 1904. She was transferred to the Department of the Interior on May 14, 1920 for work along the Alaskan coast USS Boxer (CV-21) was launched on December 14, 1944 and she fulfilled the campaign promise "off we go to Tokyo" by anchoring off Tokyo bay in September 1945. The breakout of the Korean conflict prompted Boxer to quick action. From 1950 to 1952 Boxer provided invaluable support to the fighting in Korea. In 1958 Boxer was transferred from the West to the East coast where she was converted to an LPH. After nearly 25 years of service, USS Boxer (LPH-4) was decommissioned December 1, 1969 due to high operating costs, and replacement ships coming on-line. Presently, USS Boxer (LHD-4), was Commissioned in Feb. 11 1995 as a Multipurpose Amphibious Assault Ship, as well as non-combatant evacuation and other humanitarian missions.