USS Watauga was a proposed United States Navy

United States Navy

The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...

 screw frigate

Frigate

A frigate is any of several types of warship, the term having been used for ships of various sizes and roles over the last few centuries.In the 17th century, the term was used for any warship built for speed and maneuverability, the description often used being "frigate-built"...

 that was never built.

Projected as a screw frigate, Watauga was intended to be similar to, but somewhat larger than, the Java-class frigates (USS Antietam

USS Antietam (1864)

USS Antietam was constructed during the final years of the American Civil War but was not launched because the war was winding down in the Union’s favor. She was eventually placed into service and used as a storeship and as a barracks ship until she was disposed of in 1888.- Laid down during the...

, USS Guerriere

USS Guerriere (1865)

The second USS Guerriere was a frigate in the United States Navy. She was named for the victory of the frigate over during the War of 1812....

, USS Minnetonka

USS Minnetonka (1867)

USS Minnetonka was one of eight wooden steam frigates authorized by the United States Navy during the American Civil War to provide a postwar general purpose fleet....

, and USS Piscataqua

USS Piscataqua (1866)

The USS Piscataqua, a screw steamer, was launched 11 June 1866 by Portsmouth Navy Yard; and commissioned 21 October 1867 with Captain Daniel Ammen in command....

).

Although first carried on the Navy List

Navy List

A Navy List or Naval Register is an official list of naval officers, their ranks and seniority, the ships which they command or to which they are appointed, etc., that is published by the government or naval authorities of a country....

in 1864, Watauga was never laid down. The contract for her construction was cancelled in 1866.