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OLD IRONSIDES: The U.S.S Constitution at its permanent port in
Boston. (Photo: Todd Humber)
Boston. (Photo: Todd Humber)
U.S.S. Constitution:
The beginning of the end
of British naval domination
The beginning of the end
of British naval domination
Charlestown, Mass. - For any history buff heading to the Boston area,
the U.S.S. Constitution is a must-see. Here's a description of the famous
ship from The Complete Guide to Boston's Freedom Trail: Third Edition, by
Charles Bahne. The guide is a must-have for any tourist wandering
Boston's famous freedom trail.
U.S.S. Constitution
By Charles Bahne
"Let us toast the ship! Never has she failed us!
- Commodore Bainbridge.
The most celebrated ship in American history is
berthed here in the Charlestown Navy Yard, her
home port for most of her life. One of the U.S.
Navy's first vessels, U.S.S. Constitution was launched on Oct. 21, 1797,
to protect American merchant ships from depredations by Algerian
pirates, and by the British and French navies. Invincible in war, this
venerable ship has also survived numerous attempts at peacetime
destruction. Now the oldest commissioned warship afloat in the world,
Constitution has been the pride of our nation's naval heritage for over
two centuries.
The act "to provide a
naval armament," signed
by President George
Washington in 1794,
authorized construction
of six frigates in six
different seaports.
Joshua Humphrey's
unusual design called
for a ship larger and
faster than a standard
frigate, smaller and more
maneuverable than
a ship of the line. The
result proved superior
to anything else on the
seas.
First known simply as "Frigate D," Constitution was build at Hartt's
shipyard in Boston's North End, just across the Charles River from where
she sits today. The work took three years and cost $302,718.84. She
was the Navy's third vessel to be launched, after United States and
Constellation. Constitution was rated at 1,576 tons and 44 guns -
although she usually mounted about 54 pieces of artillery - and carried a
crew of 450 including 55 marines and 20 young boys. On her masts, a
full set of 36 sails totaled nearly an acre of canvas.
Constitution and her sisters were built of live oak, its "durability being
estimated at five times that of common white oak." This rare wood, from
Georgia's sea islands, gave "Old Ironsides" her great strength.
Cannonballs literally bounced off her impenetrable hull and fell
harmlessly into the sea. When Constitution battled Guerriere in 1812, an
unnamed British seaman cried, "Huzzah! Her sides are made of iron. See
where the shot fell out of her!" - thus coining a name which has stuck
ever since.
Of course, she is not really made of iron, for metal clad ships were not
invented until many years later.
For more information about Old Ironsides and Boston's Freedom Trail, see
The Complete Guide to Boston's Freedom Trail by Charles Bahne.
the U.S.S. Constitution is a must-see. Here's a description of the famous
ship from The Complete Guide to Boston's Freedom Trail: Third Edition, by
Charles Bahne. The guide is a must-have for any tourist wandering
Boston's famous freedom trail.
U.S.S. Constitution
By Charles Bahne
"Let us toast the ship! Never has she failed us!
- Commodore Bainbridge.
The most celebrated ship in American history is
berthed here in the Charlestown Navy Yard, her
home port for most of her life. One of the U.S.
Navy's first vessels, U.S.S. Constitution was launched on Oct. 21, 1797,
to protect American merchant ships from depredations by Algerian
pirates, and by the British and French navies. Invincible in war, this
venerable ship has also survived numerous attempts at peacetime
destruction. Now the oldest commissioned warship afloat in the world,
Constitution has been the pride of our nation's naval heritage for over
two centuries.
The act "to provide a
naval armament," signed
by President George
Washington in 1794,
authorized construction
of six frigates in six
different seaports.
Joshua Humphrey's
unusual design called
for a ship larger and
faster than a standard
frigate, smaller and more
maneuverable than
a ship of the line. The
result proved superior
to anything else on the
seas.
First known simply as "Frigate D," Constitution was build at Hartt's
shipyard in Boston's North End, just across the Charles River from where
she sits today. The work took three years and cost $302,718.84. She
was the Navy's third vessel to be launched, after United States and
Constellation. Constitution was rated at 1,576 tons and 44 guns -
although she usually mounted about 54 pieces of artillery - and carried a
crew of 450 including 55 marines and 20 young boys. On her masts, a
full set of 36 sails totaled nearly an acre of canvas.
Constitution and her sisters were built of live oak, its "durability being
estimated at five times that of common white oak." This rare wood, from
Georgia's sea islands, gave "Old Ironsides" her great strength.
Cannonballs literally bounced off her impenetrable hull and fell
harmlessly into the sea. When Constitution battled Guerriere in 1812, an
unnamed British seaman cried, "Huzzah! Her sides are made of iron. See
where the shot fell out of her!" - thus coining a name which has stuck
ever since.
Of course, she is not really made of iron, for metal clad ships were not
invented until many years later.
For more information about Old Ironsides and Boston's Freedom Trail, see
The Complete Guide to Boston's Freedom Trail by Charles Bahne.
| BATTLE ON THE ATLANTIC - AUGUST 1812 |
Defeat on the water:
Constitution blasts
Royal Navy in wake of
Brock's victory at Detroit
Constitution blasts
Royal Navy in wake of
Brock's victory at Detroit
| The video on the right shows the U.S.S. Constitution as it appeared in the summer of 2006. |
The U.S.S. Constitution's most famous naval action came early on in the
War of 1812. She ran into H.M.S. Guerriere on Georges Bank, about 700
miles east of Boston on Aug. 19, 1812.
According to Bahne, Constitution layed west to the British ship in just
over half an hour. The Guerriere was so badly damaged that it was
burned and sunk on the spot.
One sailor onboard the Constitution in the summer of 2006 quipped
that, with a perfect 32-0 record in battle, the ship was the "closest thing
to the Yankees that Boston has."
War of 1812. She ran into H.M.S. Guerriere on Georges Bank, about 700
miles east of Boston on Aug. 19, 1812.
According to Bahne, Constitution layed west to the British ship in just
over half an hour. The Guerriere was so badly damaged that it was
burned and sunk on the spot.
One sailor onboard the Constitution in the summer of 2006 quipped
that, with a perfect 32-0 record in battle, the ship was the "closest thing
to the Yankees that Boston has."
| PICTURES OF THE U.S.S. CONSTITUTION |
ALL HANDS ON DECK: The deck of the
Constitution, as seen during the summer of
2006. (Photo: Todd Humber)
Constitution, as seen during the summer of
2006. (Photo: Todd Humber)