Omar Bennett
The USS Constitution, also known as Old Ironsides, is a warship launched in 1797 and one of the first six frigates of the US Navy. The ship has three masts that can carry up to 44 sails, or almost an acre of canvas. The sails are attached to 13 horizontal spars, or yards, with the mainmast towering 210 feet (64 metres) above the deck. The ship's large sail plan and powerful broadside guns made it a formidable opponent for any vessel of its time.
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What You'll Learn
USS Constitution's sails covered almost an acre of canvas
The USS Constitution, also known as "Old Ironsides", is a warship authorized by the 'Act to provide a Naval Armament', signed by President George Washington in 1794. It was one of the first six warships of the newly created United States Navy. The Constitution is most known for its role in the War of 1812 against the United Kingdom, where it captured five warships and numerous British merchant ships.
The Constitution's sails covered almost an acre of canvas. Its three masts could carry a total of 44 sails, with 13 yards (horizontal spars) set up for the square sails and rigging. The ship could carry up to 16 yards, but 13 was the more common number. The sails were controlled by a crew of over 480 officers, sailors, and Marines during the War of 1812. The average age of the crew was 26, with some sailors as young as 9 and others as old as 52. The crew consisted of men from Massachusetts, other parts of the United States, and even from Great Britain and Western Europe.
The Constitution's rigging and sail configuration are quite complex. The fore and main masts have four yards each: the course or yard, top yard, topgallant yard, and royal yard. The mizzen mast, or aftermost mast, has slightly different names and uses for its yards. It has a cross-jack yard (commonly pronounced "crojack"), a mizzen top yard, a mizzen topgallant yard, and a mizzen royal yard. Interestingly, the spritsail yard and the crojack did not carry sails; instead, they served as spreaders for rigging.
The Constitution's vast sail area contributed to its speed and manoeuvrability, making it a formidable opponent in naval battles. Its sailing capabilities, combined with its heavy armaments of up to 55 cannons, established its reputation as a powerful warship. The Constitution's undefeated record during the War of 1812 and its continued service as a flagship and training ship showcase its significance in naval history.
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The ship could carry up to sixteen yards
The USS Constitution, also known as "Old Ironsides", is a warship that was authorised by the 'Act to provide a Naval Armament', signed by President George Washington in 1794. This act created the new United States Navy. The ship is most noted for its actions during the War of 1812 with the United Kingdom, during which it captured five warships and numerous merchant vessels.
The phrase "the whole nine yards" is commonly used, and while it may have nautical origins, there is no evidence to support this. However, when referring specifically to the USS Constitution, the phrase becomes "the whole thirteen yards", and this does have a nautical origin. According to sailmaker Charles Ware's 1817 sail plan, the ship could carry up to sixteen yards, although thirteen was the more usual number. These yards are the horizontal spars that are set up for the square sails and rigging.
The USS Constitution had three masts that could carry a total of 44 sails, or almost an acre of canvas. Under full sail, the Constitution set 44 sails, and when sailing into battle, she carried 55 heavy cannons on two decks. The ship was manned by a large crew, with over 480 officers, sailors, and Marines on board when she set sail from Boston during the War of 1812. The average age of the crew was 26, with some sailors as young as 9 and others as old as 52.
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Constitution was rated as a 44-gun frigate
The USS Constitution, also known as Old Ironsides, is a three-masted wooden-hulled heavy frigate of the United States Navy. It is the world's oldest commissioned naval warship still afloat. Constitution was rated as a 44-gun frigate, but it often carried more than 50 guns at a time. The guns and cannons on board ships of this era were designed to be completely portable and were often exchanged between ships as situations warranted. Each commanding officer outfitted armaments according to their liking, taking into account factors such as the overall weight of stores, personnel aboard, and planned routes. This meant that armaments on ships changed frequently during their careers, and records of these changes were not typically kept.
The USS Constitution was launched in 1797 and was one of six original frigates authorized for construction by the Naval Act of 1794. It was the third constructed and was built at Edmund Hartt's shipyard in Boston, Massachusetts. The design of the Constitution was unusual for its time, with a deep keel, long length, narrow beam, and the ability to mount very heavy guns. The ship's hull was built 21 inches thick and had a length of 175 feet between perpendiculars, with an overall length of 204 feet and a width of 43 feet, 6 inches. The Constitution's first duties included providing protection for American merchant shipping during the Quasi-War with France.
During the War of 1812 with the United Kingdom, the Constitution captured numerous British merchant ships and five warships: HMS Guerriere, Java, Pictou, Cyane, and Levant. Its capture of Guerriere earned it the nickname "Old Ironsides", adding to the public adoration that had previously saved it from scrapping. The ship continued to serve as a flagship in the Mediterranean and African squadrons and circled the globe in the 1840s.
The phrase "the whole nine yards" is not nautical in origin, but when referring to the USS Constitution, the phrase "the whole thirteen yards" is used to refer to the thirteen yards (horizontal spars) that were set up for the square sails and rigging. The ship could carry up to sixteen yards, but thirteen was the more usual number.
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The ship's battery of guns included 30 long 24-pounder cannons
The USS Constitution, also known as "Old Ironsides", is a warship that was authorised by the 'Act to provide a Naval Armament', signed by President George Washington in 1794. This act created the United States Navy. The Constitution is most well-known for its role in the War of 1812 against the United Kingdom, during which it captured several British merchant ships and warships, including HMS Guerriere, which earned it its famous nickname.
During the War of 1812, the ship's battery typically included 30 long 24-pounder cannons, with 15 on each side of the gun deck. These cannons, along with the rest of the armaments on the ship, were not permanent fixtures and were often exchanged between ships as needed. The commanding officer of the ship could outfit the armaments according to their preferences, taking into account factors such as the weight of stores, personnel on board, and planned routes. This meant that the armaments on ships like the USS Constitution changed frequently, and records of these changes were rarely kept.
The 24-pounder cannons were so-called because they fired 24-pound projectiles. These cannons were typically placed on the gun deck, with 15 cannons on each side of the ship. In addition to these, the USS Constitution also had 22 guns on the spar deck, 11 on each side. These were short 32-pounder carronades, which fired 32-pound projectiles.
The USS Constitution's crew during the War of 1812 consisted of over 480 officers, sailors, and Marines. The average age of the crew was 26, with some sailors as young as 9 and others as old as 52. Most of the crew were from Massachusetts, but there were also crew members from other parts of the United States, Great Britain, and Western Europe. Notably, 7 to 14% of the crew were free men of colour, who earned the same wages as their white counterparts.
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Constitution's crew numbered over 480 during the War of 1812
The USS Constitution, also known as "Old Ironsides", is a three-masted wooden-hulled heavy frigate of the United States Navy. It is the world's oldest commissioned naval warship still afloat. The ship was launched in 1797 and was one of six original frigates authorised for construction by the Naval Act of 1794. The name "Constitution" was one of ten names submitted to President George Washington for the frigates that were to be constructed.
During the War of 1812, the USS Constitution played a significant role in the United States' conflict with Great Britain. Under the command of Captain Isaac Hull, the ship had a crew of nearly 500 men, with some sources stating that the crew numbered over 480. The Constitution demonstrated its readiness for war and its ability to outmaneuver its adversaries. During this period, the ship's battery of guns typically consisted of 30 long 24-pounder cannons, with 15 on each side of the gun deck, and 22 more guns deployed on the spar deck.
The Constitution's crew, under Captain Hull's leadership, played a crucial role in the ship's success. On July 16, 1812, the crew sighted an unknown ship to the northeast, which was later joined by more ships. Outnumbered and facing British adversaries, Captain Hull ordered his crew to take action to make the 2,200-ton ship lighter and sail faster. The crew's teamwork and efficiency contributed to the ship's ability to evade its pursuers.
The Constitution's actions during the War of 1812 brought it fame and public adoration. It captured numerous British merchant ships and five warships, including HMS Guerriere, Java, Pictou, Cyane, and Levant. The battle with HMS Guerriere earned the Constitution its nickname, "Old Ironsides", as some of Guerriere's 18-pound round shots struck but failed to penetrate the Constitution's thick oak hull. The crew of the Constitution, under Captain Hull, returned to Boston as heroes, and their victory spread across the nation.
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Frequently asked questions
The USS Constitution could carry up to 44 sails, with 13 being the more usual number of yards (horizontal spars) set up for the square sails and rigging.
The three masts of the USS Constitution could carry 44 sails in total.
Thirteen was the typical number of yards (horizontal spars) that were set up for the square sails and rigging on the USS Constitution, also known as "Old Ironsides".
