Isabella Carter
The USS Constitution, also known as Old Ironsides, is a wooden-hulled heavy frigate of the United States Navy. Built in Boston and launched in 1797, it is the oldest commissioned warship still afloat in the world. The ship has been restored and maintained over the years, with roughly 10% of the ship still containing its original timber. The USS Constitution has a rich history, serving in various military engagements and becoming a symbol of American independence and naval power. Today, it serves as a training and ceremonial ship for the Navy, as well as an educational attraction for visitors.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Launch year | 1797 |
| Current status | Oldest commissioned naval warship still afloat |
| Other names | Old Ironsides, Old Constitution |
| Hull thickness | 21 inches (530 mm) |
| Length between perpendiculars | 175 ft (53 m) |
| Overall length | 204 ft (62 m) |
| Width | 43 ft 6 in (13.26 m) |
| Material | Pine and oak |
| Crew | 77 commanders, Carpenter's Mate Henry Williams, Captain of the Top Joseph Matthews, Captain of the Top James Horton, Ship's Corporal James Thayer |
| Awards | Medal of Honour |
| Maintenance | Restored to the same condition as during the War of 1812 |
| Current location | Boston |
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What You'll Learn
- The USS Constitution is the oldest commissioned naval warship still afloat
- It was launched in 1797 and is one of six original frigates
- The ship is also known as 'Old Ironsides'
- It was built using pine and oak, including southern live oak
- The USS Constitution is the only ship in the current US fleet to have sunk an enemy vessel
The USS Constitution is the oldest commissioned naval warship still afloat
The USS Constitution, also known as Old Ironsides, is a wooden-hulled, three-masted frigate of the United States Navy. It was launched in 1797 and is the oldest commissioned naval warship still afloat.
The USS Constitution was one of six original frigates authorized for construction by the Naval Act of 1794 and was built at Edmund Hartt's shipyard in Boston, Massachusetts. The ship's hull was built 21 inches thick and its length between perpendiculars was 175 feet, with a total length of 204 feet and a width of 43 feet. The primary materials used in its construction were pine and oak, including southern live oak sourced from Georgia. The ship was designed by Joshua Humphreys to be larger and more heavily armed than the standard frigates of the period, serving as the young Navy's capital ship.
The USS Constitution's first duties were to provide protection for American merchant shipping during the Quasi-War with France and to defeat the Barbary pirates in the First Barbary War. The ship gained fame during the War of 1812, becoming the only ship in the current U.S. fleet to have sunk an enemy vessel when it defeated and burnt HMS Java in 1813. Over its long history, the ship has had 77 commanders and has undergone several repairs and restorations to keep it afloat.
Today, the USS Constitution serves as a training and ceremonial ship for the Navy, as well as an educational attraction for visitors. It is currently on exhibit in Boston, where it continues to undergo maintenance and repairs to preserve its historic condition. The ship is also the subject of a museum, which showcases its incredible history as the world's oldest commissioned naval warship still afloat.
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It was launched in 1797 and is one of six original frigates
The USS Constitution, also known as Old Ironsides, is a three-masted wooden-hulled heavy frigate of the United States Navy. It was launched in 1797 and is one of six original frigates authorized for construction by the Naval Act of 1794. The Constitution is the third of these frigates to be constructed.
The name "Constitution" was among ten names submitted to President George Washington by Secretary of War Timothy Pickering. Joshua Humphreys designed the frigates to be larger and more heavily armed than the standard frigates of the period, so they could serve as the young Navy's capital ships. The Constitution was built at Edmund Hartt's shipyard in the North End of Boston, Massachusetts. Its primary materials were pine and oak, including southern live oak cut from Gascoigne Bluff and milled near St. Simons Island, Georgia.
The USS Constitution's first duties were to provide protection for American merchant shipping during the Quasi-War with France and to defeat the Barbary pirates in the First Barbary War. The ship gained fame during the War of 1812, and it remains the only ship in the current US fleet to have sunk an enemy vessel. It defeated and burnt HMS Java in 1813.
Today, the USS Constitution serves as a training and ceremonial ship for the Navy, as well as an educational experience for visitors. It is the oldest commissioned naval warship still afloat, with roughly 10% of the ship still made up of original timber.
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The ship is also known as 'Old Ironsides'
The USS Constitution, also known as Old Ironsides, is the world's oldest commissioned naval warship still afloat. It was launched in 1797 and is a three-masted wooden-hulled heavy frigate of the United States Navy. The name "Constitution" was among ten names submitted to President George Washington by Secretary of War Timothy Pickering. Joshua Humphreys designed the Constitution and her sister ships to be larger and more heavily armed than the standard frigates of the period.
The Constitution earned the nickname "Old Ironsides" during the War of 1812 with the United Kingdom. During this conflict, the Constitution captured numerous British merchant ships and five warships: HMS Guerriere, Java, Pictou, Cyane, and Levant. The capture of HMS Guerriere was particularly notable, as the Constitution's hull was able to withstand the fire from Guerriere's cannons. An American sailor reportedly exclaimed, "Huzzah! Her sides are made of iron!" The Constitution's strong and durable hull was constructed with heavy oak timber, making it heavier than most other common timbers.
The Constitution's actions during the War of 1812 brought her public adoration, which helped save her from scrapping multiple times throughout her history. In addition to her role in the War of 1812, the Constitution served as a flagship in the Mediterranean and African squadrons and circled the world in the 1840s. During the American Civil War, she served as a training ship for the United States Naval Academy. The Constitution was retired from active service in 1881 but has since been restored and designated a museum ship.
Today, the Constitution remains in commission as a U.S. Navy warship and is open for tours in Boston. She is a national treasure, offering a tangible link to the early years of the U.S. Navy and the United States as a whole. The ship's unique construction and long history have made her a beloved symbol of American strength and resilience.
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It was built using pine and oak, including southern live oak
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, having been launched in 1797. The ship was built using pine and oak, including southern live oak. In total, 60 acres of trees were used for its construction. The southern live oak was cut from Gascoigne Bluff and milled near St. Simons Island, Georgia. The labour of enslaved people was used to harvest the oak, with one historian noting that "enslaved people were essential to the construction of naval warships built to secure the very American freedoms they were denied".
The USS Constitution was one of six original frigates authorised for construction by the Naval Act of 1794. It was built at Edmund Hartt's shipyard in the North End of Boston, Massachusetts. Its hull was built 21 inches thick, with a length of 175 feet between perpendiculars and a total length of 204 feet. The ship's first duties included providing protection for American merchant shipping during the Quasi-War with France and defeating the Barbary pirates in the First Barbary War.
The USS Constitution gained fame during the War of 1812, when it defeated and burnt HMS Java. It is the only ship in the current US fleet to have sunk an enemy vessel. The ship remains in use as a training and ceremonial vessel for the Navy, as well as an educational experience for visitors.
Today, the USS Constitution has its own private Oak Grove in Massachusetts, which provides timber for repairs and maintenance. Around 10% of the ship is still original timber. The ship was restored to its 1812 condition in the 1920s, with the restoration team sourcing lumber from a retaining pond on a Naval Air Station in Florida. The ship was greeted with much fanfare during a cruise in the late 1990s and is now on exhibit in Boston, alongside its museum.
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The USS Constitution is the only ship in the current US fleet to have sunk an enemy vessel
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, having been launched in 1797.
The USS Constitution is also the only ship in the current US fleet to have sunk an enemy vessel. It defeated and burned HMS Java in 1813. The Constitution is a fully commissioned Navy ship with a crew of 75 officers and sailors who participate in ceremonies, educational programs, and special events while keeping the ship open to visitors year-round.
The ship's hull was built 21 inches thick, with a length of 175 feet between perpendiculars and a total length of 204 feet. The primary materials used in its construction were pine and oak, including southern live oak sourced from Georgia. The ship was built at Edmund Hartt's shipyard in Boston, Massachusetts, and its first duties included protecting American merchant shipping during the Quasi-War with France and defeating the Barbary pirates in the First Barbary War.
The USS Constitution has undergone several restorations over the years, with approximately 10% of the ship still containing original timber. The ship's current mission is to promote understanding of the Navy's role in war and peace through educational outreach, historical demonstration, and active participation in public events as part of the Naval History and Heritage Command.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, the USS Constitution, also known as Old Ironsides, is the oldest commissioned naval warship still afloat.
The USS Constitution was launched in 1797.
The USS Constitution is a three-masted wooden-hulled heavy frigate. The primary materials used to build the ship were pine and oak, including southern live oak.
The USS Constitution remains a training and ceremonial ship for the Navy, as well as an educational experience for visitors.
