Jonah Patel
The USS Constitution, also known as Old Ironsides, is a wooden-hulled heavy frigate of the United States Navy. It is the oldest commissioned warship still afloat. The nickname Old Ironsides was earned during the ship's engagement with HMS Guerriere in the War of 1812, when its hull was seen to repel British cannonballs. The USS New Ironsides was another ship launched in 1862, named in honour of the USS Constitution. It was one of three ironclad ships, along with the USS Monitor and the USS Galena.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | USS Constitution |
| Nickname | Old Ironsides |
| Ship Type | Wooden-hulled, three-masted heavy frigate of the United States Navy |
| Construction | Launched in 1797 using oak, pine, and maple |
| Ironclad | No, despite her nickname, she is not an ironclad ship |
| Active Service | Yes, oldest floating commissioned naval vessel in the world |
| Battle Record | Unbeaten in 44 battles |
| Current Status | Open for public visits at the Charlestown Navy Yard in Boston, Massachusetts |
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What You'll Learn
USS Constitution's wooden hull
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 built at Edmund Hartt's shipyard in Boston, Massachusetts. The keel was laid down on 1 November 1794 under the supervision of Captain Samuel Nicholson, master shipwright Colonel George Claghorn, and Foreman Prince Athearn. Constitution's hull was built 21 inches (530 mm) thick, with a length between perpendiculars of 175 ft (53 m) and an overall length of 204 ft (62 m). The primary materials used for the hull were pine and oak, including southern live oak, and the ship was protected by copper sheathing.
The USS Constitution earned its nickname “Old Ironsides” during its engagement with HMS Guerrière in the War of 1812. Its thick live oak hull famously rebounded a cannonball during the battle, showcasing its durability and strength. Over the years, the ship has undergone multiple restorations and repairs to maintain its historical integrity.
In 1940, the USS Constitution was recommissioned at the request of President Franklin Roosevelt. In 1941, it was assigned the hull classification symbol IX-21 and served as a brig for officers awaiting court-martial. After World War II, the ship remained at the Boston Navy Yard and was opened to the public.
The USS Constitution Museum, a privately run museum, opened in April 1976. The museum is dedicated to the ship's history and has a tract of land known as "Constitution Grove," which supplies white oak for repair work. The ship underwent a two-year restoration program starting in 2015, with the Department of the Navy providing $12-15 million for the project.
The USS Constitution is not an ironclad ship. Ironclad ships, such as the USS New Ironsides, which was named in honour of the USS Constitution, featured armoured protection and were typically made of iron or steel. The USS Constitution, with its wooden hull, represents an earlier era of shipbuilding and naval warfare.
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The ship's history
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 USS Constitution was launched in 1797 and was one of six original frigates authorized for construction by the Naval Act of 1794. It was built in Boston, Massachusetts, at Edmund Hartt's shipyard, with Joshua Humphreys as the designer. The ship's hull was built 21 inches thick, with a length of 175 ft between perpendiculars and an overall length of 204 ft. The primary materials used in its construction were pine and oak, including southern live oak cut from Gascoigne Bluff and milled near St. Simons Island, Georgia. The copper spikes and bolts that held the planks in place, as well as the copper sheathing that protected the hull, were forged by Paul Revere.
The USS Constitution'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. In 1803, it was designated the flagship for the Mediterranean squadron under Captain Edward Preble and played a significant role in the successful war against the Tripoli pirates from 1801 to 1805. The treaty of peace was signed aboard the ship, and it patrolled the North African coast for two years after the war to enforce the treaty's terms.
During the War of 1812, the USS Constitution achieved a notable victory over the British frigate Guerriere. Its oak sides withstood British cannon fire, earning it the nickname "Old Ironsides." This encounter solidified its enduring place in American naval tradition. Despite spending significant time in port for repairs and due to blockades, the ship continued to serve valiantly, achieving several more victories.
In 1830, the USS Constitution was initially deemed unfit for sea and recommended for scrapping. However, public sentiment, influenced by Oliver Wendell Holmes' poem "Old Ironsides," led to Congress passing an appropriation for its reconstruction. The ship was rebuilt and continued its illustrious career, serving as a flagship in various squadrons and embarking on a 30-month voyage around the world starting in 1844. In the 1850s, it patrolled the African coast in search of slavers, and during the Civil War, it served as a training ship for midshipmen.
The USS Constitution was recommissioned in 1940 at the request of President Franklin Roosevelt. It served various roles, including as a brig for officers awaiting court-martial. After World War II, it remained open to the public at the Boston Navy Yard. The ship underwent repairs and maintenance while also providing guided tours to visitors. The privately-run USS Constitution Museum opened in 1976, and the ship continues to be a revered part of American naval history.
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Design and construction
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 name "Constitution" was one of ten names submitted to President George Washington by the Secretary of War, Timothy Pickering, for the six original frigates that were to be constructed.
Joshua Humphreys designed the frigates to be the young Navy's capital ships, and so the Constitution and her sister ships were larger and more heavily armed than standard frigates of the period. Built in Boston of resilient live oak, Constitution's planks were up to seven inches thick. Paul Revere forged the copper spikes and bolts that held the planks in place and the copper sheathing that protected the hull. The keel was laid down on November 1, 1794, at Edmund Hartt's shipyard in Boston, Massachusetts, under the supervision of Captain Samuel Nicholson, master shipwright Colonel George Claghorn, and Foreman Prince Athearn of Martha's Vineyard Athearns. Constitution's hull was built 21 inches thick, and her length between perpendiculars was 175 feet, with a 204-foot overall length and a width of 43 feet, 6 inches. In total, 60 acres of trees were needed for her construction. Primary materials consisted of pine and oak, including southern live oak, which was cut from Gascoigne Bluff and milled near St. Simons Island, Georgia. Enslaved workers were used to harvest the oak used for the ship's construction.
The USS Constitution should not be confused with the USS New Ironsides, an ironclad ship launched on May 10, 1862, as part of the South Atlantic Blockading Squadron. The New Ironsides was named in honor of the USS Constitution, which earned the nickname Old Ironsides during her engagement with HMS Guerrière in the War of 1812. The New Ironsides was designed by John Ericsson, influenced by the French ironclad Gloire, and built by William Cramp & Sons. Each of her gun ports was protected by two 4-inch-thick armored shutters that rotated on an axle at the top, operated from inside the battery.
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Preservation and legacy
The USS Constitution, also known as Old Ironsides, is one of the most famous ships in American history. It is a wooden-hulled, three-masted heavy frigate of the United States Navy, named by President George Washington after the Constitution of the United States of America. The ship is preserved at the Charlestown Navy Yard in Boston, Massachusetts, and is the world's oldest commissioned naval vessel still afloat.
The preservation of the USS Constitution is a testament to the ship's legacy and its important place in American history. The ship has undergone several repairs and restorations over the years to ensure its preservation for future generations. One of the most significant restoration projects took place between 1927 and 1931, when the ship was dry-docked and extensively repaired. This included replacing the hull planking, repairing the rigging, and restoring the ship's interior.
Another major restoration project began in 2015 and continued till 2017, which involved replacing the ship's lower hull planking, ensuring the ship's long-term preservation. The ship's crew also regularly conducts maintenance and preservation work, including scraping and repainting the hull, repairing rigging, and conserving the ship's interior spaces and artefacts.
The USS Constitution has a rich legacy that continues to be celebrated today. The ship played a crucial role in the early years of the US Navy, serving with distinction during the Quasi-War with France, the First Barbary War, and the War of 1812. Its most famous action was a victory over the British frigate HMS Guerriere in 1812, where the Constitution's sturdy construction and heavy firepower earned it the nickname "Old Ironsides." This victory boosted American morale and helped establish the young nation's naval power.
The ship's legacy is also honoured through various cultural references and traditions. The USS Constitution is featured on American currency, stamps, and medals, and has been the subject of numerous artworks, poems, and songs. The ship is also associated with several traditions, such as the annual turn-around cruise in Boston Harbour and the tradition of toasting the ship with "Constitution Punch."
The preservation and legacy of the USS Constitution are closely intertwined, ensuring that this iconic ship remains a floating monument to American history and naval tradition. The ongoing maintenance and restoration efforts guarantee that future generations can continue to learn from and be inspired by Old Ironsides, keeping its story and its place in history alive.
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Similar ironclad ships
The USS Constitution, also known as Old Ironsides, is a three-masted wooden-hulled heavy frigate of the United States Navy. It is not an ironclad ship. However, there are several other notable ironclad ships similar to the USS New Ironsides, which was named in honour of the Constitution.
The USS Monitor was the most innovative design of its time due to its low freeboard, shallow-draft iron hull, and total dependence on steam power. Its rotating gun turret was a particularly risky element of its design. The USS Galena, on the other hand, was a wooden-hulled ship with the novel feature of armour made from interlocking iron rails. The USS New Ironsides was influenced by the French ironclad Gloire, which was the first iron warship, completed in 1859.
Other notable ironclads include the British HMS Devastation, which was the first large, ocean-going ironclad without masts, and the Italian Affondatore, a double-turreted ram. The Austrian navy also had seven ironclad frigates in the 1800s.
Ironclads were first used in warfare in 1862 during the American Civil War, where they proved to be powerful warships. They were designed for several uses, including as battleships, long-range cruisers, and coastal defence ships.
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Frequently asked questions
No, the USS Constitution, also known as Old Ironsides, is a three-masted wooden-hulled heavy frigate of the United States Navy.
During the War of 1812, the USS Constitution achieved an enduring place in American naval tradition. On August 19, 1812, commanded by Captain Isaac Hull, it won a brilliant victory over the British frigate Guerriere. Tradition has it that during this encounter, the American sailors, seeing British shots failing to penetrate the oak sides of their ship, dubbed it "Old Ironsides".
An ironclad ship is a ship with iron or steel armour plating on its hull. The USS Constitution is not an ironclad ship, but there are other ships that are, such as the USS Monitor, which was made with a shallow-draft iron hull.
