Jonah Patel
The USS Constitution vs HMS Java is considered a famous battle, with the latter's defeat on 29 December 1812 a noteworthy action in naval history. The battle took place off the coast of Brazil, with the USS Constitution under Commodore William Bainbridge, and HMS Java commanded by Captain Henry Lambert. The battle raged for three hours, with both sides exchanging heavy fire, resulting in significant damage and casualties. The HMS Java, despite its advantages in speed and manoeuvrability, ultimately succumbed to the heavier firepower and experienced crew of the USS Constitution. The defeat of the HMS Java by the USS Constitution had notable repercussions, influencing a change in tactics employed by the Royal Navy in subsequent engagements.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date | 29 December 1812 |
| Location | Off the coast of Brazil |
| Ships | USS Constitution, HMS Java |
| Commanders | William Bainbridge (Constitution), Henry Lambert (Java) |
| Outcome | Java defeated, surrendered, and destroyed |
| Casualties | 12-48 killed, 22-100 wounded (USS Constitution), 150 killed and wounded (HMS Java) |
| Impact | Change in Royal Navy tactics, fictionalized in novels |
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What You'll Learn
USS Constitution sights HMS Java off the coast of Brazil
On the morning of 29 December 1812, the USS Constitution, sailing in the Atlantic just off the coast of Brazil, sighted sails on the horizon. The ship's new captain, William Bainbridge, altered course to investigate. The ship turned out to be HMS Java, a 38-gun frigate (but mounting 47) commanded by Captain Henry Lambert.
The USS Constitution stood towards the HMS Java, which tacked towards the Americans. The Java manoeuvred to close with the Constitution, and the Americans opened fire as the range decreased, but the gun crews had difficulty hitting their target. The Java soon ranged alongside the Constitution, and the battle commenced. As the two ships manoeuvred to rake each other, the Java suddenly turned under the American's stern and fired. British shot smashed the Constitution's wheel and wounded or killed the four quartermasters manning it. The same broadside shattered a railing surrounding the after hatchway, embedding a shard of copper in Bainbridge's thigh.
Despite his wound, Bainbridge rallied his crew. To regain control of the ship, crew members were sent to the berth deck to steer the ship using the tiller directly connected to the rudder. The heavy American shot, coupled with the defensive properties of the Constitution's thick hull, began to turn the tide of battle. Captain Lambert decided to board the American frigate, and aimed Java's shattered bow at the Constitution. As the two ships neared, American shot toppled Java's foremast and the boarding attempt failed. Soon after, Lambert received a mortal wound in the chest.
The Americans fired several more broadsides and then stood off out of range to repair damaged rigging. On the Java, the devastation was complete with her three masts and bowsprit damaged, and many of her guns inoperable. An hour later, the Constitution swept back and took up a raking position off Java's bow. First Lieutenant Henry Ducie Chads surrendered. After removing the British prisoners, Bainbridge determined that he could not tow Java to an American port. A demolition party lit fires in Java's hold, causing the magazine to explode.
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Both ships manoeuvre to gain a raking position
The USS Constitution and HMS Java were both attempting to gain a raking position, which would allow them to fire upon the other ship with a broadside while reducing their own exposure to return fire. Java, with the weather gauge to her advantage, was faster and more manoeuvrable than the Constitution, and initially positioned herself to rake the American ship. Constitution countered by not shortening sail as was standard, reducing the strain on her masts and making it less likely that she would lose a mast under fire.
The opening phase of the battle consisted of both ships turning and attempting to get into a better position to rake and fire upon the other. At 1:50 pm, Java attempted to rake the Constitution, but the American ship avoided this manoeuvre by wearing. By 2 pm, Java was within half a mile of the Constitution, and the two ships exchanged fire. Java's shot smashed the Constitution's wheel and killed or wounded the four quartermasters manning it, while also shattering a railing surrounding the after hatchway, embedding a shard of copper in Bainbridge's thigh. Despite his wound, Bainbridge rallied his crew, and they regained control of the ship by steering directly from the berth deck using the tiller.
The heavy American shot, coupled with the defensive properties of the Constitution's thick hull, began to turn the tide of the battle. Java's boarding attempt failed, and her captain, Lambert, was mortally wounded. The Americans then stood off out of range to repair their rigging, while Java was left with three masts and her bowsprit damaged, and many of her guns inoperable. An hour later, the Constitution returned and took up a raking position off Java's bow, and the British ship surrendered.
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Java attempts to board Constitution
On 29 December 1812, the USS Constitution, sailing in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Brazil, sighted two ships on the horizon. The larger of the two ships was the HMS Java, a 38-gun frigate (but mounting 47 guns) commanded by Captain Henry Lambert. The Java manoeuvred to close with the Constitution, and the Americans opened fire as the range decreased, but the gun crews had difficulty hitting their target.
As the two ships manoeuvred to rake each other, Java suddenly turned under the American's stern and fired. British shot smashed the Constitution's wheel and wounded or killed the four quartermasters manning it. The same broadside shattered a railing surrounding the after hatchway, embedding a shard of copper in Commodore William Bainbridge's thigh. Despite his wound, Bainbridge rallied his crew. To regain control of the ship, crew members were sent to the berth deck to steer the ship using the tiller directly connected to the rudder.
The heavy American shot, coupled with the defensive properties of the Constitution's thick hull, began to turn the tide of battle. Captain Lambert decided to board the American frigate and aimed Java's shattered bow at the Constitution. As the two ships neared, American shot toppled Java's foremast and the boarding attempt failed. Soon after, Lambert received a mortal wound in the chest.
The Americans fired several more broadsides and then stood off out of range to repair damaged rigging. On Java, the devastation was complete with her three masts and bowsprit damaged, and many of her guns inoperable. An hour later, Constitution swept back and took up a raking position off Java's bow. Lieutenant Henry Ducie Chads surrendered.
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Java surrenders and is set on fire
On 29 December 1812, the USS Constitution, an American frigate, encountered the HMS Java, a British frigate, off the coast of Brazil. The USS Constitution was under the command of Commodore William Bainbridge, while the HMS Java was led by Captain Henry Lambert. The two ships cleared their decks and prepared for battle.
The USS Constitution opened fire first, but missed its target. The HMS Java then moved alongside the USS Constitution and fired, damaging the wheel and injuring or killing the quartermasters operating it. Despite being wounded in the thigh by the same broadside that hit the wheel, Commodore Bainbridge rallied his crew. They steered the ship using the tiller connected directly to the rudder.
The USS Constitution's thick hull and heavy shot began to turn the tide of the battle. Captain Lambert decided to board the USS Constitution and aimed the HMS Java's shattered bow at the American frigate. As the ships neared, the HMS Java's foremast was toppled by American shot, and the boarding attempt failed. Captain Lambert received a fatal wound in the chest.
The HMS Java was left devastated, with her three masts and bowsprit damaged, and many of her guns inoperable. The USS Constitution took up a raking position off the HMS Java's bow. Lieutenant Henry Ducie Chads, who had taken command after Captain Lambert's mortal injury, surrendered.
Commodore Bainbridge removed the British prisoners and determined that the HMS Java could not be towed to an American port. A demolition party lit fires in the hold of the HMS Java, causing the magazine to explode. The HMS Java was set on fire and destroyed, with only her mainmast left standing. The USS Constitution, on the other hand, had suffered relatively minor damage, losing only 34 men killed and wounded compared to the HMS Java's 150 casualties.
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The battle influences British naval tactics
On 29 December 1812, the USS Constitution and HMS Java, both frigates, faced off in a battle off the coast of Brazil. The USS Constitution was under the command of Commodore William Bainbridge, while the HMS Java was led by Captain Henry Lambert. The battle began when the USS Constitution opened fire as the range decreased, but they missed their target. The HMS Java then moved alongside the USS Constitution, and the battle commenced. As the two ships attempted to outmaneuver each other, the HMS Java turned under the USS Constitution's stern and fired, damaging the ship and wounding Bainbridge. Despite his injury, Bainbridge rallied his crew, and they were able to regain control of the ship by steering from the berth deck. The USS Constitution's thick hull and heavy shot turned the tide of the battle. Captain Lambert attempted to board the USS Constitution, but his efforts were thwarted when the foremast of the HMS Java was toppled by American gunfire. Lambert was mortally wounded, and the HMS Java sustained heavy damage, with three masts and her bowsprit damaged and several guns disabled. The USS Constitution then took up a raking position off the HMS Java's bow, and the First Lieutenant of the HMS Java, Henry Ducie Chads, surrendered.
The defeat of the HMS Java by the USS Constitution marked the second loss of a British frigate to the Americans in six months. This prompted a significant shift in British naval tactics. The British Admiralty took steps to prevent further losses of their frigates to the Americans. They issued orders forbidding their captains from engaging American frigates in one-on-one combat. Instead, only British ships-of-the-line or squadrons were permitted to confront American frigates like the USS Constitution. This tactical adjustment reflected a recognition of the strength and capabilities of American frigates and the need for a more cautious approach in future encounters.
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Frequently asked questions
The USS Constitution vs HMS Java was a naval battle that took place on December 29, 1812, off the coast of Brazil during the War of 1812.
The USS Constitution, under the command of Commodore William Bainbridge, sighted two ships on the horizon and stood towards them. The larger of the two ships, HMS Java, commanded by Captain Henry Lambert, maneuvered close to the USS Constitution, and the battle commenced. Despite the British ship's speed and manoeuvrability advantage, the USS Constitution ultimately prevailed, with Java suffering significant damage and casualties.
The defeat of HMS Java by the USS Constitution led to a change in tactics for the British Royal Navy. They decided that their frigates would no longer engage American frigates alone and would only permit ships-of-the-line or squadrons to approach these ships. The battle and its aftermath inspired fictional works such as "The Fortune of War" by Patrick O'Brian and "Yankee Mission" by Julian Stockwind.
Yes, the USS Constitution vs HMS Java was a famous battle. The engagement gained notoriety as it resulted in the defeat of HMS Java, a British Royal Navy frigate, by the USS Constitution. The battle also had strategic implications, influencing the tactics employed by the British Royal Navy in future encounters with American frigates.
