Omar Bennett
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 first been launched in 1797. The name Constitution was among ten names submitted to President George Washington by Secretary of War Timothy Pickering. The ship's hull was built to be 21 inches thick, made from a blend of pine and oak, and was designed to be faster and more powerful than other ships of the period. The Constitution earned its nickname, Old Ironsides, during the War of 1812, when its sturdy hull was able to deflect cannonballs.
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What You'll Learn
- USS Constitution's nickname, Old Ironsides, was earned during the War of 1812
- The name was inspired by the ship's ability to deflect cannonballs
- The USS Constitution was one of six ships commissioned by George Washington
- It is the world's oldest commissioned naval warship still afloat
- The ship was built using southern live oak, pine and oak
USS Constitution's nickname, Old Ironsides, was earned during the War of 1812
The USS Constitution 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 first been launched in 1797.
The USS Constitution earned its famous nickname, Old Ironsides, during the War of 1812. This nickname was a testament to the ship's sturdy hull, which was built with triple layers of dense pine and oak, achieving a thickness of 21 inches in some parts. This design proved instrumental in deflecting enemy cannon fire, as the USS Constitution faced off against British warships.
During the War of 1812, the USS Constitution defeated five British warships: the HMS Guerriere, Java, Pictou, Cyane, and Levant. It also captured numerous merchant vessels. The USS Constitution's victory over the HMS Guerriere was particularly notable, as it marked a turning point in global military power. The British had been the dominant naval force, but the United States Navy's triumph demonstrated its prowess and marked the beginning of a series of successful engagements that established the US as a worldwide superpower.
The "Old Ironsides" nickname was embraced by the ship's officers and the press, and it stuck. The moniker became even more entrenched in the public consciousness thanks to Oliver Wendell Holmes's poem of the same name. The poem, combined with support from Captain "Madjack" Percival, helped save the USS Constitution from being scrapped in the 1840s. Instead, the Navy renovated the ship and sent it on a world tour between 1845 and 1846.
Today, the USS Constitution remains a fully commissioned Navy ship, making occasional trips into Boston Harbor. It serves as a floating museum, educating visitors about its pivotal role in American maritime history.
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The name was inspired by the ship's ability to deflect cannonballs
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 first been launched in 1797.
The name "Old Ironsides" was earned during the War of 1812, when the USS Constitution defeated the HMS Guerriere in a battle that demonstrated the young US Navy's capabilities. The Constitution's hull was built with triple layers of dense pine and oak, achieving a thickness of 21 inches in some parts. This robust design proved instrumental in deflecting enemy cannon fire, and the ship became known for its ability to shake off cannonballs.
The victory over the Guerriere was a significant moment in naval history, marking a shift in global military power. The United States Navy was relatively new and untested, and the British were the dominant naval force at the time. However, the Constitution's success against the Guerriere began a series of victories that helped establish the US Navy as a worldwide superpower.
The nickname "Old Ironsides" was adopted by the ship's officers and the press, and it has stuck ever since. The name symbolizes American naval resilience and innovation, and the ship is now an iconic part of American maritime history.
Today, the USS Constitution is preserved as a floating museum in Boston, Massachusetts. It still maintains a crew of active-duty US Navy sailors and makes trips into Boston Harbor on special occasions, such as its annual turn-around cruise on July 4th to ensure equal weather exposure for the ship.
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The USS Constitution was one of six ships commissioned by George Washington
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 the third ship to be constructed.
The name "Constitution" was among ten names submitted to President George Washington by Secretary of War Timothy Pickering in 1794. Washington had signed "An Act to provide a Naval Armament," authorizing the purchase or construction of six frigates to create the United States Navy. Joshua Humphreys designed the frigates to be larger and more heavily armed than the standard frigates of the period, making them the young Navy's capital ships.
The USS Constitution was built at Edmund Hartt's shipyard in the North End of Boston, Massachusetts. Its hull was built using triple layers of dense pine and oak, with a thickness of 21 inches (530 mm). The primary materials consisted of 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'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. It also served during the War of 1812, defeating five British warships and capturing many merchant ships. After the war, it served in the Mediterranean, helping to intercept and capture slave ships. The USS Constitution is a fully commissioned Navy ship and continues to make trips into Boston Harbor, such as on the 4th of July, to ensure equal exposure to the elements while docked.
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It is the world's oldest commissioned naval warship still afloat
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 one of six original frigates authorised for construction by the Naval Act of 1794. The name "Constitution" was among ten names submitted to President George Washington, who commissioned the ship, by Secretary of War Timothy Pickering. Joshua Humphreys designed the frigates to be larger, faster, and more heavily armed than standard frigates of the period.
The USS Constitution's hull was built with triple layers of dense pine and oak, achieving a thickness of 21 inches (530 mm) in some parts. This robust design proved instrumental in deflecting enemy cannon fire, giving birth to the ship's nickname, "Old Ironsides". The ship's copper bolts and fittings were forged by Paul Revere, and its primary materials consisted of pine and oak, including southern live oak. Enslaved workers were used to harvest the oak used for the ship's construction.
The USS Constitution has a rich history of military engagements and has served in various capacities. During the War of 1812, the ship defeated five British warships: the HMS Guerriere, Java, Pictou, Cyane, and Levant. It also captured many merchant ships. After the war, the USS Constitution served in the Mediterranean, helping to intercept and capture slave ships. The ship continued to undergo rigorous battles and countless voyages, solidifying its place in American naval history.
Today, the USS Constitution is a fully commissioned Navy ship that makes trips into Boston Harbour each year, including on the 4th of July for its annual turn-around cruise. The ship is now docked at Charlestown Navy Yard in Massachusetts and is open to the public for free guided tours. It serves as a floating museum, connecting visitors to a pivotal chapter of American maritime history. The USS Constitution is a testament to American naval resilience and innovation, maintaining its status as the world's oldest commissioned naval warship still afloat.
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The ship was built using southern live oak, pine and 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 southern live oak, pine, and oak. The ship's hull was built to be 21 inches (530 mm) thick, with a length between perpendiculars of 175 ft (53 m) and an overall length of 204 ft (62 m). It had a width of 43 ft 6 in (13.26 m). In total, 60 acres (24 ha) of trees were needed for her construction. The southern live oak was cut from Gascoigne Bluff and milled near St. Simons Island in Georgia. The use of enslaved workers to harvest the oak for the ship's construction has been documented by USS Constitution Museum historian Carl Herzog.
Over the years, the USS Constitution has undergone several restorations to maintain its structural integrity. During one such restoration in the 1950s, red oak was added to the ship as an experiment to test its durability compared to live oak. However, by 1970, it was found that the red oak had mostly rotted away. In the 1970s, Commander Tyrone G. Martin led efforts to restore the ship to its 1812 configuration, and 25,000 acres of white oak were designated for repair work.
The USS Constitution continues to be a fully-commissioned Navy ship and makes occasional trips into Boston Harbor, such as on the 4th of July, to ensure equal exposure to the elements while docked. The ship's longevity and resilience have earned it the nickname Old Ironsides, a testament to its iron-like strength derived from the dense pine and oak used in its construction.
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Frequently asked questions
The USS Constitution is fondly known as "Old Ironsides".
The USS Constitution earned the nickname "Old Ironsides" during the War of 1812 when its hull proved sturdy enough to deflect cannonballs.
The Old Ironsides nickname was significant as it commemorated the Constitution's ability to shake off cannonballs, marking an important change in global military power with the rise of the United States as a naval superpower.
The USS Constitution is the world's oldest commissioned naval warship still afloat. It is also known for its victory against the HMS Guerriere during the War of 1812, which was a watershed moment in naval history.
