Isabella Carter
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 nickname Old Ironsides was earned during the War of 1812 when the Constitution defeated the British frigate Guerriere, with witnesses claiming that the British shots bounced off the ship's sides as if it were made of iron.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Nickname | Old Ironsides |
| Hull thickness | 21 inches (530 mm) |
| Length between perpendiculars | 175 ft (53 m) |
| Overall length | 204 ft (62 m) or 207 ft |
| Width | 43 ft 6 in (13.26 m) |
| Number of masts | 3 |
| Height of mainmast | 210 ft |
| Number of sails | 44 |
| Number of cannons | 55 |
| Number of crew members | 480+ officers, sailors, and Marines |
| Year of launch | 1797 |
| Year of retirement from active service | 1881 |
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What You'll Learn
- The USS Constitution's nickname, Old Ironsides, was inspired by the ship's iron-like hull
- The warship was constructed in Boston, Massachusetts, using pine and oak
- The Constitution was one of six frigates authorised for construction by the Naval Act of 1794
- The ship's crew during the War of 1812 consisted of over 480 officers, sailors and marines
- The Constitution's victory over the Guerriere united Americans behind the war effort and made Commander Hull a hero
The USS Constitution's nickname, Old Ironsides, was inspired by the ship's iron-like hull
The USS Constitution, also known as Old Ironsides, is a wooden-hulled heavy frigate of the United States Navy. It is the world's oldest commissioned naval warship still afloat. The nickname "Old Ironsides" was inspired by the ship's iron-like hull, which was built 21 inches thick.
During the War of 1812, the USS Constitution defeated the British frigate Guerriere in a furious engagement off the coast of Nova Scotia. Witnesses claimed that the British shots merely bounced off the Constitution's sides, as if the ship were made of iron rather than wood. This unexpected victory against a British frigate helped unite America behind the war effort and made Commander Hull a national hero.
The Constitution went on to defeat or capture seven more British ships in the War of 1812, including Java, Pictou, Cyane, and Levant. It also ran the British blockade of Boston twice. After the war, the ship served as the flagship of the navy's Mediterranean squadron and later served as a training ship during the American Civil War.
The nickname "Old Ironsides" has endured even though the ship has not seen active service for decades. In 1940, Major General Bruce Magruder saw a picture of the Constitution and decided that her nickname offered suitable inspiration for the U.S. Army's new 1st Armored Division. This incarnation of "Old Ironsides" served in Tunisia, Italy, Germany, Vietnam, and the Middle East.
Today, the USS Constitution remains in commission as a U.S. Navy warship, open for tours in Boston. It is a national treasure that offers a tangible link to the early years of the Navy and the United States as a whole.
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The warship was constructed in Boston, Massachusetts, using pine and oak
The USS Constitution, nicknamed "Old Ironsides", is a wooden-hulled heavy frigate of the United States Navy. It is the world's oldest commissioned naval warship still afloat. The Constitution was constructed in Boston, Massachusetts, using pine and oak.
The construction of the ship began on November 1, 1794, and it was launched on September 20, 1797, though it stalled partway and finally reached the water on October 21, 1797. The name Constitution was one of ten names submitted to President George Washington by the Secretary of War, Timothy Pickering. Joshua Humphreys designed the Constitution and five other frigates to be larger, more heavily armed, and built than the standard frigates of that period. The ship was built at Edmund Hartt's shipyard in the North End of Boston, Massachusetts.
The primary materials used in the construction were pine and oak, including southern live oak 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. In total, 60 acres of trees were needed for her construction. 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 Constitution is most noted for its actions during the War of 1812 with the United Kingdom, when it captured numerous British merchant ships and five warships: HMS Guerriere, Java, Pictou, Cyane, and Levant. The capture of Guerriere earned the ship its nickname, "Old Ironsides", as witnesses claimed that the British shots merely bounced off its sides, as if the ship were made of iron rather than wood. The victory against Guerriere helped unite America behind the war effort and made Commander Hull a national hero.
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The Constitution was one of six frigates authorised for construction by the Naval Act of 1794
The USS Constitution, also known as Old Ironsides, is a wooden-hulled heavy frigate of the United States Navy. It is the world's oldest commissioned naval warship still afloat. The Constitution was one of six frigates authorised for construction by the Naval Act of 1794, which was passed by the 3rd United States Congress on March 27, 1794, and signed into law by President George Washington. The act authorised the construction of six frigates at a total cost of $688,888.82. These ships were the first of what became the United States Navy.
The Constitution and her sister ships were designed to be larger and more heavily armed than standard frigates of the period. They were built during the formative years of the United States Navy and were intended to be powerful enough to engage any frigates of the French or British navies, yet fast enough to evade any ship of the line. The design was unusual for the time, with a deep hull, long keel, and narrow beam. This gave the ships greater speed and manoeuvrability, while also allowing for the mounting of very heavy guns. The Constitution's hull was built 21 inches thick and her length between perpendiculars was 175 feet, with a total length of 204 feet and a width of 43 feet 6 inches.
The construction of the frigates was slowed by a peace accord between the United States and Algiers in March 1796, which, in accordance with clause nine of the Naval Act, required that construction be halted. After some debate, Congress passed an act in April 1796 allowing construction to continue on the three ships nearest to completion: the United States, Constellation, and Constitution. However, in 1798, France began seizing American merchant vessels, prompting Congress to approve funds for the completion of the remaining three frigates: President, Congress, and Chesapeake.
The Constitution is noted for her actions during the War of 1812 with the United Kingdom, capturing numerous British merchant ships and five warships. The capture of HMS Guerriere earned her the nickname "Old Ironsides". She continued to serve 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.
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The ship's crew during the War of 1812 consisted of over 480 officers, sailors and marines
The warship Constitution, also known as USS Constitution, is nicknamed "Old Ironsides". The ship earned this nickname during the War of 1812 when it defeated the British frigate Guerriere. Witnesses claimed that the British shots merely bounced off the Constitution's sides, as if the ship were made of iron rather than wood.
The ship's crew during the War of 1812 consisted of over 480 officers, sailors, and marines. The average age of a crew member was 26 years old, but some sailors were as young as 9 and others as old as 52. Most of the crew was from Massachusetts, but there were also crew members from all over the United States, Great Britain, and Western Europe. 7 to 14 percent of the crew were free men of colour, who earned the same wages as their white shipmates. Most of the crew were skilled sailors, but many probably could not read or write their names.
The ship needed most of its crew to control the sails and fire the guns, but the officers also knew that they would need extra hands. Navy ships always tried to sail with as many men as possible because some crew members would inevitably die from accidents or disease, and captured enemy vessels would require additional sailors to navigate them to friendly ports.
The USS Constitution Museum in Boston has been researching each individual sailor in the ship's War of 1812 crew to learn about their lives. This research has been conducted using government records, birth and death records, and census records stored in the National Archives in Washington, DC.
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The Constitution's victory over the Guerriere united Americans behind the war effort and made Commander Hull a hero
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 Constitution is most noted for its actions during the War of 1812 with the United Kingdom, when it captured numerous British merchant ships and five warships, including the HMS Guerriere. This victory over the Guerriere united Americans behind the war effort and made Commander Hull a hero.
The battle between the Constitution and the Guerriere took place on 19 August 1812, about 400 miles southeast of Halifax, Nova Scotia. The Guerriere, under the command of Captain James Richard Dacres, was en route to Halifax for a refit, having been detached from a squadron that had earlier failed to capture the Constitution. Despite facing a bigger, stronger, and better-armed American ship, Dacres was confident of victory. However, in the exchange of broadsides, the Guerriere's masts were felled, and the ship was left in a sinking condition. The Constitution's crew took the British sailors on board, set the Guerriere on fire, and returned to Boston with news of their victory.
The defeat of the Guerriere represented the high point of Hull's military career, showcasing his skills as a naval officer. The victory provided a much-needed morale boost for the American public, proving that the fledgling U.S. Navy could compete with Britain's Royal Navy. The news of the Guerriere's defeat was particularly satisfying to the American seafaring community, as the Guerriere had been active in stopping and searching American merchant vessels. Upon his return, Hull was celebrated as a hero, with throngs of cheering Bostonians greeting him and his crew.
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Frequently asked questions
The nickname of the warship Constitution was "Old Ironsides".
During the War of 1812, the USS Constitution defeated the British frigate HMS Guerriere off the coast of Nova Scotia. Witnesses claimed that the British shots bounced off the Constitution's sides, as if the ship were made of iron rather than wood.
The USS Constitution earned the nickname "Old Ironsides" on August 19, 1812, when it defeated the British warship Guerriere.
The commander of the USS Constitution when it earned the nickname "Old Ironsides" was Commander Hull, who became a national hero after the victory.
After the War of 1812, the USS Constitution served as the flagship of the Navy's Mediterranean squadron. In 1828, it was laid up in Boston and considered for scrapping due to its unseaworthiness. However, an outcry of public support led to the preservation of the famous warship.
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