Malcolm Rivera
The USS Constitution, also known as Old Ironsides, was launched in 1797 as a three-masted wooden-hulled heavy frigate of the United States Navy. It is the world's oldest commissioned naval warship still afloat. When constructed, the USS Constitution was armed with muzzle-loaded smooth-bore guns, and was rated as a 44-gun frigate, though she often carried over 50 guns. During the War of 1812, her battery typically consisted of 30 long 24-pounder cannons, with 15 on each side of the gun deck.
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What You'll Learn
USS Constitution was one of the first six US Navy warships
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. It was launched in 1797 as one of the six original frigates authorized for construction by the Naval Act of 1794. The USS Constitution was the third ship to be constructed out of the six.
The USS Constitution was designed by Joshua Humphreys to be the Navy's capital ship. As a result, it was larger and more heavily armed than the standard frigates of its time. The ship was built at Edmund Hartt's shipyard in Boston, Massachusetts. Its hull was built 21 inches thick, with a length of 175 feet between perpendiculars and an overall length of 204 feet. 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 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 played a significant role in the War of 1812, capturing numerous British merchantmen and five warships: HMS Guerriere, Java, Pictou, Cyane, and Levant. The ship's success in these engagements earned it its nickname, "Old Ironsides," and it became a national icon.
The USS Constitution has undergone several repairs and restorations throughout its history. In 1833, for example, an Andrew Jackson figurehead was mounted on its bow. Despite being cast aside at one point due to the rise of steam technology, the USS Constitution was revived and returned to its native city of Boston in 1897, where it was celebrated with citywide jubilations. Today, the ship remains a historic landmark, with a dedicated USS Constitution Museum located nearby in a restored shipyard building at the foot of Pier Two.
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Armed with 44 guns, but often carried 50+
The USS Constitution, also known as Old Ironsides, is a wooden-hulled heavy frigate of the United States Navy. It was launched in 1797 and was one of six original frigates authorized for construction by the Naval Act of 1794. It was built at Edmund Hartt's shipyard in Boston, Massachusetts, and was designed by Joshua Humphreys to be larger and more heavily armed than standard frigates of the period.
The USS Constitution was rated as a 44-gun frigate, but often carried more than 50 guns. This was common for ships of this era, which had no permanent battery of guns. The guns and cannons were designed to be completely portable and were often exchanged between ships as needed. Commanding officers outfitted armaments based on factors such as the weight of stores, personnel aboard, and planned routes. As a result, armaments on ships changed frequently, and records of these changes were not typically kept.
On November 14, 1804, the USS Constitution is listed as having thirty 24-pounders, fourteen 12-pounders, and eight 32-pounder carronades, for a total of 52 guns. During the War of 1812, the ship typically carried thirty 24-pounder cannons, with 15 on each side of the gun deck. In one notable instance, the USS Constitution was outfitted with 55 guns when facing the British-captured frigate HMS Guerriere off the coast of Nova Scotia.
Today, the guns aboard the USS Constitution are replicas, with most cast during the 1927-1931 restoration period. The ship typically makes a turnaround cruise each year, where it performs underway demonstrations, including a gun drill, in Boston Harbor.
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Used to protect American merchant shipping
The USS Constitution, also known as Old Ironsides, was one of six frigates authorised for construction by the Naval Act of 1794. The USS Constitution was launched in 1797 and its first duties were to protect American merchant shipping during the Quasi-War with France and to defeat the Barbary pirates in the First Barbary War.
The USS Constitution was developed and built in response to the threat of Barbary corsairs, who threatened American merchant shipping off the northern coast of Africa. In 1785, Barbary pirates, most notably from Algiers, began to seize American merchant vessels in the Mediterranean Sea. In 1793 alone, 11 American ships were captured, and their crews and stores held for ransom.
In 1794, the U.S. Congress authorised a new navy "in defence of commerce", and between 1794 and 1800, the Federal Government built six frigates. The USS Constitution was launched in Boston on October 21, 1797, from Edmund Hartt's shipyard. It is the sole survivor of the original U.S. Navy. Joshua Humphreys, the principal designer, determined that the ships had to be the strongest, fastest, and most heavily armed frigates of the era.
The USS Constitution's career began on July 22, 1798, when she sailed to the Caribbean to protect American merchant vessels that were being stopped and captured by French privateers. In 1801, the North African state of Tripoli declared war on the United States over perceived inadequate tribute payments. In response, Thomas Jefferson sent a squadron of frigates to protect American merchant ships in the Mediterranean and to pursue peace with the Barbary States. The USS Constitution, under Commodore Edward Preble, sailed to the Mediterranean Sea in 1803.
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Built with live oak, copper and pine
The USS Constitution, also known as Old Ironsides, is a wooden-hulled heavy frigate of the United States Navy. It was launched in 1797 and is the world's oldest commissioned naval warship still afloat. The USS Constitution was built using live oak, copper, and pine.
The ship's hull was originally made of white oak and live oak. The hull consisted of three layers, with the outer and inner horizontal layers made of white oak and the centre vertical layer made of live oak. The live oak used to build the ship came from the swamp coastal forests of Georgia. The ship's masts, cabinetry, millwork, and trim were made of Eastern white pine, while the beams and decks were made of longleaf pine from South Carolina.
The copper sheeting and the ship's brass fittings were provided by Paul Revere and were forged in his foundry and copper mill in Boston's North End. The hull of the ship was lined with 12,000 feet of copper sheeting, with tarred paper placed between the hull and the copper.
Over time, the USS Constitution has undergone several repairs and restorations. In the 20th century, obtaining solid wood hull planks and ship's knees became increasingly challenging due to the declining availability of white oak trees. Specially designated forests of white oak trees have been planted in recent decades to ensure a supply of wood for the continued restoration and maintenance of the ship.
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Maintained to 1812 configuration
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.
The USS Constitution is most noted for her actions during the War of 1812 with the United Kingdom, where she captured numerous British merchantmen and five warships. During the War of 1812, the USS Constitution's battery of guns typically consisted of 30 long 24-pounder cannons, with 15 on each side of the gun deck.
The ship is maintained by the Naval History and Heritage Command Detachment Boston, which plans and performs her maintenance, repair, and restoration, keeping her as close as possible to her 1812 configuration. The detachment estimates that approximately 10-15% of the timber in the USS Constitution contains original material installed during her initial construction period from 1795 to 1797.
Commander Tyrone G. Martin, who became the captain of the USS Constitution in August 1974, set the precedent that all construction work on the ship was to be aimed towards maintaining her 1812 configuration.
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Frequently asked questions
The USS Constitution was constructed between 1795 and 1797.
The USS Constitution was armed with muzzle-loaded smoothbore guns.
The USS Constitution was rated as a 44-gun frigate, but often carried over 50 guns.
The guns on the USS Constitution were designed to be completely portable and were often exchanged between ships. Each commanding officer outfitted armaments according to their preferences and practical considerations.
