Omar Bennett
The USS Constitution, also known as Old Ironsides, is the world's oldest naval warship still afloat. It was launched in 1797 and is currently berthed in Boston. The ship earned its nickname during the War of 1812, when it defeated the British frigate Guerriere off the coast of Nova Scotia. Witnesses claimed that the British shots bounced off the Constitution's sides, as if they were made of iron rather than wood.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Nickname | Old Ironsides |
| Reason for nickname | British cannonballs were seen to bounce off the ship's side during the War of 1812 |
| Year of nickname | 1812 |
| Opponent during the battle | HMS Guerriere |
| Location of the battle | Off the coast of Nova Scotia |
| Outcome of the battle | USS Constitution defeated HMS Guerriere |
| Current location | Charlestown Navy Yard in Boston harbour |
| Year of launch | 1797 |
| Number of guns | 44 |
| Crew capacity | More than 450 |
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What You'll Learn
USS Constitution's battles with the British during the War of 1812
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 USS Constitution is most noted for its actions during the War of 1812 with the United Kingdom.
On August 19, 1812, the USS Constitution encountered the British warship HMS Guerriere alone about 600 miles east of Boston. After considerable maneuvering, the USS Constitution delivered its first broadside, and for 20 minutes, the two vessels bombarded each other in close and violent action. The British warship was de-masted and rendered a wreck, while the USS Constitution escaped with only minimal damage. The unexpected victory of the USS Constitution against a British frigate helped unite America behind the war effort and made Commander Hull a national hero.
Following this battle, the British Admiralty, then the world's foremost maritime superpower, decreed that their warships would no longer engage American frigates in combat unless they were in squadron force. However, this decree did not stop the USS Constitution from continuing its impressive string of victories. On December 29, 1812, the USS Constitution defeated HMS Java off the coast of Brazil. After a fierce battle lasting almost three hours, the British surrendered, and the Java was set on fire and sunk.
The USS Constitution went on to defeat or capture seven British ships in the War of 1812 and ran the British blockade of Boston twice. It captured five warships: HMS Guerriere, Java, Pictou, Cyane, and Levant. The capture of HMS Guerriere earned the USS Constitution the nickname "Old Ironsides", adding to the public adoration that had repeatedly saved her from scrapping.
The success of the USS Constitution against the supposedly invincible Royal Navy provided a tremendous boost in morale for the young American republic. The War of 1812 may have been a small war, but it left a profound and lasting legacy that reverberated through history. The USS Constitution's victories introduced new American heroes and inspired a patriotic song that eventually became the national anthem, "The Star-Spangled Banner".
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The capture of HMS Guerriere
The Constitution encountered the HMS Guerriere, a British warship, about 400-600 miles southeast of Halifax. The Guerriere was under the command of Captain James Richard Dacres, who was confident of victory despite facing a bigger, stronger, and better-armed American ship. The two ships exchanged broadsides, and in the fierce battle that ensued, the Guerriere's masts were felled, and the ship was left severely damaged and unable to be salvaged. The Constitution, on the other hand, escaped with minimal damage, with many of the Guerriere's shots rebounding off its hull.
An American sailor reportedly exclaimed, "Huzzah! Her sides are made of iron!" This exclamation led to the Constitution earning the nickname "Old Ironsides". The crew of the Constitution took the British sailors on board, set the Guerriere on fire, and returned to Boston as heroes. The victory was significant for American morale and patriotism, as it united the country behind the war effort and proved that the young American navy could defeat the vaunted Royal Navy.
The capture of the Guerriere was the first of several British ships taken by the Constitution during the War of 1812. The Constitution continued to serve as a flagship in the Mediterranean and African squadrons and circled the globe in the 1840s. It was retired from active service in 1881 and designated a museum ship in 1907. Today, it is the world's oldest commissioned naval warship still afloat.
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Constitution's victory over HMS Java
The USS Constitution, also known as Old Ironsides, is a three-masted wooden-hulled heavy frigate of the United States Navy and the world's oldest commissioned naval warship still afloat. It was launched in 1797 and was built at Edmund Hartt's shipyard in Boston, Massachusetts. The name "Constitution" was among ten names submitted to President George Washington by Secretary of War Timothy Pickering.
The USS Constitution earned its nickname "Old Ironsides" during the War of 1812 with the United Kingdom. On August 19, 1812, the 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.
In the following months, the Constitution continued its victories. On December 29, 1812, while cruising off the coast of Brazil, the Constitution, under the command of Commodore William Bainbridge, sighted two ships on the horizon. The larger of the two ships was the HMS Java, a 38-gun frigate commanded by Captain Henry Lambert. As the Java manoeuvred closer to the Constitution, the Americans opened fire, but they struggled to hit their target. Soon, the Java positioned itself alongside the Constitution, and the battle commenced. The Java then turned under the American's stern and fired, damaging the Constitution's wheel and wounding or killing the quartermasters manning it. Despite this, Commodore Bainbridge rallied his crew, and they regained control of the ship.
The Americans fired several more broadsides before moving out of range to repair their damaged rigging. Meanwhile, the Java sustained significant damage, with its three masts and bowsprit damaged and many of its guns inoperable. The Constitution then swept back and took up a raking position off Java's bow. First Lieutenant Henry Ducie Chads surrendered the ship, marking the Constitution's second victory in the War of 1812. After removing the British prisoners, Bainbridge determined that the Java could not be towed to port. Instead, a demolition party lit fires in the Java's hold, causing an explosion. Although the Constitution also suffered damage, it managed to reach Boston on February 15, 1813, where it received a hero's welcome.
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Constitution as flagship of the Mediterranean squadron
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 name "Constitution" was among ten names submitted to President George Washington by Secretary of War Timothy Pickering in March or May 1794 for the frigates that were to be constructed.
Old Ironsides is most noted for her actions during the War of 1812 with the United Kingdom, when she captured numerous British merchantmen and five warships: HMS Guerriere, Java, Pictou, Cyane, and Levant. The capture of Guerriere earned her the nickname "Old Ironsides", adding to the public adoration that had repeatedly saved her from scrapping.
After the war, Old Ironsides served as the flagship of the navy’s Mediterranean squadron. In 1803, she was designated flagship for the Mediterranean squadron under Captain Edward Preble and was deployed against the Barbary States of North Africa, which were demanding tribute from the United States in exchange for allowing American merchant vessels access to Mediterranean ports. Preble began an aggressive campaign against Tripoli, blockading ports and bombarding fortifications. Tripoli, Tunisia, and Algeria eventually agreed to a peace treaty, and the Constitution patrolled the North African coast for two years after the war ended to enforce the terms of the treaty.
The Mediterranean Squadron, also known as the Mediterranean Station, was part of the United States Navy in the 19th century that operated in the Mediterranean Sea. It was formed in response to the First and Second Barbary Wars. Between 1801 and 1818, the squadron was composed of a series of rotating squadrons. The squadron was withdrawn in 1807, which tempted the Barbary corsairs to attack American ships again. The United States Navy resumed operations against the Barbary coast after the War of 1812 ended in 1815.
Old Ironsides continued to serve as a flagship in the Mediterranean and African squadrons, and she circled the world in the 1840s. In 1844, she embarked on a 30-month voyage around the world.
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Constitution's protection of American merchant shipping
The USS Constitution, also known as Old Ironsides, was launched in 1797. It was one of six original frigates authorized for construction by the Naval Act of 1794. The Constitution was built to provide protection for American merchant shipping during the Quasi-War with France and to defeat the Barbary pirates in the First Barbary War.
At the time, the Barbary pirates were attacking American merchant ships in the Mediterranean, and Congress requested the construction of six frigates to protect American merchant fleets. The Constitution was constructed in Boston, Massachusetts, with bolts fastening its timbers and copper sheathing provided by the industrialist and patriot Paul Revere.
The Constitution's first significant military action was during the War of 1812 with the United Kingdom. On August 19, 1812, the Constitution defeated the British frigate Guerriere in a battle off the coast of Nova Scotia. The Constitution's hull was so sturdy that British cannon shots rebounded harmlessly, leading to the exclamation, "Huzzah! Her sides are made of iron!" and earning the ship the nickname "Old Ironsides".
During the War of 1812, the Constitution captured numerous British merchantmen and five warships: HMS Guerriere, Java, Pictou, Cyane, and Levant. The success of the USS Constitution against the supposedly invincible Royal Navy provided a tremendous boost in morale for the young American republic. After the war, the Constitution continued to serve as a flagship in the Mediterranean and African squadrons and circled the globe in the 1840s.
The Jones Act, a section of the 1920 Merchant Marine Act, is a notable example of legislation regulating American merchant shipping in modern times. The Act requires that cargo transported between US ports be shipped aboard vessels that are US-built, US-citizen owned, registered in the US, and crewed by Americans. This Act aims to foster a robust US Merchant Marine fleet for economic security and national defence. However, critics argue that the Jones Act has negatively impacted the US shipbuilding industry, diminished the size of the merchant marine reserve, and hindered the country's ability to respond effectively to disasters.
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Frequently asked questions
The USS Constitution earned the nickname "Old Ironsides" on August 19, 1812, during the War of 1812.
During the War of 1812, the USS Constitution defeated the British frigate Guerrière off the coast of Nova Scotia. Witnesses claimed that British cannonballs bounced off the ship's sides, as if it were made of iron rather than wood. An American sailor reportedly exclaimed, "Huzzah! Her sides are made of iron!".
The USS Constitution is the world's oldest commissioned naval warship still afloat. It was launched in 1797 and is currently berthed in Boston.
