Isabella Carter
The USS Constitution is a wooden-hulled, three-masted heavy frigate of the United States Navy. It is the world's oldest commissioned naval vessel still afloat. It was launched in 1797 and was one of six original frigates authorized for construction by the Naval Act of 1794. Joshua Humphreys designed the USS Constitution and its sister ships to be larger and more heavily armed than the standard frigates of that period. This was because the fledgling United States could not match the European states in the size of their navies, so the USS Constitution was designed to overpower any other frigate.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Hull | Wooden |
| Number of masts | 3 |
| Year of launch | 1797 |
| Original cost | $302,000 |
| Current location | Charlestown Navy Yard, Massachusetts |
| Current status | Museum ship |
| Notable battles | Quasi-War with France, First Barbary War, War of 1812 |
| Notable victories | HMS Guerriere, HMS Java, HMS Cyane, HMS Levant |
| Nicknames | Old Ironsides |
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What You'll Learn
Joshua Humphreys' design
Joshua Humphreys was an American shipbuilder and naval architect who designed the USS Constitution, also known as Old Ironsides. He was commissioned in 1794 to design six frigates for the newly formed U.S. Navy, becoming the first American naval construction contractor.
Humphreys' design was unusual for the time, with his ships being longer, broader, and lower in the water than other frigates. They were designed to be faster and more manoeuvrable, with greater stability, allowing them to carry as many guns on one deck as other ships did on two. The USS Constitution and her sister ships were larger and more heavily armed and built than standard frigates of the period.
Humphreys' design called for diagonal riders intended to restrict hogging and sagging while giving the ships extremely heavy planking. This resulted in a hull with greater strength than that of a more lightly built frigate. The hull of the USS Constitution was built 21 inches (530 mm) thick, with a length between perpendiculars of 175 feet (53 m) and an overall length of 204 feet (62 m). The primary materials used in construction were pine and oak, including southern live oak from Georgia.
Humphreys' design philosophy was based on the realisation that the fledgling United States could not match the European states in terms of navy size. Thus, his frigates were designed to overpower any other frigate while being able to escape from a ship of the line. This design philosophy proved successful, as the USS Constitution went on to defeat several British warships, prompting the British Admiralty to order their frigates not to engage American frigates one-on-one.
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Strength of hull
The USS Constitution is a wooden-hulled, three-masted 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 at Edmund Hartt's Shipyard in Boston, Massachusetts. Its hull was constructed 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). The width of the hull was 43 ft 6 inches (13.26 m).
The hull of the USS Constitution was designed by Joshua Humphreys to be larger and more heavily armed and built than standard frigates of the period. The design included diagonal riders intended to restrict hogging and sagging, while also providing extremely heavy planking. This gave the hull greater strength than a more lightly built frigate. The hull's thickness and design contributed to its ability to overpower other frigates while being able to escape from a ship of the line.
Over its long history, the USS Constitution has undergone multiple repairs and reconstructions to maintain its hull and overall structure. In 1815, following the War of 1812, the ship underwent extensive repairs, including work on the hull planking, framing, decks, and beams. The hull's copper sheathing was replaced with new copper supplied by Paul Revere's rolling mill.
In the late 1920s and early 1930s, Lieutenant John A. Lord supervised another significant restoration project. During this period, wood was gathered from various parts of the country, including live oak from Florida and white oak from Ohio, West Virginia, and Delaware. The ship was recommissioned in 1931 and sailed on a 90-port tour along the United States' coasts.
The USS Constitution remains a fully commissioned US Navy ship, with a crew of 60 officers and sailors who participate in ceremonies, educational programs, and special events. The ship is open to visitors year-round at the Charlestown Navy Yard in Boston, Massachusetts.
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Armament and size
The USS Constitution, also known as Old Ironsides, is a three-masted 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 the third constructed.
The USS Constitution was designed by Joshua Humphreys, who intended for the frigates to be the young Navy's capital ships. As a result, the USS Constitution and her sister ships were larger and more heavily armed and built than the standard frigates of that period. The USS Constitution's hull was built 21 inches thick, with a length between perpendiculars of 175 feet and an overall length of 204 feet. Its width was 43 feet and 6 inches.
The USS Constitution was first used to provide protection for American merchant shipping during the Quasi-War with France and to defeat the Barbary pirates in the First Barbary War. It was also victorious in battle against HMS Guerriere, HMS Java, HMS Cyane, and HMS Levant during the War of 1812. After the war, the USS Constitution was celebrated for its victories but was no longer needed. It was laid up in Boston and required several repairs, including new sails and copper. The ship's guns and gunner's stores were transferred to the USS Independence in 1815.
The USS Constitution underwent extensive repairs and modifications to prepare for Mediterranean service. The hull planking, framing, decks, beams, and interior carpentry were repaired or replaced. The gun deck was rebuilt to restore its original height, which had been partially changed in 1813. As the Mediterranean Squadron Flagship, the USS Constitution patrolled the Mediterranean, protecting vital trade routes and American diplomatic interests.
Today, the USS Constitution is the world's oldest commissioned naval warship still afloat. It is open to visitors year-round and offers free tours conducted by its crew of 60 officers and sailors, who are all active-duty US Navy personnel.
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Mediterranean Squadron
The USS Constitution, also known as "Old Ironsides," is one of the United States Navy's original six frigates and the first to be constructed. It earned its nickname during the War of 1812 when a crew member noticed that instead of splinters, it produced shot ricochets during a battle with a British warship.
The Mediterranean Squadron was the first overseas deployment of US naval forces. The USS Constitution was deployed to the Mediterranean in 1803 to confront Barbary pirates, who were threatening American shipping interests in the region. The deployment was part of a larger effort by the US to protect its commercial interests and demonstrate its naval power on the international stage.
At the time, the Barbary States of North Africa, including Algiers, Tripoli, and Tunis, were engaging in piracy and demanding tribute from nations trading in the Mediterranean. The United States, a young nation with a burgeoning commercial presence in the region, became a target for these demands. In response, President Thomas Jefferson dispatched a squadron of frigates, led by the USS Constitution, to protect American commerce and citizens and to deter further aggression from the Barbary States.
The Mediterranean Squadron played a crucial role in establishing the US Navy's presence in the region. The USS Constitution and its crew successfully engaged in combat with the Barbary pirates, demonstrating American naval power and resolve. This deployment safeguarded the passage of American merchant vessels and protected US interests in the Mediterranean. The mission also marked the beginning of a more assertive US foreign policy, underscoring the importance of a robust navy in defending the nation's global interests.
The USS Constitution's deployment to the Mediterranean Squadron holds significant value in the early history of the US Navy. It showcased the capabilities of the newly built frigate and contributed to the growth of the US Navy as a formidable force worldwide. The success of the Mediterranean Squadron influenced American naval strategy and diplomacy, emphasizing the need for a strong naval presence to safeguard US interests and citizens internationally.
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Restoration and preservation
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 authorized for construction by the Naval Act of 1794. Joshua Humphreys designed the USS Constitution and its sister ships to be larger and more heavily armed and built than standard frigates of the period. This was because the fledgling United States could not match the European states in the size of their navies, so the USS Constitution was designed to overpower any other frigate while escaping from a ship of the line.
The USS Constitution has undergone several periods of restoration and preservation throughout its history. After the War of 1812, the ship was celebrated for its victories but was not needed and laid up in Boston, requiring various repairs. In 1833, the USS Constitution was again in need of repairs and was almost scrapped before Oliver Wendell Holmes' poem Old Ironsides helped save her. She was recommissioned in 1835 and served in the Atlantic, Mediterranean, and Pacific.
In 1860, the USS Constitution was decommissioned and used to train midshipmen at the U.S. Naval Academy. She was reconstructed in 1870 and returned to Boston to serve as a receiving ship. The ship faced destruction again in 1905 but was saved. In 1907, she was designated a museum ship. Restoration work began again in 1925, and she was recommissioned in July 1931, embarking on a 90-port tour along the United States' coasts.
Lieutenant John A. Lord supervised the restoration of the USS Constitution from 1927 to 1931, gathering wood from various parts of the country, including live oak from Florida and Douglas fir from Washington state. In 1995 and 2015, the ship underwent further reconstruction and continues to make an annual Turnaround Cruise in Boston Harbor on July 4th, serving as a symbol of education and outreach. Today, the USS Constitution is berthed at the Charlestown Navy Yard in Massachusetts and is open to visitors year-round, offering tours and educational programs.
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Frequently asked questions
USS Constitution is a wooden-hulled, three-masted heavy frigate of the United States Navy. It was designed by Joshua Humphreys to be larger and more heavily armed and built than standard frigates of its time.
The USS Constitution's first duties were to provide protection for American merchant shipping during the Quasi-War with France and to defeat the Barbary pirates in the First Barbary War.
The USS Constitution was launched in 1797 and is the world's oldest commissioned naval warship still afloat.
