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USS Constitution Battles – Capture of Cyane

by johnk on 21. May, 2010 in Model Ship History

After the Royal Navy’s Captain George Collier was handed command of HMS Leander, he was sent to North America to confront the frigates under American command that were devastating British merchant shipping paths. At this, Charles Stewart saw an opportune moment to slip out of the Boston Harbor on December 18, making his way for Bermuda. Meanwhile, Collier rounded up a squadron composed of Leander, Newcastle, and Acasta, but were still unable to take down the notorious USS Constitution.

By December 24, USS Constitution had overtaken Lord Nelson and maintained its prize crew aboard, which housed a bountiful Christmas dinner for the famished crew of USS Constitution.

While off of Cape Finisterre on February 8, 1815, Charles Stewart received word that the Treaty of Ghent was signed. However, Stewart was well aware that war would still ensue until the treaty had been officially ratified. While on February 16, the USS Constitution captured the British merchantman ship Susanna and escaped with $75,000 worth of animal hides. Afterwards, the crew of USS Constitution spotted two British ships, HMS Cyane and Levant, and began chasing the two on February 20.

While at first USS Constitution appeared outmatched by both Cyane and Levant’s devastating broadsides against it, Stewart eventually out maneuvered the two British ships, and soon forced Levant to retreat for repairs. With Levant out of the picture, USS Constitution focused on Cyane, and managed to overtake her. Levant came back from its repairs, but upon seeing Cyane’s fate, Levant attempted to high tail it out of USS Constitution’s sight. However, USS Constitution still managed to attack, and capture, Levant, with a series of devastating broadsides that struck through her colors.

Stewart stayed with his conquered prizes while having his triumphant USS Constitution repaired from the little damage she maintained from battle. Old Ironsides lived up to her name even more when USS Constitution was discovered to have twelve 32-pound British cannonballs lodged in her hull, of which none could penetrate through. After repairs, the crew of USS Constitution set a course for the Cape Verde Islands, and made port at Porto Praya on March 10.

On the next morning, Stewart, still unaware of Collier’s pursuit, spotted Collier’s squadron and ordered his ships to sail immediately. The now American possessed Cyane was lucky enough to have been able to avoid this squadron, and made sail to America, but Levant was recaptured by the British. Collier, distracted by recapturing Levant, had USS Constitution slip through British forces once again.

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USS Constitution Battles – HMS Java

by johnk on 19. May, 2010 in Model Ship History

Hull’s senior in command, William Bainbridge, took command of USS Constitution, or “Old Ironsides”, on September 8, and began preparing for a mission in British shipping lanes once again. This mission would turn out to be another great heroic tale for the American people. USS Constitution and Hornet arrived close to Sao Salvador on December 13 and sighted the British ship HMS Bonne Citoyenne docked in the harbor. The HMS Bonne Citoyenne was of particular importance because of the cargo it was towing – approximately $1,600,000. This money was supposed to be delivered to England, but the captain of Bonne Citoyenne knew the stakes, and refused to leave the neutral harbor just yet. This delay led the USS Constitution to leave Hornet alone to wait for Bonne Citoyenne to depart, while the USS Constitution sailed offshore to look for prizes.

However, on December 29, USS Constitution engaged with HMS Java, a frigate of the same class as Guerriere commanded by Captain Henry Lambert. When Bainbridge hailed Java, Java delivered a tremendous broadside that dealt serious damage to USS Constitution’s rigging. Despite this, USS Constitution was able to return broadsides back to Java. In the heat of battle, Java successfully destroyed USS Constitution’s helm (wheel), to which Bainbridge, who was himself wounded twice, ordered the crew to manually steer USS Constitution from the tiller. Not unlike Hull’s battle with Guerriere, Java’s bowsprit collided with Constitution’s rigging, which gave Bainbridge clear broadside shots of Java until her foremast was utterly destroyed. The resulting collapse of the foremast sent it down two of the ship’s decks.

The damaged caused to USS Constitution by Java prompted Bainbridge to exit battle for emergency repairs. An hour later, Bainbridge reengaged Java, only to find her in terrible fighting condition with most of her crew wounded or dead. When the British surrendered, Bainbridge concluded that Java’s condition was beyond repair, and after salvaging her helm to be installed on USS Constitution, had her burned.

Bainbridge and USS Constitution returned to Seo Salvador on January 1, 1813, where they rendezvoused with Hornet and her two British prizes. Once again, after dropping off British prisoners, USS Constitution would leave Hornet behind to wait for Bonne Citoyenne to leave harbor, while Bainbridge directed his crew to Boston for repairs. When Bainbridge and company arrived, they were heralded as heroes, even more so than when Hull achieved great victory over Guerriere. This marked the third British warship in a matter of months to be taken by the United States, and prompted the British Admiralty to order his frigates to not engage American frigates one on one.

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USS Constitution Battles – HMS Guerriere

by johnk on 17. May, 2010 in Model Ship History

On August 19, a ship with “Not The Little Belt” painted on her topsails, was sighted and found out to be HMS Guerriere. Once in range of USS Constitution Guerriere opened fire, and a battle between the ships began. The USS Constitution proved its superiority over the Guerriere, as it was able to maneuver more efficiently, and had heavier broadsides that proved to be near impenetrable. The British rounds literally bounced off the USS Constitution’s hull, while USS Constitution continued to maneuver into firing position. At this, a sailor was reportedly boasted, “Huzzah! Her sides are made of iron!”, thus earning USS Constitution the name “Old Ironsides”. USS Constitution held her fire until the two ships were within 25 yards of each other, and then unloaded broadside shots into the Guerriere. In the heat of battle, the two ships collided with each other, with the USS Constitution continuing to relentlessly fire broadsides. Guerriere’s bowsprit entangled in USS Constitution’s rigging, and when they pulled away from each other the Guerriere faced heavy structural damage. Soon after, her foremost collapsed and took down the mainmast with it. This left Guerriere dis-masted and virtually dead in the water with many of the crew killed or injured. With USS Constitution still unscathed, the English found it in their best interest to surrender.

The next morning, Hull transferred the English prisoners on board the USS Constitution, and had the practically destroyed Guerriere burned. The crew arrived back in Boston on August 30 to an awaiting public that had heard of their remarkable victory, and were hailed as heroes.

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USS Constitution Wars – War of 1812

by johnk on 14. May, 2010 in Model Ship History

When the USS Constitution was recommissioned and overhauled with Captain John Rodgers at the helm, Rodgers bypassed new copper sheathing for USS Constitution. This shortcut of re-hauling the ship later caused Rodgers to state that she was a “slow sailer”. For the next two years, USS Constitution engaged in training runs and ordinary duty. In June 1810, the new commander Isaac Hull saw it necessary to have the bottom hull cleaned, which carried “ten waggon loads” of barnacles and seaweed. Hull began preparing USS Constitution for sail to France with Ambassador Joel Barlow and his family. The crew left on August 5 1811 and arrived in France on September 1. With tensions high between the Americans and British, Hull kept his crew sharp by running sail and gun drills.

On June 18 war was declared, and by July 12 Hull set out to group up with five ships under the command of Rodgers in President. While in route, Hull sighted five ships off Egg Harbor, New Jersey, to which he believed to be Rodgers’ squadron, but later found out that they were a British Squadron consisting of: HMS Aeolus, Africa, Belvidera, Guerriere, and Shannon. The British squadron was in pursuit of USS Constitution, and the resulting chase would go on for days with many methods employed by both to out sail the other.

Hull attempted to lose weight and push his ship faster by using a tactic known as kedging. To this end, the crew began putting boats over the side, and using kedge anchors to draw the ship forward. Also, Hull had the sails wetted down to take full advantage of the wind. However, the British imitated these tactics and remained close in pursuit of Hull’s squadron. Finally, after dumping over 2,300 gallons of drinking water, the USS Constitution was able to outrun their British pursuers, who abandoned chase shortly thereafter. The chase lasted over 57 hours.

On July 27, USS Constitution arrived in Boston to rejuvenate itself and the crew with supplies. Hull sailed with his crew on August 2, without orders, on a northeast route towards the British shipping lanes close to Halifax to avoid being blockaded in port. During the sail, USS Constitution captured three British merchantmen, and Hull, not wanting to risk taking them to an American port, had them burned. By August 16, Hull learned that a British frigate to the south was giving chase, and prepared for another encounter with the British.

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USS Constitution Battles – Battle of Derne

by johnk on 12. May, 2010 in Model Ship History

On November 9, Captain John Rodgers began commanding the USS Constitution while she was being repaired and resupplied in Malta. On April 4, 1805, Rodgers maintained the blockade of Tripoli, and captured a Tripoline xebec (Mediterranean sailing ship) and two prizes the xebec had captured. While this was going on, Commodore Barron gave William Eaton naval support while Eaton attacked Derne and a US Marine force commanded by Presley O’Bannon attacked the city by land, capturing it by April 27. Afterwards, a peace treaty with Tripoli was signed aboard the USS Constitution on June 3.

USS Constitution arrived in Tunis on July 30, and by August 1 had amassed seventeen more American warships in the Tunis harbor. Among these ships were: Congress, Constellation, Enterprise, Essex, Franklin, Hornet, John Adams, Nautilus, Syren, and eight gunboats. Negotiations for a peace treaty went on for days until a short lived blockade helped bring a treaty about on August 14. Rodgers, who still commanded the squadron, was ordered to send warships back to the United States when they were no longer needed. In the end, Rodger’s fleet consisted of USS Constitution, Enterprise, and Hornet for patrol duty and observing the French and Royal Navy operations during the Napoleonic Wars. On May 29, 1806, Rodgers turned command of USS Constitution over to Captain Hugh G. Campbell.

On May 15, 1807, James Barron and Chesapeake were supposed to give USS Constitution relief as the flagship of the Mediterranean squadron, but Chesapeake ran into the HMS Leopard, starting a conflict known as the Chesapeake-Leopard Affair. During which, Leopard fired upon Chesapeake and boarded the surrendering ship to search for deserters. Of the four Royal Navy deserters found, one of them (British born) was hung, while the other three (American born) were sentenced to 500 lashes each. USS Constitution was unaware of the incident, and continued its patrols. It was not until she reached Málaga, that she learned of Chesapeake’s fate. In response, Campbell began getting USS Constitution and Hornet ready for a war against England. However, after over four years of being out at sea, the crew quickly turned mutinous learning of their botched relief, and refused to sail anywhere except back to the States. Consequently, Campbell and his officers threatened the crew with a cannon full of grape shot. No war was to take place however, and USS Constitution was ordered home on August 18.

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USS Constitution Battles – Tripoli Harbor

by johnk on 10. May, 2010 in Model Ship History

William Bainbridge, commander of Philadelphia, ran into problems when his ship was captured in Tripoli while chasing a Tripoline vessel. The Philadelphia crew was taken prisoner, and their ship was taken into the Tripolines harbor. However, Preble soon came up with a plan to deprive the Tripolines of their new prize, and sent the captured ship Mastico, now renamed Intrepid, into the Tripoli harbor on February 16, 1804. Intrepid, disguised as a merchant ship, was under the command of Stephen Decatur. While in the Tripoli harbor, the crew easily overpowered the Tripoline crew and managed to set fire to Philadelphia.

Afterwards, Preble brought his squadron to Syracuse, Sicily, and began plotting another attack on Tripoli. To do this, Preble acquired smaller gunboats that would be able to move in closer to Tripoli than the massive USS Constitution was capable of. The plan was set into motion on the morning of August 3. The USS Constitution, Argus, Enterprise, Syren, Scourge, six gunboats, and two bomb ketches were all in the ready. They were met with twenty-two gunboats, and through a series of attacks in the coming month, USS Constitution managed to cripple the Tripoline gunboats and take their crews prisoner. USS Constitution was the main source of firepower, and bombarded the shore batteries of Tripoli. In spite of this, Karamanli still remained strong in his resolve for more tribute.

For a final attack against Tripoli, Preble had the Intrepid turned into a “floating volcano”, using 100 short tons of gunpowder to make the ship a ticking time bomb. The plan was for her to sail into Tripoli and blow up close under the city walls, but instead she blew up prematurely, killing Richard Somers and his crew of thirteen volunteers.

USS Constitution and President arrived in Tripoli with Samuel Barron, who Preble was prompted to relinquish command to, due to Barron’s senior rank. USS Constitution captured two Greek ships bringing wheat into Tripoli while on the way to Malta for repairs. The next day, a sudden change in wind caused USS Constitution to collide with President, which badly damaged USS Constitution’s bow, stern, and Hercules figurehead.

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USS Constitution Wars – First Barbary War

by johnk on 07. May, 2010 in Model Ship History

While the United States was engaged with France during the Quasi-War, Barbary States troubles were boiling, subdued only by a payment of tribute to keep American merchant ships from being harassed and seized. However, in 1801 Yusuf Karamanli of Tripoli became displeased with the tribute amount, citing that Algiers received more, and demanded to be paid a sum of $250,000 immediately. Thomas Jefferson responded by sending a squadron of frigates to keep the American merchant ships protected. One of the squadrons, President, commanded by Richard Dale, was to escort merchant ships through the Mediterranean to pursue peace discussions with the Barbary States leaders. A second squadron, the Chesapeake, commanded by Richard Valentin Morris, was dismissed from the Navy in 1803 due to Morris’s lousy performance.

USS Constitution became recommissioned on May 13, 1803, as Captain Edward Preble’s flagship. USS Constitution needed new copper sheathing on the hull, which was supplied by Paul Revere. Once USS Constitution was up to par, she departed Boston on August 14, and by September 6 she encountered an unknown ship that would test the mettle of both captains. Preble hailed the ship in the darkness, and was hailed back in return. Preble complied and identified his ship as the United States frigate Constitution. When the other ship did not respond, a fed up Preble stated, “I am now going to hail you for the last time. If a proper answer is not returned, I will fire a shot into you.” The unknown ship responded, “if you give me a shot, I’ll give you a broadside”. Finally, the unknown ship identified itself as “His Britannic Majesty’s ship Donegal, 84-guns, Sir Richard Strachan, an English commodore”, and commanded USS Constitution to “send your boat on board”. Preble fired back by saying “This is United States ship Constitution, 44-guns, Edward Preble, an American commodore, who will be damned before he sends his boat on board of any vessel.” At this, he prompted his crew to get their guns ready, but before the incident could escalate, the British ship sent a lieutenant to relay the Captain’s apologies. As it turned out, the ship that identified itself as the Donegal was in fact HMS Maidstone, a 32-gun frigate. Preble’s defiance of what he thought was an 84-gun ship of the line formed a bond between him and his crew, who became dubbed “Preble’s boys”.

On September 12, Preble awaited orders in Gibraltar, which arranged for him to make a treaty with the Sultan of Morocco, Slimane, who had American ships in his possession. The Sultan was holding these ships in order to insure the safe return of two ships of his the Americans had captured. On October 3, Preble took the USS Constitution and Nautilus to Tangiers, and was met the next day by Adams and New York. The Sultan, seeing the strength of the Americans, was more than pleased to arrange the transfer of the ships.

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USS Constitution Wars – Quasi-War

by johnk on 05. May, 2010 in Model Ship History

When the USS Constitution was reaching the end of its fitting period, Nicholson received the authorization to recruit sailors and midshipmen, but the recruitment process was not met with much enthusiasm by potential recruits. This is due in part to Nicholson’s character, which often rubbed people the wrong way. A Boston Naval Agent described Nicholson as “a rough, blustering tar merely, a man whose noise and vanity is disgusting to the sailors”.

The USS Constitution was still not complete, and to speed up the process, sixteen 18-pound cannons were borrowed from Castle Island to be used on the USS Constitution. Finally, on the evening of July 22, 1798, the USS Constitution set out to sea. The USS Constitution was under the orders to patrol the Eastern Seaboard between New Hampshire and New York. In late May, President Adams ordered that all Navy ships patrol for French armed forces, and attempt to free American ships under French captivity. After a month of sailing between Chesapeake Bay and Savannah, Georgia, Nicholson capitalized on an opportunity to capture a prize off the coast of Charleston, South Carolina. On September 8, Nicholson and his crew intercepted Niger, a 24-gun ship commanded by a French crew claiming to be under orders from Great Britain. In spite of this, Nicholson captured the crew of the Niger, placed a prize crew (captured crew members put in charge of the captured ship’s operations) aboard Niger, and had her brought to Norfolk, Virginia. The USS Constitution sailed south a week later while escorting a merchant convoy, but a gale badly damaged her bowsprit and forced her to return to Boston. During this, Secretary of the Navy, Benjamin Stoddert concluded that the Niger was in fact operating under Great Britain, and the detained ship and crew were subsequently released. Because of this fiasco, the American Government was forced to pay a restitution fee of 11,000 to Great Britain.

The USS Constitution departed Boston on December 29 to report to Commodore John Barry (often referred to as “The father of the American navy”) off the island of Dominica to start patrolling the West Indies. By the fifteenth of January 1799, the USS Constitution intercepted Spencer, an English merchantman ship, that was captured a few days before by the French frigate L Insurgente. Perhaps unsure of himself after what happened with the Niger, Nicholson released the French ship and crew the following morning.

Extensive repairs on the USS Constitution for storm damage put the ship out of commission for awhile. However, n March 1, USS Constitution and HMS Santa Margarita agreed to a friendly sailing duel. After 11 hours, the Santa Margarita admitted defeat and payed the reward of a cask of wine to Nicholson. When USS Constitution resumed its patrol, she freed the American vessel Neutrality, and the French Carteret. However, Secretary Stoddert decided to recall USS Constitution to Boston where Nicholson would be relieved of his command.

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USS Constitution Construction

by johnk on 03. May, 2010 in Model Ship History

The construction of four forty-four-gun ships and two thirty-six-gun ships became provided for with the passing of the Naval Act of 1794 (which would become The United States Navy). The USS Constitution was among the forty-four-gun ships, and was the second ship to be completed. The name was chosen by none other than the President of the United States at the time – George Washington. On November 1, 1794, the keel was laid down at Edmund Hartt’s shipyard located in Boston, Massachusetts. This shipyard in particular was under the watchful eyes of Captain Samuel Nicholson and naval constructor George Claghorn.

While construction trudged along at a snails pace, a peace accord was reached between the United States and Algiers by March 1796. Due to this, and in accordance with the Naval Act of 1794, construction the USS Constitution, among others, was frozen. Debate ensued, and President Washington, along with Congress, decided it was in the country’s best interest to continue to fund and construct the three closest ships to completion. These ships were: USS United States, USS Constellation, and USS Constitution.

The materials used to construct the USS Constitution were white pine, long leaf pine, white oak, and southern live oak most of all. All of which was cut and milled at Gascoigne Bluff in St. St. Simons, Georgia. In total, about 60 acres of trees were used for the USS Constitution’s construction. The weight of the southern live oak is unusually dense, as it can weight up to 75 pounds per cubic foot. The USS Constitution’s hull was a thick one in its era, 21 inches, a step higher than the standard 18 inches. The other dimensions of the USS Constitution was 175 feet between perpendicular angles, 204 feet in length, and 43 and a half feet in width. Paul Revere was responsible for the forging of the copper bolts and breasthooks. Also, in order to protect from shipworm, which was a particular devastating nuisance, copper sheathing from England was installed on the parts of the ship that would be submerged.

The launching ceremony took place on September 20, 1797, and saw the then President John Adams and Massachusetts Governor Increase Sumner in attendance. The ceremony was short lived, however, when the USS Constitution only slid 27 feet before her weight caused her ways to dig into the ground. Another try two days later only increased her movement by 31 feet. Finally, after the ways were rebuilt, and a month later (October 21, 1797), the USS Constitution finally slipped into Boston Harbor with Captain James Sever christening the ship with a bottle of Madeira wine.

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USS Constitution Overview / Introduction

by johnk on 30. Apr, 2010 in Model Ship History

Construction

USS Constitution was the second of four forty-four gun frigates commissioned by the Naval Act of 1794. Her name was given to her by President George Washington. USS Constitution’s keel was laid on November 1, 1794 at Edmund Hartt’s shipyard in Boston, Massachusetts, with Captain Samuel Nicholson and George Claghorn supervising.

Quasi War

President Adams readied USS Constitution for patrol in late may 1798, though she had to borrow sixteen 18-pound cannons in order to be complete. Put out to sea on July 22, 1798, USS Constitution was to patrol the Eastern Seaboard between New Hampshire and New York. However, Nicholson intercepted Niger, a 24-gun ship, that the claimed was under the orders of Great Britain. Nicholson, sketchy of this, had them imprisoned, and took Niger back to Norfolk, Virginia as a prize. It was later determined that the crew of Niger were indeed under orders from Great Britain, and the American government was forced to pay a restitution of $11,000 to Great Britain.

First Barbary War

While the Unite States was busy with France during the Quasi-War, payments of tribute were sent to the Barbary States to keep American Merchant ships from being pirated. However, Yusuf Karamanli of Tripoli was dissatisfied with the amount of bribe money he was receiving, and demanded $250,000 be paid to him. Thomas Jefferson then sent a squadron of frigates to protect American merchant ships, and to also try to keep peace with the Barbary States.

War of 1812

On June 18, war was declared, and Hull (Captain of USS Constitution) set out to sea on July 12th in order to join five other ships under the command of Rodgers in President. When Hull spotted five ships near Egg Harbor, New Jersey on July 17th, he at first thought it was Rodger’s squadron, but lookouts managed to find out that it was a British squadron, and they were chasing USS Constitution.

Civil War

When the Civil War started in April 1861, USS Constitution was forced to relocate due to threats made against her by the Confederacy. She was then moved to New York City, and again moved to Fort Adams near Newport, Rhode Island. Moving her meant abandoning her sister ship, United States, which the Confederate army captured at Gosport Shipyard in Norfolk. This made USS Constitution the last remaining frigate of the original six built.

Old Ironsides

The now thirty-one year old USS Constitution was well past the expected service life of a wooden ship (which was 10-15 years). This led to rumors that USS Constitution would be scrapped, and the public was incited. A poem entitled “Old Ironsides” was published, and soon made its words felt all around the country. Public efforts sprang up to save Old Ironsides, and eventually the Secretary Branch approved the costs needed to fix her.

World Tour

USS Constitution was commissioned as flagship of the Pacific Squadron under Captain Daniel Turner when she began her world tour on March 1, 1839. Her first duty was to patrol the western side of South America, but she would go on to the Cochin-china, Africa, and many more places before returning home.

Paris Exposition

Oscar C. Badger became the next commander of USS Constitution on January 9, 1878, and prepared her for the Paris Exposition of 1878. USS Constitution’s duty was to transport the artwork and industrial displays of American manufacturers to France, where she would remain for the rest of 1878.

20th Century

In the 20th century, USS Constitution would see a lot of attempts at restoration. In 1900, a Congress authorized restoration of USS Constitution fell through because the money was to be raised privately, and even though the Massachusetts Society of the United Daughters of the War of 1812 made an attempt to raise funds, the goal was not reached. However, the century would eventually see her restoration.

Present and Future

Today, USS Constitution functions to promote the Navy’s war and peace efforts through underway demonstrations, public events and education, and historical demonstrations. USS Constitution is manned by a crew of 60 active duty Navy personnel on special duty, and is commanded by its 71st commanding officer, Timothy Cooper.

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