What is the USS Constellation?
USS Constellation is a sloop-of-war, the last sail-only warship designed and built by the United States Navy.
How big was the constellation?
Constellation was 181 feet (55 m) long at the waterline and 199 feet (61 m) long overall. She had a beam of 41 feet (12 m) at the waterline, and was 43 feet (13 m) across at her widest point. Her maximum draft was 21 feet (6.4 m) at a full load displacement of 1,400 long tons (1,400 t).
When did the constellation ship come out?
USS Constellation (1854), is a sloop-of-war launched in 1854 and decommissioned in 1933, and preserved as a National Historic Landmark in Baltimore, Maryland. USS Constellation (CC-2), was a battlecruiser laid down in 1920 and had construction cancelled in 1923.
What kind of gun does the USS Constellation have?
Mk 110 57mm gun with the Advanced Low Cost Munition Ordnance (ALaMO) projectile and related systems. USS Constellation (FFG-62) will be the lead ship of the Constellation class of guided-missile frigates and the fifth ship in the United States Navy bearing this name.
How tall is the USS Constellation?
Characteristics. Constellation is 181 feet (55 m) long at the waterline and 199 feet (61 m) long overall. She has a beam of 41 feet (12 m) at the waterline, and is 43 feet (13 m) across at her widest point. Her maximum draft is 21 feet (6.4 m) at a full load displacement of 1,400 long tons (1,422 t).
How old is the USS Constellation?
The USS Constellation is a large warship that was commissioned in 1855. The 22-gun sloop was active for 100 years and served in several military conflicts. The vessel also played a central role in ending the foreign slave trade.
How many decks are in the USS Constellation?
four decksThere are four decks to explore aboard the sloop-of-war, each one distinctly different from the next. The top deck, or spar deck, is where all sailing operations took place. Directly below the spar deck is the gun deck, which hosts the ship's main battery of guns, the Captain's Cabin, and the Galley.
How fast was the USS Constellation?
34 knotsUSS Constellation (CV-64)HistoryUnited StatesDraft39 ft (12 m)Propulsioneight boilers, four steam turbine engines, totaling 280,000 shp (210 MW)Speed34 knots (63 km/h; 39 mph)24 more rows
What happened to the original USS Constellation?
At the end of the Quasi-War with France, Constellation returned to the United States. While anchoring in Delaware Bay on 10 April 1801, she was caught in winds and an ebb tide that laid her over on her beam ends.
How long does it take to tour the USS Constellation?
We took about three hours for the ship & museum. I'd suggest visiting during the week. over a year ago. Unfortunately the ship was not open for tour when we were there.
Why does the Navy call ships she?
Another tradition is to consider ships as female, referring to them as 'she'. Although it may sound strange referring to an inanimate object as 'she', this tradition relates to the idea of a female figure such as a mother or goddess guiding and protecting a ship and crew.
When did the constellation sink?
Captain Neavers was not familiar with Bermuda's waters and headed for the Gibbs Hill Lighthouse beacon, but as the Constellation reached the Western Blue Cut reef northwest of Bermuda, the ship hit the reef and sank on July 31, 1943. Captain and crew were rescued by tug boats; everyone survived.
Was the USS Constellation exposed to Agent Orange?
The U.S.S. Constellation was an aircraft carrier and many stationed on board loaded agent-orange onto aircraft that dropped it over Viet Nam or were exposed in other ways. One of Harry's lungs had collapsed while serving aboard the ship and we were confident he qualified for benefits.
Was the USS Constellation in Vietnam waters?
CONSTELLATION made her third deployment to the western Pacific and Vietnam in 1967. She departed San Diego with with a new air wing, CVW 14, on 29 April 1967 and returned home on 4 December. CONSTELLATION began her fourth deployment to the western Pacific and Vietnam on 29 May 1968.
Can you go on the USS Constellation?
Self-Guided Group Tours (Groups of 10 or More) From January through May, only USS Constellation and USS Torsk are open, and groups may choose between visiting one or both ships.
Is the Tiger Cruise real?
Tiger cruises allow friends and family of deployed sailors and Marines to spend time aboard a sea-going vessel to experience the ship's day-to-day operations.
When was the USS Constellation scrapped?
Nicknamed 'America's Flagship', it was decommissioned on August 7, 2003, after 41 years, nine months and 11 days of naval service. On August 8, 2014, it left Bremerton, Washington under tow for Brownsville, Texas, arrived there in mid-January 2015, and was subsequently broken up for scrap.
Was the USS Constellation exposed to Agent Orange?
The U.S.S. Constellation was an aircraft carrier and many stationed on board loaded agent-orange onto aircraft that dropped it over Viet Nam or were exposed in other ways. One of Harry's lungs had collapsed while serving aboard the ship and we were confident he qualified for benefits.
When did the constellation sink?
Captain Neavers was not familiar with Bermuda's waters and headed for the Gibbs Hill Lighthouse beacon, but as the Constellation reached the Western Blue Cut reef northwest of Bermuda, the ship hit the reef and sank on July 31, 1943. Captain and crew were rescued by tug boats; everyone survived.
Who built the USS Constellation?
USS CONSTELLATION was built by New York Naval Shipyard, Brooklyn, N.Y.; christened 8 October 1960 by Mrs. C. A. Herter, wife of the Secretary of State; and commissioned 27 October 1961, Capt. T. J. Walker, in command. She was named for one of the six frigates bought by the Continental Congress in the late 1790s.
What was the name of the USS Constellation?
USS Constellation is a sloop-of-war, the last sail-only warship designed and built by the United States Navy. She was built at the Gosport Shipyard between 1853 and 1855 and was named for the earlier frigate of the same name that had been broken up in 1853. The sloop's primary armament was 8-inch (203 mm) shell-firing guns and four 32-pounder long guns, though she carried other guns as well, including two Parrott rifle chase guns. Constellation ' s career as a front-line unit was relatively short; after entering service in 1855, she served with the Mediterranean Squadron until 1858, and in 1859, she was assigned as the flagship of the Africa Squadron, where she served with the African Slave Trade Patrol. During the American Civil War (1861—1865), the ship returned to the Mediterranean to patrol for Confederate vessels. In late 1864, she returned to the United States to be decommissioned, as most of her crews' enlistments had expired. She spent the rest of the war out of service.
How long is the constellation?
Constellation is 181 feet (55 m) long at the waterline and 199 feet (61 m) long overall. She has a beam of 41 feet (12 m) at the waterline, and is 43 feet (13 m) across at her widest point. Her maximum draft is 21 feet (6.4 m) at a full load displacement of 1,400 long tons (1,422 t).
What was the name of the squadron that the constellation served in?
Constellation ' s career as a front-line unit was relatively short; after entering service in 1855, she served with the Mediterranean Squadron until 1858, and in 1859, she was assigned as the flagship of the Africa Squadron, where she served with the African Slave Trade Patrol.
Was the 1854 Constellation a new ship?
Starting shortly after World War II, a controversy arose over whether the 1854 sloop was a new ship or a rebuilt version of the 1797 frigate. Naval architect Howard I. Chapelle was one of the first people to raise the issue. In his book The History of the American Sailing Navy, published in 1949, he pointed out the differences in the hull dimensions of the 1797 Constellation and the 1854 Constellation as evidence that they were two different ships. He also stated that, "Unfortunately, some of the semi-official lists of American naval ships have listed [the original Constellation] as though she had, in fact, been preserved and altered. This has led to many believing the sloop-of-war, which is still in existence, to be the oldest ship in the Navy and to have had a continuous identity since 1797...the only reason her register was maintained, by means of an administrative fiction, was to enable the work to be done without the need of applying to Congress for authority and funds to build an entirely new ship." Stephen Bockmiller and Lawrence Bopp agree with Chapelle, writing in USS Constellation: An Illustrated History, that "working under the subterfuge of 'repairs,' the Navy actually began building a new ship about 900 yards from where the original Constellation was being dismantled. Thus, unwittingly, the Navy itself would originate the arguments about the authenticity of the Constellation. To further compound the argument, some salvageable timbers from the original ship, particularly the ship’s knees, were used in constructing the new vessel."
When was the Constellation launched?
During this period, a controversy arose over the vessel's identity that lasted into the 1990s, when new research definitively proved that the Constellation launched in 1797 and the 1854-launched vessel were distinct ships. Periodic repairs have been carried out since the mid-1990s to repair rotted wood.
When was the Constellation recommissioned?
She spent the rest of the war out of service. Constellation was recommissioned in 1871 for use as a training ship, being used for shooting practice and training cruises for midshipmen.
When was the Star Spangled Banner written?
During this period, the mistaken belief that the two Constellation s were one and the same arose, and she was presented as such in 1914 during the centennial of the writing of " The Star-Spangled Banner ", the national anthem of the United States.
What type of aircraft is the USS Constellation?
Aircraft carried: 1x MH-60R Seahawk helicopter. MQ -8C Firescout. USS Constellation (FFG-62) will be the lead ship of the Constellation class of guided-missile frigates and the fifth ship in the United States Navy bearing this name. She is named in honor of the first USS Constellation, one of the original six frigates of the United States Navy, ...
Why is the USS Constellation named?
She is named in honor of the first USS Constellation, one of the original six frigates of the United States Navy, which itself was named for the constellation of stars on the flag of the United States. The ship will be sponsored by Melissa Braithwaite, the wife of Secretary of the Navy Kenneth Braithwaite. Construction of the Constellation will ...
When will the Constellation ship be built?
The ship will be sponsored by Melissa Braithwaite, the wife of Secretary of the Navy Kenneth Braithwaite. Construction of the Constellation will commence in 2021 following the final design review. The ship is expected to enter service in 2026.
Is the Naval Vessel Register public domain?
This article includes information collected from the Naval Vessel Register, which, as a U.S. government publication, is in the public domain. The entry can be found here.
What year was the USS Constellation?
USS Constellation (1797) USS. Constellation. (1797) From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Jump to navigation Jump to search. For other ships with the same name, see USS Constellation. US naval frigate commissioned in 1797. USS Constellation by John W. Schmidt.
How big was the Constellation?
The Naval Act of 1794 had specified 36-gun frigates; however, Constellation and its sister-ship Congress were re-rated to 38's because of their large dimensions, being 164 ft (50 m) in length and 41 ft (12 m) in width.
How many guns are in the USS Constellation?
20 × 32-pounder carronades. USS Constellation was a nominally rated 38-gun wooden-hulled, three-masted frigate of the United States Navy . It was built under the direction of David Stodder at The Joseph and Samuel Sterett shipyard on Harris Creek in Baltimore 's Fell's Point maritime community, and was launched on 7 September 1797.
Why did the constellation sail for the Gulf of Mexico?
In October 1835, Constellation sailed for the Gulf of Mexico to assist in defeating the Seminole uprising. The crew landed shore parties to relieve the Army garrisons and sent boats on amphibious expeditions. After the mission had been accomplished, they then cruised with the West India Squadron until 1838 serving part of this period in the capacity of flagship for Commodore Alexander Dallas .
Where was the constellation built?
Constellation was built under the direction of Colonel David Stodder at his naval shipyard on Harris Creek in Baltimore 's Fell's Point maritime community, according to a design by Joshua Humphreys and launched on 7 September 1797, just as the United States entered the Quasi-War with the revolutionary French Republic. Harris Creek which flows into the Northwest Branch of the Patapsco River was later filled in to gain additional land for residential/industrial development and diverted underground to a subterranean storm drain and culvert in the early 19th century. It was situated east of Fell's Point and south of where modern-day Patterson Park, (near Highlandtown ), and the community of Canton are currently located.
How much does La Vengeance weigh?
La Vengeance was outweighed by Constellation but had the heavier broadside, 559 lb (254 kg) to 372 lb (169 kg). La Vengeance attempted to run and had to be chased down. An hour after sunset Constellation came into hailing range and when La Vengeance was ordered to stand to and surrender, it answered with a broadside.
Who designed the Constellation frigates?
Joshua Humphreys designed these frigates to be the young Navy's capital ships, and so Constellation and its sisters were larger and more heavily armed and built than standard frigates of the period. The Constellation's first duties with the newly formed US Navy 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 .
What was the role of the USS Constellation in the war?
The 22-gun sloop was active for 100 years and served in several military conflicts. The vessel also played a central role in ending the foreign slave trade. Slavery was widely practiced well before the United States was founded in 1776.
When was the USS Constellation decommissioned?
The USS Constellation was eventually decommissioned in 1955 after 100 years of service.
Who manages the USS Constellation?
The USS Constellation is managed by "Historic Ships in Baltimore." This organization charges an entrance fee and is unaffiliated with the National Park Service.
Why did the USS Constellation end its tour off the coast of Africa?
The USS Constellation ended its tour off the coast of Africa to assist the Union in the Civil War (1861-1865). By the outbreak of the war, both the Confederate and Union armies relied on steam-powered ships to attack opposing forces.
When was the constellation built?
After the construction of Constellation was finished at Sterrett Shipyard, Baltimore, MD, she launched on September 7, 1797.
Who commanded the constellation?
After a brief voyage under Captain Samuel Barron, Constellation was later commanded once more by Truxtun. Under this new command change, she sailed for the West Indies in December 1799. On the evening of February 1, 1800, the Constellation engaged with a 52-gun frigate, the Vengeance, in a lengthy, furious battle.
Why is the USF Constellation called the Yankee Racehorse?
This frigate's name originated from the flag of the Continental Congress. Because of her swift sailing speed and handling ability , USF Constellation soon became known as the "Yankee Racehorse.". In 1854, the Sloop of War Constellation was commissioned to carry on famous Constellation's name.
What frigate was the Constellation fighting with?
On the evening of February 1, 1800, the Constellation engaged with a 52-gun frigate, the Vengeance, in a lengthy, furious battle. Vengeance twice struck her colors (lowered her flag in surrender) and was close to sinking. However, with a stroke of luck, Vengeance utilized the darkness of the night to escape from Constellation, who was unable to pursue further because of the loss of her mainmast.
Why did the Constellation sail for the West Indies?
Constellation convoyed American merchantmen at the outset (from June through August 1798), before sailing for the West Indies to protect United States' commerce. Under the command of Captain Thomas Truxtun, she sailed for the Caribbean in December 1798. Subsequently, on February 9, 1799, the Constellation captured a French 40-gun frigate, L'Insurgente, in battle off Nevis, West Indies. In a hard-fought victory, she brought her prize into port. In the succeeding months, Constellation additionally encountered and seized two French privateers, Diligent and Union.
How many barrels of potatoes did the Constellation carry?
To complete the mission, Constellation's armament and some ballast were removed. Carpenters at the New York Navy Yard built bins on the orlop deck to carry over 2,500 barrels of potatoes and flour. Upon arrival in Queenstown on April 20, she offloaded the cargo onto lighters and took on ballast for the return trip.
What time is Pier 1?
Pier 1. Today’s Hours: 10:00AM–5:00PM. The USS Constellation is a sloop-of-war, the last sail-only warship designed and built by the United States Navy. She was built in 1854, using a small amount of material salvaged from the frigate USS Constellation, which had been disassembled the year before.
What do the signs around the ship tell visitors?
The signs around the ship tell visitors everything about the ship from the crew to the structure and the use of rooms/decks. The attendants knew the answers to questions the signs didn't answer. Written November 25, 2019. This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Is the constellation a good place to visit?
If you enjoy things from the past, the Constellation is a wonderful tour. It is in the harbor and there are a great deal of things to do there.
Is the USS Constellation docked?
Was visiting the Inner Harbor during the holidays and visited the USS Constellation which is docked there. Although we weren't able to get one board it was still worth the visit and there was plenty to see from the dock.
Can you cancel a USS Constellation tour?
We recommend booking USS Constellation tours ahead of time to secure your spot. If you book with Tripadvisor, you can cancel up to 24 hours before your tour starts for a full refund. See all 5 USS Constellation tours on Tripadvisor
Overview
Design and construction
From 1816 to the 1830s, the Navy accumulated extensive stocks of live oak timbers for use in new warship construction under the provisions of the Act for the Gradual Increase of the Navy of the United States, passed in 1816. In the early 1850s, the Navy decided to build a new sail-powered ship using these existing stockpiles, calling for a sloop-of-war that would be fast, with a long endurance, and sufficiently armed to be capable of engaging other warships of her type. This wo…
Service history
Constellation was commissioned on 28 July 1855, under the command of Captain Charles H. Bell. She immediately departed for a tour with the Mediterranean Squadron that lasted three years. During this period, she stopped in Málaga, Spain in July 1856 to protect American nationals in the area during a period of civil unrest. Later that year, she came to the aid of a barque in the Sea …
Restoration and museum ship
During the initial reconstruction to ready the ship for use as a museum, and under the mistaken impression that the 1797 frigate and the 1854 sloop were the same vessel, the workers reconfigured Constellation to resemble the 1797 vessel. During this period, she was designated a National Historic Landmark on 23 May 1963 and was placed on the National Register of Historic Places on 15 …
Identity controversy
The city of Baltimore and the organization that maintained Constellation promoted the ship as having been the 1797 frigate and even rebuilt sections of the ship to resemble the earlier vessel. Additionally, they relied on the fact that some of the funds used to build the sloop were originally allocated to rebuild the frigate, the incorrect assertion that the keel and futtocks from the broken-up fri…
Awards
• Civil War Campaign Medal
• Spanish Campaign Medal
• World War I Victory Medal
• American Defense Service Medal
See also
• List of sloops of war of the United States Navy
• Bibliography of early American naval history
• Ship of Theseus
External links
• Photo gallery of USS Constellation at NavSource Naval History
• Historic American Engineering Record (HAER) No. MD-168, "USS Constellation, Pier 1, 301 East Pratt Street, Baltimore, MD", 1 color transparency, 1 photo caption page
• Mendinghall, Joseph Scott (25 February 1975). "National Register of Historic Places – Inventory Nomination Form / Constellation". National Park Service. Retrieved 28 October 2012.