Friday, May 8, 2020

AdamC: USS Congress


The Second Ship from you US Fleet Box is the USS Congress built in Portsmouth New Hampshire.  She was one of the original six and was built in New Hampshire because Washington wanted to use the six frigates as a foundation for the navy in more ways than one.  He wanted to spread the know-how and facilities to build warships thought out the country.

The Congress is one of the officially 36-gun but always latter called 38-gun frigates. She is somewhat smaller than her consort the President.  Historically the two ships sailed together often doing two cruises in company during the war of 1812.  The Congress never found an opportunity for a dramatic single ship action but captures several British Merchants and caused the Admiralty no end of anxiety.  The two ships would have been something like the Bismarck and Prince Eugene lose in the North Atlantic except without radar and air search to help out.

Her Figurehead is an American Eagle with a Star above it head and several additional stars tailing from its tail.

Here you can see her stern with her name and coat of arms.  This part is cast in metal and looks very sharp.

The Historic Congress may not have had an exciting battle career but she is off to a good start on the table as fellow AHPC member John Michael took her helm Tuesday night and used her to good effect engaging two French frigates. 

10 comments:

  1. Thanks for post - and liked the history. Still have to try out a naval game for myself and your model and game shot makes it look interesting.

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  2. Great looking frigate, Adam. As Jez says, the bit of background you provide with these posts is very interesting and keeps me looking out for them. Well done once again!

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  3. Thank you both the history maters to me and I'm pleased to know it matters to others.

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  4. Lovely looking frigate and interesting bit of history!
    Best Iain

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  5. Nice work Adam. Interesting parallel to Bismarck

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    1. The parallel is sugested by CS Forester in Age of Fighting Sail though he refrences the early stages of the First World War rather than the second.

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  6. Lovely work on this important bit of naval history, Adam.

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  7. Hadn’t heard of the Congress; nicely done

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