AdamC: USS Constellation

The second to last of my US frigates The USS Constellation my personal favorite of the original six (after the USS Constitution).  Constellation was built in Baltimore Maryland as a 36-or 38-gun frigate as usual her intended rating is a bit confused in the records. She was one of the first of the new frigates completed and took a staring roll in the Quasi-War.

The Constellation was commanded during the Quasi-War by Thomas Truxtun a man with experience in the Royal Navy as a common seaman (he was offered a Midshipman’s Warrant) then as a Privateer captain in American Revolution. Constellation fought two single ship action during the Quasi-War. Her first and most famous action was against the L'Insurgente a 36-gun French frigate with a reputation for speed. She had in fact out run Constellation on a previous occasion but on their second encounter the L'Insurgente lost a top mast in a sudden squall allowing the Constellation to close to engage. Constellation was armed with 24-pounder cannons causing to heal over so that she had to surrender the weather gage but her much great weight of metal made short work of the more lightly armed frigate. L’Insurgente was taken into the US Navy as the USS Insurgent and was commanded by Truxtun’s first lieutenant John Rodgers.

Almost a year later the Constellation encounter another French Frigate La Vengeance a ship of much greater force than the L'Insurgente. The two ships engaged in 5 hour running battle in which the Constellation batter the Vengeance into a near wreck which limed away to ground itself outside Curaçao. The French captain latter claimed the Constellation was actual a ship of the line. The Constellation required extensive repairs aloft but received the nick name “Yankee Racehorse” for her speed and power (its not Ironsides but as nicknames go its pretty cool).   

Constellation saw further service in the Fires Barbary war then went into “ordinary” at the Washington Naval Yard where she stayed until the War of 1812. She began refitting as the war came on, but supply shortages lead to her not ready for sea until 1813 by which time she was blockaded. Her crew fortified her at Canary Island and was vigilant enough to foil to Royal Navy attacks.

The USS Constellation continued to serve in the US Navy frequently as a squadron or station Flag ship in all the world’s oceans until 1853 when she was deemed to old and was broken up. Some of her hardware may have been used to help build the Sloop of War Constellation that was built that same year. This ship can still be found in Baltimore harbor but is not the original Constellation as was claimed of many years.  I've still got the USS United States to finish and a friend of mine is sending me a few 3D printed ships for my collection.