USS Constellation Sailing Ship
Built in Baltimore and launched September 7, 1797, the USS Constellation was
designed by John Lenthall. The fist ship to carry the name Constellation, after
the “new constellation of stars” on the American flag, she earned the nickname
“Yankee Racehorse” with her cruising speed of 14 knots. The Constellation combined
the speed of a Baltimore Clipper with the firepower of a standard frigate.
On February 5, 1799 the Constellation was involved in the U.S. Navy’s first
ever ship vs. ship battle. Under the command of Captain Tomas Truxton, the Constellation
captured the French 36-gun frigate Insurgente off the Island of Nevis in the
West Indies. This battle during the “Quasi War” with France was the first enemy
confrontation for the
Constellation.
A year later on February 2, 1800 the constellation engaged in battle with the
Vengeance off the French base at Guadeloupe Island. For five hours the Vengeance,
a 52-gun ship, and the Constellation were at battle. The Constellation lost
14 lives and 25 wounded. The Vengeance with twice as many causalities and in
danger of sinking, escaped capture in the darkness.
During the war of 1812, the Constellation fought in the battle of Craney Island
defending Norfolk, Virginia from the British.
She remained in service with many overhauls and repairs until 1853 when she
was decommissioned and broken up in Virginia. Re-comissioned in 1940, she became
a relief flagship for the Atlantic fleet and the Battleship Division Five from
1941 to 1943. The Constellation remains on the water at Baltimore’s Inner Harbor.
Click
on image above to view!
Although the USS
Constellation is a popular model ship, the Zeven
Provincien is a beautiful ships model.
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
