Presentation Transcript

1. The USS Constitution and its Contribution to the War of 1812

   By: Denise Kennon
2. History of Construction, and Specifications Created in response to Barbary pirate attacks Was one of 5 other ships built Total expense to build, $302, 718 Built in Boston, Massachusetts Constructed from Live Oak 204ft long 175ft at waterline Mainmast 220th Foremast 189ft Mizzenmast 172ft Displacement: 2,200 tons Speed: 13+ knots Deployed October 21st, 1797
3. First Encounter of the War Egg Harbor, New Jersey Captain Isaac Hull wanted to assist in prevention of a British blockade. Arrived in Egg Harbor, looking for Commodore John Roger’s squadron to assist. Found British squadron instead, forced to outrun them or be destroyed.
4. Captain Hull eager for fight. Sailed Constitution off coast of Nova Scotia British had a base in Halifax Hull wanted to find and attack the enemy Sailed about 400 miles off coast The Constitution’s NextMove Searching for the enemy
5. Encounter With HMS Guerriere British ship, Guerriere, part of squadron that chased the Constitution Sailing near Nova Scotia as well Captain of Guerriere, James Dacres, wanted to fight as well Met, and a duel was agreed upom
6. USS Constitution vs. HMS Guerriere Guerrierefired first Battle lasted a little over an hour Constitution defeated Guerriere Guerrieretore up so bad, it could not be salvaged They set it on fire
7. Constitution seemed invincible Crewman watched 18-lb cannonballs bounce off the hull, barely denting it “Huzza! Her sides are made of iron!” the crewman exclaimed Constitution earned the nickname “Old Ironsides” “Old Ironsides” How the ship got it’s nickname
8. Reactions to the Constitution’s Win American Reaction British Reaction Taken in with excitement Defeat of Royal Navy proved they were not invincible Morale boost at the start of the war British were not happy Believed their navy could not be defeated Did not believe defeat would happen again
9. Repairs, and William Bainbridge After 2 short months docked for repairs, Constitution set out again Ship had a new captain, William Bainbridge Had 3 previous failures; looking to redeem himself Crew had little faith in him
10. A New Mission Set sail October 27th, with the USS Hornet towards Brazil Orders were: “Annoy the enemy and afford protection to our commerce...” Arrived in Brazil, December 13th Searched for potential British targets
11. Constitution vs. HMS Java December 29th, 1812 Constitution spotted HMS Java Began to advance towards one another Battle mostly long-range artillery duel. USS Constitution defeated Java Bainbridge wounded multiple times during battle 2nd win showed world U.S. Navy could become a world-class power British not happy Issued Squadron Force British ships not allowed to attack unless odds were 2:1 or better
12. Overhaul and a New Captain Constitution sustained enough damage to require an overhaul Went back to Boston, and went though repairs Captain Charles Stewart tasked with overseeing repairs Stewart now the new Captain of the Constitution
13. Events After Overhaul Captain Stewart set sail for the Caribbean Found British merchant ships, and HMS Pictou Overtook the ships, and clamed them as prizes Crew then began experiencing issues with mainmast Forced Stewart to take them back in for repairs. British pursued Constitution back to Marblehead, Massachusetts where they finally gave up. Constitution then went back to Boston Holed up there until December 1814 due to a blockade
14. Back at Sea Blockade ended, and Captain Stewart had the Constitution sailing again Left in such a hurry, that fresh supplies were not loaded yet Within days, fresh supplies were gone A savior, Lord Nelson, appeared on the horizon. Lord Nelson had been attacked, and separated from convoy Constitution took supplies, and carried on Another stroke of luck occurred A British merchant ship, Suzanna, carrying $75,000 worth of cargo was spotted. Had expensive animal skins Constitution took the ship and supplies
15. USS Constitution vs. HMS Cyane and HMS Levant Painting of the battle February 20th, 1815 War had ended February 17th, but they had no way of knowing Off coast of Madeira, Spain, Constitution met Cyant and Levant Battle lasted several hours, and Stewart’s tactics got the win Constitution was a superior foe, and she proved it in the battle About a dozen 32-pounder shots were embedded in her hull, but she was still combat ready

16. Old Ironsides

    The British’s Worst Nightmare
17. 1.Ramsdell, Lorraine. The U.S. Navy. September 16, 2009. http://www.navy.mil/navydata/nav legacy.asp?if=192 (accessed November 22, 2013). 2. "War of 1812 at Sea -- USS Constitution Captures HMS Guerriere, 19 August 1812." Naval History & Heritage Command, accessed 24 November, 2013, http://www.history.navy.mil/photos/events/war1812/atsea/con-guer.htm 3. “USS Constitution vs. HMS Guerriere,” Naval History & Heritage Command, Accessed 23 November, 2013 http://www.history.navy.mil/ussconstitution/history.html 4. Commander Tyrone Martin, “Constitution Defeats HMS Java,” USS Constitution Museum, accessed 24 November, 2013.http://www.ussconstitutionmuseum.org/constitution-resources/the-captain-speaks/constitution-defeats-hbms-java/ 5. J Rickard, “Constitution vs Java, 29 December 1812” History of War, accessed 25 November, 2013 http://www.historyofwar.org/articles/battles_constitution_java.html 6. Commander Tyrone Martin, “Double Victory,” USS Constitution Museum, accessed 25 November, 2013, http://www.ussconstitutionmuseum.org/constitution-resources/the-captain-speaks/double-victory/ 7. “USS Constitution,” The U.S. Navy, accessed 20 November, 2013, http://www.navy.mil/navydata/fact_display.asp?cid=4200&tid=100&ct=4 8. “Defeat of HMS Java, 1812,” Naval History and Heritage Command, accessed 23 November, 2013 http://www.history.navy.mil/docs/war1812/const6.htm 9. “Capture of Cyane and Levant, 1815,” Naval History and Heritage Command, accessed 24 November, 2013, http://www.history.navy.mil/docs/war1812/const7.htm Works Cited