BigMonFan - Posted - 10/18/2014:  09:05:58

Thought this might be of interest to some.

The USS Constitution is the world's oldest commissioned warship still afloat.

USS Constitution takes last cruise before restoration

By PHILIP MARCELO

Associated Press October 18, 2014 Updated 10 hours ago

BOSTON — Old Ironsides took one last trip around Boston Harbor on Friday ahead of a major, multi-year restoration project, firing its cannons while the Dropkick Murphys punk band and a Boston Pops quintet entertained hundreds of special guests and dignitaries on board.

The USS Constitution, the world’s oldest commissioned warship still afloat, was pushed along by a tugboat, its sails already taken down as it prepares to enter dry-dock for the repairs, which the Navy says could take about three years.

The three-mast frigate, which earned its nickname after winning battles during the War of 1812 against Great Britain, gave a traditional 21-gun salute to Fort Independence on Castle Island, one of the oldest fortified sites in the country. It also gave a 17-gun salute at the Coast Guard’s Boston base and it’s all active-duty Navy crew laid a wreath in the harbor to honor the armed forces branch, which turned 239 years old this week.

Gov. Deval Patrick and other high-ranking navy officials were among the 500 or so guests on board for the three-hour cruise.

“It was amazing,” said Bill Poole, a member of the Lexington Minute Men who was dressed in his Revolutionary War era garb. “It’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience to be on a ship of such antiquity.”

Virginia Harte, an Easton resident who watched as the ship fired its cannons off Fort Independence, said: “That’s our history. She’s such an integral part of the United States.”

Built in Boston and launched in October 1797, the USS Constitution was among the first warships of the new nation. It was commissioned by the U.S. Navy following the Revolutionary War in order to protect American merchant ships off the northern coast of Africa.

For the most part, the USS Constitution still will be open for public tours until it officially enters dry dock in March 2015.

The repair work is expected to involve re-coppering the ship’s hull, replacing worn riggings, changing out old planks on the gun and berth decks and making general repairs to the stern, bow and captain’s cabin.

Dave Werner, spokesman for the Naval History and Heritage Command, which is overseeing the project, said the ship repairs will cost about $12 million to $15 million and be paid for by the Navy.

The last time the Constitution was dry docked for major repairs was 1995, in preparation for its bicentennial. Some repairs were done while the ship was still in the harbor from about 2007 to 2010.

The USS Constitution is expected to be back in the water by 2017. By spring or summer 2018, it should return to its familiar spot at the Navy Yard pier, where it has been a major tourist destination, with more than 500,000 visitors a year.

newsobserver.com/2014/10/18/42...&rh=1

edited to say there are more photos and a video of Friday's events at the link above.

Edited by - BigMonFan on 10/18/2014 09:11:18

pandjlocke - Posted - 10/18/2014:  10:09:20

She's a beaut!

dmiller - Posted - 10/18/2014:  10:27:56

I watched the video attached.  Impressive!

trapdoor2 - Posted - 10/18/2014:  12:41:02

Last time we visited it was 2000 and they took her out for her annual 'turn'. She even sailed a bit under her own power. Impressive sight indeed.

Hopefully, the grand old gal will be around for another 200+yrs!

mike gregory - Posted - 10/18/2014:  14:21:24

More fun watching THAT, than watching Raymond Burr pretending to be crippled.

brewerpaul - Posted - 10/18/2014:  14:51:53

If you're ever in Boston, you've got to see Old Ironsides.  Walking the decks of that historic ship is inspiring indeed.

I have a Buck pocket knife with scales made from Oak taken from the ship during a previous restoration.

ScratchJohnson - Posted - 10/18/2014:  16:44:13

That was the first model I ever built!

KE - Posted - 10/18/2014:  16:47:41

She's open for public tours until March 2015. I need to put that to the top of my bucket list.

BanjoLink - Posted - 10/18/2014:  17:05:54

A friend of mine supplied some of the Oak (live Oak , I think) in the last restoration.  He had read about it and at the time was building a golf course in Florida and clearing some large Oaks.  He wrote the proper authorities and asked if they could use some Oak from what I understand was like the original material used in the construction.  They took him up on it.  A couple of years later he was invited to spend a weekend on one of our new aircraft carriers while at sea - delivered him by helicopter.

brewerpaul - Posted - 10/19/2014:  04:11:23

If you're a fan of sailing ships, add the Cutty Sark in Greenwich ,England to that bucket list.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cutty_Sark

​During renovations in 2007, she suffered a major fire and nearly was a total loss. Amazingly, she was fully restored and you can visit her in all her glory.  The ship is displayed suspended by multiple braces or props which support it evenly over the whole hull.  Inside the beautiful glass enclosed visitor center you can walk right under the ship's re-coppered hull. You can also tour most of the decks, which contain great information on Cutty Sark and the whole era of the great clipper ships.

When I was in my early teens I built a large model of Cutty Sark which inspired a lifelong fascination with sailing ships and the sea.  The model was plastic but was very detailed and I did all of the standing and running rigging.  I don't mind telling you that when I walked the deck of this ship and saw all of the familiar spars, lines, pumps, and other fittings, I shed a tear.  Visiting the Cutty Sark was a dream come true.  Don't miss it if you're ever near London.

mbuk06 - Posted - 10/19/2014:  04:28:27

Great looking ship...but the oldest commissioned naval vessel? Last time I looked Nelson's flagship HMS Victory was still in one piece and looking as spectacular albeit in dry dock. Launched in 1765 that makes her 32 years the senior. 

BigMonFan - Posted - 10/19/2014:  07:18:18

quote:

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Originally posted by mbuk06

Great looking ship...but the oldest commissioned naval vessel? Last time I looked Nelson's flagship HMS Victory was still in one piece and looking as spectacular albeit in dry dock. Launched in 1765 that makes her 32 years the senior. 

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You left off two key words from the quoted article excerpt. ...."oldest commissioned naval vessel still afloat".

Clawhammer Clint - Posted - 10/19/2014:  07:32:12

quote:

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Originally posted by mbuk06

Great looking ship...but the oldest commissioned naval vessel? Last time I looked Nelson's flagship HMS Victory was still in one piece and looking as spectacular albeit in dry dock. Launched in 1765 that makes her 32 years the senior. 

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I fear you may be right, old chap:

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_oldest_ships

The Wiki article on the USS Constitution is worth a read:

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Constitution

Here is an interesting excerpt:

In 1905, Secretary of the Navy Charles Joseph Bonaparte suggested that she be towed out to sea and used as target practice, after which she would be allowed to sink. Reading about this in a Boston newspaper, Moses H. Gulesian, a businessman from Worcester, Massachusetts, offered to purchase Constitution for $10,000.^[188][190] The State Department refused, but Gulesian initiated a public campaign which began from Boston and ultimately "spilled all over the country."^[190] The storms of protest from the public prompted Congress to authorize $100,000 for her restoration in 1906. First to be removed was the barracks structure on her spar deck, but the limited amount of funds allowed just a partial restoration.^[191] By 1907 she began to serve as a museum ship with tours offered to the public. On 1 December 1917 she was renamed Old Constitution, to free her name for a planned new Lexington-class battlecruiser. Originally destined for the lead ship of the class, the name Constitution was shuffled around between hulls until CC-5 was given the name; construction of CC-5 was canceled in 1923 due to the Washington Naval Treaty. The incomplete hull was sold for scrap, and Old Constitution was granted the return of her name on 24 July 1925.^[1]

Some amazing short-sightedness there!

As I recall, the British navy was rather embarrassed at having lost a frigate, albeit a captured Frenchman, to an American "frigate" in a one-on-one confrontation.  What they may not have appreciated at the time was that while the Guerriere's 36 guns threw 1,094 pounds of iron per broadside (approximately - OI's armament configuration varied a bit over the years), Old Ironsides' 52 guns threw 1,408 pounds.  When facing other navies, the Brits could usually count on getting three or so broadsides into the air for each of the enemy's two.  The yanks, however, were bigger and better fed than British sailors, man for man, and could match them shot for shot, even when handling heavier guns.    

Edited by - Clawhammer Clint on 10/19/2014 07:43:42

BigMonFan - Posted - 10/19/2014:  07:43:25

I stand by my original post. 

"The USS Constitution, the world’s oldest commissioned warship still afloat,"

Also you can look at the listing of the USS Constitution here.   en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_oldest_ships

Mopick - Posted - 10/19/2014:  10:21:37

We were living in Tampa in 1994.  I just got my Gibson banjo and we were hanging out at the Bluegrass Parlor and attending a lot of festivals.  I had a collection of 8 x 10 autographed band photos.  I was looking for picture frames at the Big Top Flea Market in Temple Terrace.  I found this old picture frame in the bottom of a box.   It was a framed page of a book, "Sparks of Wisdom by Daniel Webster."  When I got it home and took it apart, I found this lithograph of the U.S.S. Constitution under the page from Daniel Webster's book.

Written on the back of the picture was April 8, 1932.  I did some research and found out that the U.S.S. Constitution had undergone major renovations, thanks to a grass roots effort to raise the money needed.  She went on a three year National cruise to thank the people.  She stopped in 76 ports from the East Coast, through the Panama Canal around up to Seattle, and back.  She came to St. Petersburg Florida in April 1932.  York Briddell was Chairman, Chamber of Commerce, Aviation Department in St. Petersburg, FL.  He was also an avid collector of U.S. Naval ship canceled post marks.  He made arrangement for Captain Gulliver and crew to go up in an airship, the Reliance.

 

Edited by - Mopick on 10/19/2014 10:23:32

Clawhammer Clint - Posted - 10/19/2014:  17:58:34

quote:

---

Originally posted by BigMonFan

I stand by my original post. 

"The USS Constitution, the world’s oldest commissioned warship still afloat,"

Also you can look at the listing of the USS Constitution here.   en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_oldest_ships

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Ah!  "still afloat."  I see.

Crusty - Posted - 10/19/2014:  18:11:26

I went to a USN traveling presentation where they sent some crew from the Constitution who talked about the ship and even demonstrated the procedure for loading and running out a cannon including a repeat to show how fast they could do it.  I got to talk with the Chief Bosun's Mate a bit and he told me that his worst disciplinary problem (it's an honor to serve on that ship) is getting the crew to wear shoes because they prefer bare feet on deck.

There was also a drawing held for some Constitution memorabilia and I won a really cool USS Constitution ball cap, complete with scrambled eggs on the bill.  In a later year I gave it to a woman I was seeing and then she left.  I really miss that hat. 

CAPT Steve - Posted - 10/19/2014:  21:30:05

Got interested in and read all I could find about "Old Ironsides" when I was in junior high.  Was one of the main things that got me interested in the Navy.  I went to the U.S. Naval Academy; but that was mutually short-lived.  Boarded her On a trip to New England in 1975.  Was the (some number I don't remember) visitor and got a really nice pewter plate with a depiction of the ship on it.  Remained interested in sea service, entered the Coast Guard in 1978 and retired in 2005.  Boarded the first PRIDE OF BALTIMORE when it was docked in Washington, D.C. on the way to see the Coast Guard recruiters.  Have had a near life-long interest in sailing ships like this, and was honored to help the State of Pennsylvania improve the safety of their somewhat-replica of the Brig NIAGARA, the original of which was also a War of 1812 combatant like USS CONSTITUTION.

Steve

P.S. Per the discussion regarding HMS VICTORY, is that still considered a commissioned ship; my understanding is that she isn't.

Compass56 - Posted - 10/20/2014:  00:43:28

When I saw the thread title, I thought Raymond Burr's 70's tv show was the topic.

oldwoodchuckb - Posted - 10/20/2014:  01:46:00

The Victory is the oldest sailing vessel in commission. The Constitution is the oldest commissioned AFLOAT. The Victory has been preserved in a purpose made drydock for more than 50 years - possibly a good deal more. I can't remember the exact details. 

Water - especially salt water takes a heavy toll on all ships, but especially on ships made of wood. A 100 year old house (like many from my old neighbourhood) might still be in pretty good shape if the insects haven't attacked it. But for a wooden vessel to last more that 50 years takes a lot of hard work and replacement materials. 

When I lived in Boston's North End I used to "visit" Old Ironsides every week or so. She was actually in Charlestown but visible from Boston. I only was aboard her, though I wish I could have visited daily.

mbuk06 - Posted - 10/20/2014:  05:25:42

All these old ships are wonderful. My home town is Bristol, England and the old sepia photos depicting when tall ships came right into the city centre harbourside are amazing. A sea of masts and rigging and industry. Pre-20th century when wooden ships were the cutting-edge technology those busy harboursides in ocean ports must've been one of the few places to gain a sense of  exotic places and the wider world. 

But you would also have had to be sharp-witted and nimble on your feet to dodge the press-gangs that prowled the narrow alleys and taverns unless you wanted to see those destinations first-hand.