Constellation (CV 64) - Naval Cruise Book

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ATI ON CCV-64 i After more than 50 years of extraordinary service, the U.S. Frigate Constellation was thor- oughly worn out. In 1853 she was broken up at the Gosport Naval Yard in Norfolk, Virginia. But the name of Constellation would live on. In 1854, the U.S. Sloop of War Constellation was launched from Gosport. With similar dimensions to her fa- mous predecessor, she carried 23 guns, had a crew compliment of 20 Officers, 220 sailors, and 45 Marines. The ship displaced 1,400 tons with a beam of 42 feet and a length of 176 feet. The new ship ' s first assign- ment was to thwart the slave tradeoff the coast of Africa. She captured two slavers and re- leased the imprisoned slaves. At the outbreak of the Civil War, Constellation made the first Union Navy capture, overpower- ing the slaver brig Triton in coastal waters off Africa. After the war. Constellation saw vari- ous duties such as carrying fam- ine relief stores to Ireland, and transporting precious American works of art to the Paris Exposi- tion (1895). ac to tHe Tuture In 1894, Constellation became a training ship for the Naval Training Center in Newport, R.I. In addition to being used extensively as a train- ing ship for Naval Academy Midship- men, she also helped train more than 60,000 recruits during World War I. Decommissioned in 1933, Con- stellation was recommissioned as a national monument on August 24, 1940 by President Franklin D. Roosevelt. Shortly after the country ' s entry into World War II, she became the flagship for Admi- rals Ernest J. King and Royal Ingersoll. The treasured warship was decommissioned in February 1955 and was taken home to her permanent berth in Balti- more Harbor. Now a national Historic Landmark, she is the last existing Civil War era naval vessel and last sail-powered warship built by the U.S. Navy. Ironically, just as the aircraft carrier USS CONSTELLATION (CV 64) was beginning her 19th overseas deployment, the U.S. Sloop of War, Constellation completed a $9-million restora- tion project in July 1999, allow- ing a new generation to learn about this historic vessel. •««nie ' s History ij-. +nrv Connie ' ' 7««nie ' s History itory Connies

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CONSTEI- The name Constellation is one of the most famous in U.S. Naval history. The first ship ever commissioned by the United States Navy; the first ship put to sea; the first ship to engage, defeat and cap- ture an enemy vessel, was the three- masted, square-rigged frigate, Constellation . It began on March 27, 1794, when a special act of Congress made provisions for building the U.S. Navy its first new ships. There were six frigates and each were given symbolic names which the new country could rally around. Their names: Constitution, Congress, Chesa- peake, United States, and Pres- ident. Constellation bared the most revered name of all. This name symbolized - the w hite ring or Constellation of stars in a blue field, on the new American flag and for that, the fledgling Con- gress held this name in high regard. (Bac to the ast Built in Harris Creek Shipyard at Baltimore ' s Fells Point, it had a beam of 41 feet with a length of 164 feet. It carried a main battery of 36 guns, displaced 1,278 tons, with a crew compliment of 340 men. On September 7, 1797, the frigate Constellation was launched just in time as the United States entered its first naval conflict. The Quasi War (1798-1801). This was largely Constellation ' s War. On February 9, 1799, fighting true to its name. Constellation fought and captured the 36 gun frigate L ' Insurgente-the fastest ship in the French Navy. Under command of the legend- ary Captain Thomas Truxtun, it was the first battle by one of the six original frigates. This was a great achievement for the young United States Navy, and first major victory for an American designed and built warship. More victories were to follow. Captain Truxtun and Constellation fought a second single-ship action in February 1800; a night encoun- ter with France ' s 54 gun frigate La Vengeance. Constellation was again victorious, winning a bloody and violent five hour battle. French sailors, amazed at Constellation ' s ability attain a thrilling speed of 13 knots, while sailing under nearly an acre of canvas sails, nicknamed her Yan- .kee Racehorse . Both battles were cause for celebration throughout the new republic. Constellation had aggressively defended America ' s right of safe passage on the seas for its merchant ships. These first naval victories served notice to the world that the United States would defend her honor and freedom at all costs. While these victories were important, Truxtun and Constel- lation made even greater strides A system of conduct, discipline, gunnery signals and ge neral naval operations were put into effect under Captain Truxtun. His system blazed a trail of efficiency and success, and is the foundation of U.S. Naval proce- dures used today. Constellation would continue i to serve with distinction in the , Barbary Wars against Tripoli and the War of 1812 against ! Great Britain. In 1840, Constel lation completed an historic voyage around the world, in- cluding being the first U.S. warship to enter the inland waters of China. ,1 Connie Connies H

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imMmmm AMERICA ' S FLAGSHUP 40 YEARS AMERICA ' S FLAGSHIP The USS CONSTELLATION (CV-64) was built at the New York Naval shipyard and was the second ship designed in the Kitty Hawk class of aircraft carriers. Connie was commissioned on October 27, 1 96 1 , under the motto Spirit of the Old, Pride of the New. CONSTELLA- TION has been homeported at Naval Air Station North Island in San Diego, CA since July 1962. BATTLE TESTED In August 1 964, in the Gulf of Tonkin CONSTELLATION was immediately put to the test. Responding to North Viet- namese attacks on U.S. destroyers, CONSTELLATION launched its own attacks against North Vietnamese vessels and bases. The first of any kind against the North Vietnamese by a U.S. Warship. Over the next eight years CONSTELLA- TION would return to South China Sea for a total seven combat cruises, conduct- ing air strikes against heavily fortified North Vietnamese positions, engaging naval targets and shooting down enemy aircraft. On May 10, 1972, LT. Randy Cunninghaman and LTJG Willie DriscoU, flying off Connie ' s deck became theyirsr U.S. aces of the Vietnam War by downing three MiGs in one day and a total of five in four months. In 1980, CONSTELLATION set a new endurance mark for that time by remaining on station a record 1 10 consecutive days. During WESTPAC ' 87 CONSTELLA- TION provided vital air cover for the escort of U.S. flagged oil tankers through the Arabian Gulf On January 11,1 995, CONSTELLA- TION again entered the Persian Gulf With Carrier Air Wing TWO embarked, CONSTELLATION patrolled and en- forced the U.N. backed No-Fly zone over southern Iraq in support of OPERATION SOUTHERN WATCH. The ship also conducted maritime intercept missions also in support of U.N. sanctions against Iraq. These operations continued through the 1997, 1999 and 2001 deployments. HAILED BY COMMANDER IN CHIEFS Prior to CONSTELLATION ' S fourth Western Pacific deployment in 1968 President Lyndon Johnson made a suiprise visit to the ship and visited with the crew. During the Viemam War, President Richard Nixon awarded the Presidential Unit Citation to the CONSTELLATION for its actions in Southeast Asia. In the Summer of 1981, President Ronald Reagan presented CONSTELLATION with a presidential flag and proclaimed CONSTELLATION America ' s Flagship, the official monicker used by the ship today. RETROFIT RETROSPECT In 1975, the USS CONSTELLATION . was re-designated CV from CVA following a detailed and complex overhaul that enabled the ship to deploy with the S- 3 A Viking (anti-submarine) and F- 1 4 Tomcat (fighter) aircraft. In 1982, CONSTELLATION returned to the yards, this time in Bremerton, Washing ton. Naval aviation had undergone vast changes in the past 20 years, and it was time to modernize and refurbish Connie. When Connie returned from the yards in 1984, the ship was completely new. The ship was now able to carry the Navy ' newest strike fighter, the F A- 1 8 Hornet. , The ship was also fitted with the new PHALANX radar-guided gattling gun, tw new flush deck catapults and the NATO Sea Sparrow Missile System. In February 1 990, Connie underwent a $800 million Service Life Extension Pro- gram (SLEP) overhaul. Every system wa- upgraded and Connie ' s life span was extended 15 years. In 1998 the CON- STELLATION returned to Bremerton. There, the ship underwent an extensivg rehabilitation of its berthing and woric spaces, technological upgrades, repair of two shafts and a complete repainting at a cost of $80 million dollars. CONNIE Saturday October 27,2001 marked the USS CONSTELLATION ' S 40th year as commissioned battleship. In September 200 1 , Connie completed its 20 th deploy ment. During this deployment Connie held the first of its kind graduation i ceremony at sea, in the Persian Gulf in honor of 144 Sailors and Marines who earned college degrees and cerificates | through various programs offered onboar( ship. In years to come other U.S. ships will try to duplicate and maybe surpass what the ship affecfionately known as Connie has done. But, like its predece sors CONSTELLATION, will always be... the first! Let friend and foe alike know that America has the muscle to back up its words, and ships like this and men like you, are that muscle you are America ' s Flagship. -President Ronald Reagan August 20, 1 98 1.