Constellation (CV 64) - Naval Cruise Book

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yairplijee Bacebmrse sest-.eeseeseseeseeseeasset-.asset-.eeeesssseseeesseessseeassess-.SS. sssshsiisiissi - . - , m I ' K I Y I I v. ' 'V V' , -, K ., W ,. . ,T- 4-. . al Q 1 l ' ' . ' V I ,N fat! . . 4' I TT ,' 'X .tits 4 1 X 1 l ' fi JR lr MQ' xl' 1.x-, 'f-IN hw. l Y 5, 1 I Jr . ' U U P American shipping and led to our first commercial treatylwith China in 1845. With Keamy, she also helped to prevent the British annexation of Hawaii. During the Civil War. Constellation helped to break up the slave trade and served mostly in the Mediterranean Sea protect- ing Union merchant ships, but she did serve a stint with Admiral David Fan'agut's blockade squadron -in 1864. In the following years. the Yankee Racehorse served as a training ship for Naval Academy rnidshipmen, and during this time naval records show that the Yankee Racehorse sailed on six special missions. including sailing to Queenstown, Ireland with food for the famine-stricken. In 1894, Constellation became a receiving and training ship for the Naval 'training Center in Newport, R.I.. and during World War I, she helped train over 60,000 recruits. She closed out over 60 years of training and special missions when she was decommissioned June 28, 1933. But that didn't last long as she was recomrnissioned as a national symbol on Aug. 24. 1940 by President Franklin D. Roosevelt. Shortly alter the country's entry into World War II, Constellation became the Atlantic Fleet Flagship. From her decks, Admiral Royal E. Ingersoll organized the movements of thousands of ships across the Atlantic. The Navy's treasured warship ended her commissioned naval service on Feb. 4, 1955, and her name was struck from the Navy list Aug. 15, 1955. In July 1980, after 31.5 Inillion worth of re- pairs, Americas oldest warship retiu-ned to its pennanent berth at Harborplace in Baltimore, where it is this day still afloat after 190 years. a reminder of our country's proud past. Her spirit was indomitable. and from this spirit the present Constellation draws her motto: Spirit ofthe Old. Pride ofthe New. 8 1987 Crulsebook If I A ,,,.,...-pal., , 1 I. 4 ,, tail 5. -l 9 ' A X I, JI Y' W 'FMR i' r rv L-Q , . U ' ' r , 1 1 Y - I 4 v ale Q TQP: A Marine guard stands formation aboard the Frigate Constellation. The time period of the photo 15 U-11k0Wn. Above: After an eight-month stay in a drydnck and after 25 years and 81.5 million worth of repairs, th? old Yankee Racehorse. America's oldest warship, returned tff h?1' Permanent berth at Harborplace in Baltimore. Md with invited guests aboard in 1980. -1 14 I T n . r I i, X. lf II' I -J lv 1 J. H lk ,I ...P IN 411' ,T I ,. , I I i X 1 i V if N t 1 I H 4 I 1 1 l ., by ! ,A

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EEESEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE wounded on the Yankee Racehorse. When news of this victorious battle reached America. there was celebration everywhere, and the battle tested crew and their fearless leader were given heroes' welcomes. After his triumph over L'Insurgente, Truxton and Constellation fought a second single-ship action in February 1800, a night encounter with Frances La Vengeance of 54 guns. The battle lasted for tive hours, and so violent was the fighting that La Vengeance struck her colors in signal of surrender three times and no one noticed. She finally managed to escape only be- cause Conste11ation's mainmast snapped and went over the side, allowing the French warship to slip away into the darkness. Even though Truxton was robbed of a second prize. he emerg- ed safely With enhanced credit and a victory from his encounter with a ship of superior force. La Vengeance suffered about 50 dead and more than 100 wounded while the Yankee Racehorse only suffered 14 dead and 25 wounded. Both battles were indeed cause for rejoicing. Constellation had agressively defended America's right of safe passage on the seas for its merchant ships. These first naval victories served no- tice to the world that impressment, imprisonment and harass- ment of American merchant seaman and their vessels would no longer be tolerated. While the victories of Tnxxton and Constellation were most important, they also together made another. even greater contri- bution to the infant United States Navy. This was the system of conduct, discipline, gunnery, signals and naval operations put in- to effect by Truxton while in command of Constellation. His sys- tem set a pattern of success and efficiency that is the basis of U.S. .Naval procedure to this day. By 1800, Truxton had left, but his discipline and tradition had started the Yankee Racehorse on one of the greatest sagas of the sea. The saga continued as Constellation fought with honor in :Q- the Barbary wars and the War of 1812, helping to prevent an im- posing British Fleet and invasion forces from landing at Hampton Roads, Va. In the 1840s she circumnavigated the globe and served as flagship of the East India Squadron for Commodore Lawrence Kearny. Under his command, Constellation became the first United States ship-of-war to enter the inland waters of China. Kearny's success on Constellation opened Chinese ports to Opposite page: The U.S. Frigate Constellation, nicknamed 'Yankee Racehorse. with nearly an acre of canvas sail filled with the wind, as painted by Co. Phillips Melville. Below: The USF Constellation lrightl and the French frig- ate La Vengeance engaged in a spirited single-ship duel. fl? ,. ,. . W, ,V , . ,, gr-, ,A . 2' e Wwffip, . A .W ' fy fi. aligiiv? .ra jf N 4 , M f -5 , , . - -V ,,, -1- r f , . .::..5-I-.TFP-,Y ., . I ,,- f l, af S2 cgi. it -in in 1 A 'w. , 7 'i'f' sen:-L , .l .,,.y. , g , 1, 4 Q' 4 4 v f of .-.1 1 as , ig , N ,s x .,. K V . . , H ,. .-an-.-5'-' , 1 L. , - - - - , ns- - Q ' - . -' ' l V V' ,V 1 - - . df,-XJ - -- f - ' -...:.....-.i-..---:--4.2- -- '

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