Constellation (CV 64) - Naval Cruise Book

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ci yanglfjee Racehorse . . -A - . . - A EEEEEEE eeeeeeeet-.easeseeeeeeet-.eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeseeseeeeeeeeeegsaassig if-2522 EE is 7 - ' J . , -iff' kv flklhvi fide' 4 .V X,-'I :- f 1-'sg J . 1. f- ' ' il ' ' 12- L-, .-.Ai I - ' ju. ,fi -4 I' ,f.,,Lx., A-4, .-a, .4 , - - A , - . -,,.,,N-, ,, V. 'r ' . . NP- 1' lm' ' 1' s ' . .- v Q . , .A ' . 2--si . - ff' - '--'S-5. A ' -fi I. . n ,D -. -. A A A A . Z gag-V A I .-T .ii-,-. 1 X-6 . --sw . -. 7 'x gg-, g 'X . ' . , Y f 5,-,X U ' Q P V I u 14 1 i?'iJt'Q,'F-.---!7 li, QZLQRT V . A L 'i :G 1, 51' Q-by-.' fm, 1 sfik .4 15121: ' . X V 1' :wi ' T .- V ,gg - :A , , -Y A -..-Q . .-.-,mi ,t x ,L Y . iv I kf 1 X . -:f,35,' ' ' 7' ' , 1 N , 1 1 I it U.S. Frigate Constellation's spirit endures for 190 years Byggg Bi11Mi1e5 Constellation in several significant ways. He incorporated a 'l ' The first ship to be commissioned in the United States Navy, the first to put to sea and the first to engage, defeat and capture an enemy vessel was the three-masted, square-rigged U.S. Frigate Constellation. From the undeclared naval war against France in 1798 through World War ll. the Constellation, America's oldest float- ing warship, has for more than 190 years and five wars survived the tempers of the sea and the wiles of belligerent nations. It all started on March 27. 1794. when a special act of Congress provided for the formation of the United States Navy and for the building of six frigates. The ships were given symbolic names which the new country could rally around: names such as Constitution. Congress, Chesapeake, United States and President But the first to be commissioned received the name held in highest esteem by the fledging Congress: the name for that ring of stars, white in a blue field, on the new American flag: Constellation. Her name is one of pride that emerged as evidence of a new spirit in a growing na- tion. She was built by master designer David Stoddard. The wood for her construction was live oak from Georgia and the Carolinas. and work began in late 1795 at the Harris Creek ship- yard in Baltimore. Stoddard changed the War Department's plans for 6 1987 Cruisebook much sharper bow as well as constructing the ship to carry 33 cannons instead of the 36 she was designed for. From the peak of her skyscraping mainmast to the solid construction of her wooden deck was a distance of 180 feet. Her length was five feet less. Her crew consisted of 309 adventurous men. On Sept. 7, 1797, Constellation slid down the ways into the Patapsco River, launching a career that would span 157 yea1'S- Her reputation for speed, resulting from her clipper lines, earned her the nickname of 'Yankee Racehorse. On a day of open w1ndS and calm seas she could attain the thrilling speed of 13 liflots while sailing under nearly an acre of canvas sail. In addition to her sleekness and speed, she was also classified as an excellent sailer, particularly in heavy weather. The construction of the Yankee Racehorse was completed just in time, because in June 1798, the United States was alreadl' involved in its first naval war, undeclared with France. I The outstanding American achievement in this quasi-wat' came on Feb. 9, 1799 in West Indian waters when Constellation. under the command of Capt. Thomas Truxton, fought and captur- ed the 40-gun French frigate L'Insurgente, which at the time WHS reputed as being the fastest ship in the French Navy the World. It was the first battle fought by one of the original SIX ffl' gates. In the battle which lasted 75 minutes, 29 Frenchmerl were killed and 41 wounded, compared to only one dead and three