Places of Interest - US Historic Warships

Exhibits

USS Constitution

The oldest commissioned warship afloat in the world. Her construction was authorised in 1794 by George Washington the first US president. Her keel was laid in Boston in the spring of 1795, she was launched on Oct 1797 and set sail on 22nd July 1798. Yes, I know that Nelson's famous ship Victory is older, but it is located in a dry dock in Portmouth (UK).
Dimensions 204 feet * 43 feet 6 inches and a displacement of 2,200 tons.

She was officially referred to as carrying 44 guns. Her upper deck carried 20 32 pound carronades with a range of about 400 yards. Her lower gun deck carried 32 24 pound long guns capable of firing around 1,200 yards. She also had 2 24 pound bow chasers with a range of almost 1,000 yards. She had rather more fire power than a conventional frigate (20 + 32 + 2 = 54).

Her first voyages were around the carribean to protect American trade against French privateers.
Next she sailed to the Mediterranean to protect American vessels from the Barbary corsairs.

On 1st June 1812 the United States declared war on Great Britain.
Her first action on 16th July was to evade 4 Royal Navy ships.
Her second action, on 19th August involved a battle with HMS Guerriere (38 guns). One of Guerriere's cannon balls bounced of her side and an American seaman cried out "Huzzah, her sides are made of iron.". During the battle Guerriere lost all her masts forcing her to surrender. After touring both the east and west coasts Constitution returned to her home port of Boston.
Her third action, 29th December involved HMS Java (38 guns). HMS Java was badly damaged and forced to surrender.
Her fourth action, April 1814 involved the frigates HMS Junon and Tenedos. Constitution evaded them and took refuge in Marblehead Harbour.
Her fifth action 20th Februrary 1815 involve the frigate HMS Cyane (34 guns) and covette Levant (22 guns). Constitution emerged victorious.

In 1925 a campaign was launched to restore Old Ironsides.
After touring both east and west coasts she returned to her home port of Boston.

DD-793: USS Cassin Young

Built in San Pedro, California and commissioned on 31 December 1943 a Fletcher class destroyer.
With a length of 376 feet and 6 inches and displacement of 2050 tons this class of destroyer was larger than previous destroyer classes.
Named after a navy commander who managed to save the repair ship Vestal which was damaged when the battleship Arizona blew up in Pearl Harbour 7th December 1941.

BB59: USS Massachusetts

Keel laid in 20th July 1939, launched 23rd September 1941 and commissioned 12th May 1942 at Boston Massachusetts. She had a speed of 27 knots. Decomissioned 27th March 1947. she was removed from the navel register on 1st June 1962.
Dimensions 208 * 33 * 8.9. Displacement of 35,000 tons.
Her first action was in the invasion of North Africa where she served as flagship. She came under fire from the French battleship Jean Bart and some French destroyers. During the engagement she sank two destroyers, damaged the battleship, shelled the shore batteries and blew up an ammunition dump. She headed for the US on 12 November 1942.
She then moved to the South Pacific (1943) to escort conveys and support operations. By May 1944 her guns were worn and she sailed to Puget Sound to get them relined.
On the 1st August she left Pearl Harbour and returned to action. Her last action was when in shelled Kamaishi on 9th August 1945.
I took this picture from the bow in September 2006.

SS298: USS Lionfish

A Balao class submarine. Keel laid 15th December 1942, launched 7th November 1943 and commissioned 1st November 1944.
On her first patrol she survived an attack by a Japanese submarine and used her deck guns to sink a Japanese schooner.
On her second patrol she had several engagements. On 2nd June She fired torpedoes at a Japanese submarine and heard explosions. She fired on two more Japanese submarines.

DD850: USS Joseph P Kennedy Jr

A Gearing class destroyer built during WWII and she also served during the Korean War and the Cuban Missile Crisis.