Old Ironsides Deploys to Sea Again!

[SASless]

The oldest operational Warship in the World....Wood Timbers, Canvas sails, and yet a new generation of Sailors....amazing tradition and history.

USS Constitution sails again | Photo Gallery - Yahoo! News (http://news.yahoo.com/photos/uss-constitution-sails-again-slideshow/)


http://l1.yimg.com/bt/api/res/1.2/b.s5q.xUqy0X3Ra4Gm8mcQ--/YXBwaWQ9eW5ld3M7Zmk9aW5zZXQ7aD05NDY7cT04NTt3PTYzMA--/http://media.zenfs.com/en_us/News/ap_webfeeds/dbe41b675a43bc17180f6a706700b666.jpg

[salad-dodger]

Go on then, what's the connection with military aviation?

S-D

[HTB]

OK - canvas sails I'll accept, but what else would wood timbers be made of?

She seems to be making decent headway, given that the canvas sails are fairly slack, or is there a boat pushing from behind, or an invisible cable towing from in front (note the use of traditional naval terms - behind and front). Perhaps they've refurbished the original inboard Perkins diesel to save wear and tear on the sails and all the associated ropes that hold them up:E

Mister B

[Genstabler]

It's military. It's a craft. And it requires the movement of air to allow it to progress. A military aircraft it is. What's the problem? A beauty too.

[Heathrow Harry]

we should use an SSN to torpedo it............... that'll keep the USN in harbour from now on

[Cows getting bigger]

RN dream......

http://media.defenseindustrydaily.com/images/SHIP_FFG_Type-26_FSC_Concept_Front_lg.jpg

and after the bean counters get their hands on it, the reality?

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/ac/US_Navy_101021-N-7642M-317_USS_Constitution_returns_to_her_pier_after_an_underway_t o_celebrate_her_213th_launching_day_anniversary.jpg/300px-US_Navy_101021-N-7642M-317_USS_Constitution_returns_to_her_pier_after_an_underway_t o_celebrate_her_213th_launching_day_anniversary.jpg

[India Four Two]

SASless,

Ignore salad-dodger! Thanks for posting such a wonderful photo. I see she's flying her battle ensign - obviously preparing for a battle with the Colonialist Navy! ;)

If she has got a Perkins diesel below decks, Jack Aubrey will be in for a surprise when he tries to take the weather gauge. :E

[KING6024]

If you look carefully there is a rather large tug right astern of her.
Colin

[gleaf]

White Oak.

Hull Planking specification is 32 foot clear oak.
Oak is custom grown at the Navy's base at Crane Indiana.

Boston Navy Yard does its own custom sawing using a Woodmizer portable mill last I heard.

[Trim Stab]

I notice in photo 8/12 that all the hands are wearing safety harnesses on the yard arms - bloody farmers the lot of 'em!

Here's how we used to do it - me top left.

http://img51.imageshack.us/img51/2559/image0000005ax.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/51/image0000005ax.jpg/)
Uploaded with ImageShack.us (http://imageshack.us)

[con-pilot]

If she has got a Perkins diesel below decks, Jack Aubrey will be in for a surprise when he tries to take the weather gauge

Nope, no engine at all. I've toured it from stem to stern and there is nothing that powers that ship except the wind and the backs of men. Well and women today. ;)

When I toured Old Ironsides the commanding office was a woman. A Lt. Commander if I remember correctly.

[Tourist]

"The oldest operational Warship in the World"

Methinks not.

If you mean commisioned, then HMS Victory has that by a good few years.

If you actually mean operational, then neither is even remotely qualified.

[SASless]

Eat your heart out....she's underway, in full service...doing her duty. I know it gets up your nose our old girl is not mired in the mud rotting to death...but it is what it is.

She is beautiful....has a long history...and is still doing the deal after Two Hundred Years. New Chiefs get their Initiations done onboard....including Aviation Chiefs which I find commendable to see the Navy reminding the backbone of the Fleet what their service is all about.

She's not just a showboat...but a cornerstone of the Navy.

Bless her and all that sail on her!

[dagenham]

HMS Victory serves a very similar purpose and remains the flagship of our navy. HMS Fordroyant is still afloat and older than old Ironsides up in Hartlepool

In fact....we do have old Ironsides sister ship still just outside Pompey.
The Chesapeake Mill - history (http://www.chesapeakemill.co.uk/history.html)

[Buster Hyman]

Old Ironsides Deploys to Sea Again!
Thought this was going to be about Adm. Draper...

[HTB]

In full service, doing her duty...

Can we then expect to see this beautifully presented vessel being deployed to a conflict zone, where the full might of her 50 cannon could wreak havoc on a hostile naval force?

She serves a purpose - much as the 3-masted topsail schooners of our Sail Training Association used to do - building character, teaching teamwork and resilience, often in testing weather conditions; but more than that, I don't think so.

A good historical link for a bygone USN, and probably an excellent ambassador in domestic and foreign ports, but I suspect that the crew spend as much time painting and polishing as they do sailing.

Mister B

[c-bert]

mired in the mud rotting to death

A point of admin - whilst Victory is sadly rotting away she is doing it in the splendor of a dry dock, not the Portsmouth mud.

[Union Jack]

She's not just a showboat...but a cornerstone of the Navy.

Indeed both VICTORY and USS CONSTITUTION are in their respective navies, although somehow the Ship of Theseus or, perhaps at a lower level, Trigger's Broom come readily to mind.:ok:

Jack

PS And I have very fine oil paintings of both of them

[Bushfiva]

HMS Fordroyant is still afloat

No it isn't. The ship you believe is the Fordroyant is the Trincomalee, built Bombay 1812, which spent a time renamed the Fordroyant after the original bashed itself to bits on Blackpool Pier and ended up as the Blackpool FC boardroom.

[Tourist]

I think you will find that the Victory is still carrying out the Royal Navy's principle operational role....


....magnificent cocktail parties and dining outs!

[barnstormer1968]

SASless

I think you may need to look at the bigger picture here!

Us Brits are very used to operating the oldest ancient and underfunded kit in our forces, and the fact that you Americans have something older than us in service may have come as a bit of a shock :E

[Jumping_Jack]

Ignore the sniping SASless, its a great looking ship and it is nice to see that there is a country that will pay to ensure that it's history is looked after rather than consigned to museums. :D

[Basil]

Great looking vessel and wonderful to see her preserved.
Is she making way and, if so, by what power? She certainly ain't sailing in the OP.

[A A Gruntpuddock]

From the link in the first post -

http://l.yimg.com/bt/api/res/1.2/UXvSDqxeoSFEWgVjmZBPrQ--/YXBwaWQ9eW5ld3M7Zmk9aW5zZXQ7aD00MjA7cT04NTt3PTYzMA--/http://media.zenfs.com/en_us/News/Reuters/2012-08-19T193400Z_360305206_GM1E88K09JX01_RTRMADP_3_USA.JPG

[Heathrow Harry]

can she be fitted with cats & traps?

[HTB]

Is that cats as in the "...of nine tails"? I would have thought that compulsory to fit the historical ethos of the ship.

Mister B

[ricardian]

Perhaps it's a Q ship. The USA appear to have taken their eye off the ball (http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/library/news/2012/08/mil-120817-cornyn01.htm?_m=3n%2e002a%2e586%2eoo0ao01a2j%2ej3r)

[Jarvy]

The cannons onboard 'Old Ironsides' have the royal crest on them, as in GR.

[dagenham]

yes, you are correct regarding the Trim being renamed.... but as it was over 100 years ago, so I thought it was not so relevant.

The Victory is not rotting and is looking in fine fettle and almost fully open. it is a great example of the work our dockyard tradesmen can do.

The Constitution is a fine ship, even more remarkably preserved given the massive swings in the Boston climate.

I always find the legend of old ironsides very interesting. Her biggest claim to fame is she was the first USS to beat an English ship. The battle with Guerriere earned her the nickname of "Old Ironsides" and public adoration that has repeatedly saved her from scrapping. However, what is not remembered is the Guerriere was half the size and half the crew to the constitution, so pretty much a forgone conclusion.

The modern analogy would be a Raptor shooting down a hunter ... not exactly a fair fight, but a win all the same

If old Iron sides meet the Victory, as first rate ship of the line. The 100 odd cannon in a broadside would have probably shredded the timber now matter how well built. I am sure Victory would have taken a battering, but with over double the number of guns and crew it could probably take it


All the same, well done our colonial cousins for what they have achieved ! I just wish Victory could put to see now! ( and perhaps a tad jealous!)

[Davaar]

Let me put in a word for HMS Unicorn, launched 1824, still afloat at Dundee.

[Basil]

A A Gruntpuddock,
That presents an idea for trapping modern day pirates :ok:

[c-bert]

The Victory is not rotting...

Yes, yes she is. Her knees have deteriorated over the years since the last big restoration (after the war if memory serves) and with the extra strain of supporting her whole weight with no help from any water she is starting to 'sag' in the middle. At the moment all the necessary timber is being replaced with £16m worth of 'modern equivalents' whatever that means. Probably something the MoD is buying from Ikea. Hey-ho, at least she's still there even if she will be plastic/mdf at the end of it.

[Dunky]

They'll probably get Airfix to do it.

[dat581]

More like James May and a bit of MDF...

[SASless]

It was the Guerriere and seven more British ships she sank or captured.

She has an interesting history....fighting Pirates, working against Slavers, and that small bit against the British.

Her successful escape from the British Flotilla in slack wind is the really good story....wooden oars and strong backs....pitching the anchor and heaving away. We have to look back on our ancestors on both sides and admire their seamanship.


Old Ironsides earns its name — History.com This Day in History — 8/19/1812 (http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/old-ironsides-earns-its-names)

This is the bit of history I find really...really interesting!

Today....the US Navy ships have evaporators for making water and Ice Cream machines.....not so the old Navy! The consumption of liquids deserves some analysis.....as it seemed water rationing was very effective as noted by the replenishment inventory for various port calls.


http://www.cycboston.org/Little_known_history-USS_Constitution.pdf

[Union Jack]

Today....the US Navy ships have evaporators for making water and Ice Cream machines.....not so the old Navy!

Oh dear! SASless has just reminded me of the old WWII song, sung to the tune of "Anchors Aweigh" and presumably one explanation of how the USN survived before the days of "evaporators and Ice Cream":

There's a rumour 'round the harbour
That the Yanks are going to sea
With a bottle of coca-cola
An a Bloody great tub of ice cream.
With a bottle of coca-cola
And a Bloody big tub of ice cream
Well they're mighty fine lads in harbour
But oh my God at sea......:)

Jack

PS Spelling checked correct!

[Dan Winterland]

It managed 17 minutes of sailing at three knots. Hardly a deployment - just a very short cruise.

But good to see, all the same.

[SASless]

Heck....that sounds about like half the Royal Navy these days. Matter of fact it would be half the RN.;)