![]() The Constitution came about and raked her foe again, but during this maneuver, both ships became entangled. Taking advantage of Guerriere’s immobility, Constitution crossed to the vulnerable front of the enemy ship, and delivered a punishing broadside, raking Guerriere from stem to stern, causing the Guerriere’s mainmast to also fall. Guerriere lost her mizzenmast, which fell overboard and acted like a large rudder, pulling the ship around. Guerriere did not mirror this maneuver, and both ships closed to “half pistol-shot,” point-blank range, and began exchanging broadsides.įor fifteen minutes, both ships hammered each other, but the heavier guns and stronger hull of Constitution proved highly effective. During this forty-five minute chase, a cannonball bounced harmlessly off the Constitution, earning her the enduring nickname “Old Ironsides.” When Constitution closed the gap to a few hundred yards, Captain Hull ordered extra sail to quickly cover the final distance. Initially, Guerriere fired a broadside that fell short, turned into the wind and ran, occasionally yawing to fire a broadside at the pursuing Constitution. Both ships recognized each other at the same moment, and cleared their decks for combat. Previously, the Constitution had tangled with the large British fleet, including Guerriere and her Captain James Richard Dacres, but managed to escape. On Augat two PM, early in the War of 1812, Constitution, with Captain Isaac Hull in command, sighted an unknown ship on the horizon and decided to investigate. HMS Guerriere, captured from the French in 1806, was a British fifth-rate frigate, with thirty-eight guns and a crew of 272. Constitution, considered a heavy frigate, mounted forty-four guns with a crew of 450. Knowing that the fledgling US Navy could not match the European powers on the water, these ships were designed to be faster, hardier, and fire a heavier broadside than their European counterparts enabling them to overpower similarly sized ships and evade the larger ships of the line. USS Constitution was one of the “original six” frigates ordered in 1794. HMS Guerriere, August 19, 1812, 400 miles SE of Halifax, Nova Scotia. Many of the most famous actions of both wars were duels between these smaller, yet deadly, ships. They were often allowed to cruise independently, searching for enemy targets of opportunity, or attached to large fleets as scouts, pickets, and couriers. These ships were not designed to fight on the line, but were used as “cruisers” because of their speed, maneuverability, and range. The most famous example, HMS Victory, Admiral Nelson’s flagship at Trafalgar, mounted 104 cannon, firing a broadside weight of 1,148 pounds, and needed a crew of 800 to fight and sail.ĭuring the American Revolution and War of 1812, the large fleet battles of Europe were rare, with combats between smaller Frigates, Sloops, and Brigs far more common. The largest, first-rates, were massive in terms of size and firepower. The third-rate formed the backbone of many navies, especially the British, and usually mounted seventy-four guns on three decks, with a crew of up to 700 men. These slow and heavily armed ships would form the core of a battle line and exchange fire with their similarly sized adversaries. ![]() The largest naval vessels were the ships of the line and often classified by the British rating system: first-rate, second-rate, and third-rate. It is important to understand the different types of warship that plied the waves during this period, which applies to both the American Revolution and War of 1812. Because of a ship’s dependence on the wind for propulsion, combat often resembled a deadly dance between combatants, which could disintegrate into a bloody close-range brawl. Sailing ships were virtually floating villages, with the largest ships of the line armed with more artillery than some armies. Naval combat in the Age of Sail, which lasted from the 16th to mid-19th century, may seem strange to the modern eye. Saved Land Browse Interactive Map View active campaigns.Stop the Largest Rezoning in Orange County History.Send Students on School Field Trips to Battlefields – Your Gift Tripled!.Phase Three of Gaines’ Mill-Cold Harbor Saved Forever Campaign.Save 42 Historic Acres at the Battle of Chancellorsville.Save 343 Acres at FIVE Battlefields in FOUR Western Theater States. ![]() Help Save 820 Acres at Five Virginia Battlefields.Help Acquire 20 Sacred Acres at Antietam.Help Us Save Hallowed Ground in Tennessee and Kentucky.Virtual Tours View All See Antietam now!.National Teacher Institute July 13 - 16, 2023 Learn More.USS Constitution In 4 Minutes Watch Video.African Americans During the Revolutionary War.The First American President: Setting the Precedent.
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