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NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive
Commemorative Medallion
Contributed by Jack Treutle

USS Constellation (IX-20)

International Radio Call Sign:
November - Echo - Papa - Romeo
 NEPR
Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons


Precedence of awards is from left to right
Top Row - Civil War Campaign Medal
Bottom Row - World War I Victory Medal - American Campaign Medal - World War II Victory Medal
Sail Corvette:
  • Laid down, 25 June 1853 at Gosport Navy Yard, Portsmouth, VA.
  • Launched, 26 August 1854
  • Commissioned USS Constellation, 18 July 1855, CAPT Charles H. Bell, in command
  • Renamed USS Old Constellation, 1 December 1917
  • Original name restored, 24 July 1926
  • Decommissioned, 16 June 1933
  • Recommissioned in August 1940
  • Designated Miscellaneous Unclassified (IX-20), 8 January 1941
  • Decommissioned, 4 February 1955
  • Struck from the Naval Register, 15 August 1955
  • Final Disposition, transferred to a citizens group at Baltimore MD., for restoration and display
    Specifications:
    Displacement 1,265 t.
    Length 164'
    Beam 40' 6"
    Draft 13' 6"
    Speed unk
    Complement 340
    Armament 38 guns
    Propulsion sail
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		 Size Image Description Contributed
    By
    Constellation 103k Painting from the US Library of Congress of the frigate USS Constellation (left) as she engages the French 40-gun frigate L'Insurgente on 9 February 1799, during the Quasi-War with France. Artist unknown.
    From "An Illustrated History of the United States Navy" by Chester G. Hearn.    		 Robert Hurst
    Constellation 137k USS Constellation captures L'Insurgente, February 9, 1799 during the Quasi-Wars with France. Artist unknown. Arnold A. Putnam
    Constellation 165k Painting of the frigate USS Constellation (left) engaging the French 50-gun frigate La'Vengeance on 2 February 1800 during the Quasi-War with France. Artist unknown.
    From the US Navy Memorial.
    "On February 2, 1800 the 50-gun La'Vengeance, was enroute to France from Guadalupe when Commander Thomas Truxtun spied the French ship. A four-hour battle ensued.... The French directed their fire on Constellations's rigging, Constellation concentrated on La'Vengeance's hull and timbers. The punishment to La'Vengeance was so great that three times the French attempted to haul down their colors. However, in the growing darkness, Truxtun was not able to see the signal.... The French fire finally weakened Constellation's mainmast so it snapped off at the deck. Truxtun pulled back to repair the damage and La'Vengeance escaped into the darkness."    		 Tommy Trampp
    Constellation 222k USS Constellation defeats La'Vengeance, 1 February 1800 during the Quasi-Wars with France. Artist unknown. Arnold A. Putnam
    Constellation 321k USS Constellation in Dry Dock 1 at the Boston Navy Yard. The sloop-of-war was in the dock between October 1858 and January 1859. (U.S. Navy copy of contemporary drawing, Boston National Historical Park Collection, NPS Cat. No. BOSTS-10721) Stephen P. Carlson Preservation Specialist Boston NHP Charlestown Navy Yard Boston, MA
    Wyandank 172k Ships moored at the US Naval Academy, Annapolis, MD. in 1879 are from left to right: USS Dale USS Constellation and USS Santee. The marine barracks Wyandank is in the center of the photo. Darryl Baker
    Constellation 48k 1884 magazine engraving depicting USS Constellation in Cork harbor. Tommy Trampp
    Constellation 113k 1884 magazine engraving depicting the Duke of Edinburgh visiting USS Constellation Tommy Trampp
    Constellation 63k A view of the waterfront at the Portsmouth Navy Yard, Kittery, Maine, circa 1886, with the floating drydock at left. Ships present are (from left to right): USS Constellation; USS Dale; USS Tallapoosa; and USS Constitution (housed over).
    Photo courtesy of the Naval Historical Foundation, 1971.
    US Naval History and Heritage Command photo #: NH 58947    		 Robert Hurst
    Constellation 28k A still image taken from a video of USS Constellation at Newport, Rhode Island, circa September to November 1900. SUMMARY From Edison films catalog: This picture opens with the young cadets climbing the rigging and going through the sail drill on board the famous historic ship "Constellation." Loosing sail to buntline, making sail, shortening sail and furling; also loose sail to bowline. This picture is absolutely perfect photographically; also very thrilling, and makes a most interesting subject. Original film by Thomas A. Edison; 22 Nov 1900; D22020. REPOSITORY Library of Congress Motion Picture, Broadcasting and Recorded Sound Division Washington, D. C. 20540 USA DIGITAL ID edmp 1729 http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.mbrsmi/edmp.1729 Robert Hurst
    Constellation 323k Post card image of USS Constellation serving as Training Ships at Newport, R.I., circa 1907.
    Photo ©1907 Enrique Muller    		 Tommy Trampp
    Reina Mercedes 216k Post card image of Reina Mercedes, USS Cumberland (Training Ship #1) and USS Constellation serving as Receiving/Training Ships at Newport, R.I., circa 1905 to 1911. Arnold A. Putnam
    Constellation 377k Post card image of USS Constellation (IX-20) moored at a wharf at Naval Station Newport, R.I. adjacent to the south drill field, October 1942 Tommy Trampp
    Constellation 300k Post card image of USS Constellation (IX-20) anchors on display in front of the ship in her berth at Naval Station Newport, R.I. adjacent to the south drill field, 1943. Tommy Trampp
    Constellation 217k Stern view of USS Constellation (IX-20) was drydocked in Dry Dock 4 at the South Boston Annex of the Boston Naval Shipyard in August and September 1946 to determine the feasibility and cost of making her into a “permanent relic.” (U.S. Navy photos NY2-2806-46, Boston National Historical Park Collection, NPS Cat. No. BOSTS-10723) Stephen P. Carlson Preservation Specialist Boston NHP Charlestown Navy Yard Boston, MA.
    Constellation 143k Bow view of USS Constellation (IX-20) was drydocked in Dry Dock 4 at the South Boston Annex of the Boston Naval Shipyard in August and September 1946 to determine the feasibility and cost of making her into a “permanent relic.” (U.S. Navy photos NY2-2806-47, Boston National Historical Park Collection, NPS Cat. No. BOSTS-10723) Stephen P. Carlson Preservation Specialist Boston NHP Charlestown Navy Yard Boston, MA
    Constellation 151k USS Constellation (IX-20) is seen berthed at Pier 1 West of the Boston Naval Shipyard in 1947. USS Constitution (IX-21) is seen at right. Constitution now occupies this berth. (U.S. Navy photo NY2-1173-47, Boston National Historical Park Collection, NPS Cat. No. BOSTS-10723) Stephen P. Carlson Preservation Specialist Boston NHP Charlestown Navy Yard Boston, MA
    Constellation 243k USS Constellation (IX-20) is decommissioned at Pier 11 of the Boston Naval Shipyard on 4 February 1955. (U.S. Navy photo, Boston National Historical Park Collection, NPS Cat. No. BOSTS-10723) Stephen P. Carlson Preservation Specialist Boston NHP Charlestown Navy Yard Boston, MA
    Constellation 79k USS Constellation (IX-20) is maneuvered into floating dry dock USS ARD-16 on 5 August 1955 in preparation for her transfer from the Boston Naval Shipyard to Baltimore. (U.S. Navy photos, Boston National Historical Park Collection, NPS Cat. No. BOSTS-10725-2) Stephen P. Carlson Preservation Specialist Boston NHP Charlestown Navy Yard Boston, MA
    Constellation 119k USS Constellation (IX-20) moored at Newport, R.I., 20 March 1935. Ron Reeves
    Constellation 139k USS Constellation (IX-20) is maneuvered into floating dry dock USS ARD-16 on 5 August 1955 in preparation for her transfer from the Boston Naval Shipyard to Baltimore. (U.S. Navy photos, Boston National Historical Park Collection, NPS Cat. No. BOSTS-10725-3) Stephen P. Carlson Preservation Specialist Boston NHP Charlestown Navy Yard Boston, MA
    Constellation 182k USS Constellation (IX-20) is seen in floating dry dock USS ARD-16 at Pier 6 of the Boston Naval Shipyard on 5 August 1955. The harbor tug Chegodega (YTB-542) is seen at right, with Wawasee (YTB-367) at left. On the far left side, USS Mineral County (LST-988) is at Pier 5. (U.S. Navy photo, Boston National Historical Park Collection, NPS Cat. No. BOSTS-10726) Stephen P. Carlson Preservation Specialist Boston NHP Charlestown Navy Yard Boston, MA
    Constellation 81k USS Nipmuc (ATF-157) tows USS ARD-16 carrying USS Constellation (IX-20) down Boston Harbor on 5 August 1955 during the historic vessel’s transfer to Baltimore. The commercial tug Hercules is near the floating dry dock’s bow, while Chegodega (YTB-542) is at the stern. (U.S. Navy photo, Boston National Historical Park Collection, NPS Cat. No. BOSTS-10726) Stephen P. Carlson Preservation Specialist Boston NHP Charlestown Navy Yard Boston, MA.
    Constellation 911k USS Nipmuc (ATF-157) tows USS ARD-16 carrying USS Constellation (IX-20) into the harbor at Baltimore, MD., 9 August 1955.
    AP Wirephoto    		 Ron Reeves
    Constellation 65k USS Constellation at anchor, date and location unknown. Robert Hurst
    Constellation 73k USS Constellation moored at her berth in the Inner Harbor at Baltimore, MD., date unknown. Photo from "Warship Boneyards", by Kit and Carolyn Bonner, courtesy US Frigate Constellation Association. Robert Hurst
    Constellation 467k Post card image of USS Constellation moored at her berth in the Inner Harbor at Baltimore, MD., date unknown. Tommy Trampp
    Constellation 146k USS Constellation at Baltimore, MD., date unknown. © Richard Leonhardt
    Constellation 163k USS Constellation at Baltimore, MD., date unknown. © Richard Leonhardt
    Constellation 156k USS Constellation at Baltimore, MD., date unknown. © Richard Leonhardt
    Constellation 89k USS Constellation at Baltimore, MD. in 1999. Hyperwar US Navy in WWII web site
    Constellation 141k USS Constellation moored at her berth in the Inner Harbor at Baltimore, MD., 4 March 2006. Photo by Wendell McLaughlin
    Constellation 143k USS Constellation moored at her berth in the Inner Harbor at Baltimore, MD., 11 February 2007, photo by Chuck Szmurlo. Robert Hurst
    USS Constellation Memorabilia
    Constellation
    Commemorative Coin (front)
    Contributed by Tommy Trampp    		 Constellation
    Commemorative Coin (back)
    Contributed by Tommy Trampp
    USS Constellation (IX-20)
    DANFS history entry located at the US Naval History and Heritage Command
    Commanding Officers
    CAPT. Bell, Charles H.28 July 1855 - 13 August 1858
    CAPT. Dornin, Thomas A.00 August 1861 - ?
    COMO Thatcher, Henry K.March 1862 - ?
    CAPT. Mead, William Whitman03 September 1902 - 1903
    CDR. Hourigan, Patrick William29 December 1909 - ?
    Courtesy Wolfgang Hechler and Ron Reeves
    Additional Resources and Web Sites of Interest
    USS Constellation
    USS Constellation 2011 Dry Dock photos
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    Last Updated 24 January 2014