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NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive


Contributed by Mike Smolinksi

USS Constitution (IX-21)
ex
USS Constitution (1798 - 1941)

International Radio Call Sign:
November - Alpha - Papa - Juliet
NAPJ
Sail Frigate:
  • Built at Hartt's Shipyard, Boston, MA.
  • Launched, 21 October 1797
  • Commissioned USS Constitution, 22 July 1798, Commodore Samuel Nicholson, in command
  • Decommissioned and placed in ordinary, circa 1800, at Boston, MA.
  • Recommissioned, 1803
  • Decommissioned in November 1807
  • Recommissioned in August 1809
  • Decommissioned and placed in ordinary in 1815, at Boston, MA.
  • Recommissioned in May 1821
  • Decommissioned in 1830
  • Recommissioned in 1835
  • Decommissioned in 1851
  • Recommissioned in 1852
  • Decommissioned in 1855
  • Recommissioned in 1860
  • Decommissioned in 1871
  • Recommissioned in July 1877
  • Decommissioned in 1884
  • Renamed Old Constitution, 1 December 1917
  • Name restored, 24 July 1925
  • Recommissioned, 1 July 1931,
  • Classified Miscellaneous Unclassified (IX-21), 8 January 1941
    Specifications:
    Displacement 2,200 t.
    Length 175'
    Beam 43' 6"
    Draft 14' 3"
    Speed 13 kts.
    Complement 450
    Armament 28 24-pdrs
    Propulsion sail

    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image
    Size Image Description Contributed
    By
    Constitution 45k USS Constitution (IX-21) moored pierside, circa 1870s, location unknown. Robert Hurst
    Constitution 56k USS Constitution (IX-21) underway, circa 1880s, location unknown. Robert Hurst
    Constitution 64k USS Constitution (IX-21) underway, circa 1880s, location unknown. Robert Hurst
    Mohave 116k Mohave (AT-15) at Boston Navy Yard, circa 1924.
    Bridgeport (AD-10) and USS Constitution are in the background.
    US Navy photo # NH 45949 from the collections of the US Naval Historical Center
    US Naval Historical Center
    Constitution 92k It takes four seamen to man the wheel of USS Constitution (IX-21) while she is underway, date and location unknown.
    Mare Island Naval Shipyard photo # MINSY 18736-9-53
    Darryl Baker
    Constitution 113k USS Constitution (IX-21) spar deck.
    Mare Island Naval Shipyard photo # MINSY 18737-9-53
    Darryl Baker
    Constitution 111k Scuttlebutt and Hardness Cask located on the Gun Deck of USS Constitution (IX-21).
    Mare Island Naval Shipyard photo # MINSY 18739-9-53
    Darryl Baker
    Constitution 74k Grog Tug located aboard USS Constitution (IX-21).
    Mare Island Naval Shipyard photo # MINSY 18740-9-53
    Darryl Baker
    Constitution 98k USS Constitution (IX-21)'s starboard battery of 24 pounders.
    Mare Island Naval Shipyard photo # MINSY 18741-9-53
    Darryl Baker
    Constitution 104k One of USS Constitution (IX-21)'s 24 pounders.
    Mare Island Naval Shipyard photo # MINSY 18738-9-53
    Darryl Baker
    Constitution 125k USS Constitution (IX-21) Boston, MA., date unknown. © Richard Leonhardt
    Constitution 30k USS Constitution (IX-21) at Boston, MA., date unknown. Hyperwar US Navy in WWII web site
    Constitution 113k USS Constitution (IX-21) underway in Boston Harbor dressed with flags overall, 21 July 1998. A Navy League photo from "Warship Boneyards" by Kit and Carolyn Bonner. Robert Hurst
    Constitution 107k USS Constitution (IX-21) at Boston, MA., November 2003. Charles T. Canterbury HMC(SW) USN
    Constitution 102k USS Constitution (IX-21) at Boston, MA., November 2003. Charles T. Canterbury HMC(SW) USN
    Constitution 96k USS Constitution (IX-21) at Boston, MA., November 2003. Charles T. Canterbury HMC(SW) USN
    Constitution 117k USS Constitution (IX-21) at Boston, MA., November 2003. Charles T. Canterbury HMC(SW) USN
    Constitution 48k USS Constitution (IX-21) at Boston, MA., date unknown. Robert Hurst
    Constitution 92k It takes four seamen to man the wheel of USS Constitution (IX-21) while underway. Darryl Baker
    Constitution 113k USS Constitution (IX-21) spar deck Darryl Baker
    Constitution 104k One of USS Constitution (IX-21) 24 pounders on the gun deck. Darryl Baker
    Constitution 111k Scuttlebutt and a Harness cask on the gun deck of USS Constitution (IX-21). Darryl Baker
    Constitution 74k Grog Tub aboard USS Constitution (IX-21). Darryl Baker
    Constitution 98k USS Constitution (IX-21)'s starboard battery of 24 pounders. Darryl Baker
    Constitution 822k The first major snowfall of the New Year blankets the USS Constitution (IX-21). Despite the weather "Old Ironside," remained open for free public tours. At 210-years-old, Constitution is the oldest commissioned warship afloat in the world, manned by 67 active-duty United States Sailors and visited by nearly half a million visitors annually.
    US Navy photo # 080114-N-2893B-002 CHARLESTOWN, Mass. (Jan. 14, 2008) by MC1 Eric Brown
    Lee Wahler

    View the Robert M. Cieri USS Constitution Photograph Collection
    View the Ken Parker USS Constitution Photograph Collection
    View the USS Constitution (IX-21)
    DANFS history entry located at the US Naval Historical Center
    Crew Contact And Reunion Information
    U.S.Navy Memorial Foundation
    Fleet Reserve Association

    Additional Resources and Web Sites of Interest
    Official US Navy Site for USS Constitution
    Back To The Navsource Photo Archives Main Page Back To The Service Ship Type Index Back To The Miscellaneous Auxiliary (IX) Ship Photo Index
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    This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo
    © 2005 Gary P. Priolo © 1996 - 2008 NavSource Naval History. All Rights Reserved.
    Last Updated 23 May 2008