History: Wooden hull, three-masted frigate is the oldest commissioned ship in the U.S. Navy. One of six frigates authorized to form the Navy for use against the Barbary pirates.





Description: Built to be powerful enough to defeat an enemy of equivalent strength and fast enough to outsail a stronger opponent.





General Characteristics, Constitution Class



Cost:

$302,718 (1797 dollars)





Builders:

Col. George Claghorn, Edmond Hart's Shipyard, Boston, MA





Power Plant:

42,710 sq. ft. of sail on three masts





Date Deployed:

October 21, 1797





Length:

204 feet (62.16 meters) (billet head to taffrail); 175 feet at waterline (53.32 meters)





Beam:

43.5 feet (13.25 meters)





Mast Height:

Foremast, 198 feet (60.33 meters); Mainmast, 220 feet (67.03 meters); Mizzenmast, 172.5 feet (52.56 meters)





Displacement:

2,200 tons





Speed:

13+ knots (approx. 14.95 miles per hour, 24 km. per hour)





Crew:

450, including 55 Marines and 30 boys (1797)





Armament:

32 24-pounder long guns



20 32-pounder carronades; and



Two 24-pounder bow chasers





Boats:

One 36-ft. long boat



Two 30-ft. cutters



Two 28-ft. whaleboats



One 28-ft. gig



One 22-ft. jolly boat



One 14-ft. punt





Anchors:

Two main bowers (5300 lbs.)



One sheet anchor (5400 lbs.)



One stream anchor (1100 lbs.)



Two kedge anchors (400 to 700 lbs.)