Posted on 07/26/2017 7:27:18 AM PDT by Oatka
(photo at site)
America’s oldest commissioned warship, USS Constitution, was finally refloated on Sunday following a two-year, multi-million dollar restoration at the historic Charlestown Navy Yard, located at the Boston National Historical Park.
USS Constitution entered the yard’s Dry Dock 1 on May 18, 2015, and since then ship restorers and teams of Constitution Sailors have worked side-by-side to bring Old Ironsides back to her glory.
The restoration included the replacement of 100 hull planks and the required caulking, the re-building of the ship’s cutwater on the bow, as well as the on-going preservation and repair of the ship’s rigging, upper masts and yards. One of the biggest tasks in the restoration was the replacement of Constitution’s copper sheathing below the waterline. Copper sheathing has covered the lower hull since her launch in 1797, as protection against ship worms that could damage the wooden hull.
Captain Robert S. Gerosa, Jr., commanding officer of Constitution, said he was proud of the hard work and dedication of his Sailors during the restoration.
“The significance of the water coming in the dry dock is the start of the evolution,” said Gerosa. “It’s the start of getting Constitution back in the water. This is it, this is what we’ve been striving for the last 26 months. We are again in the water where ships need to be.”
Richard Moore, Director of Naval History & Heritage Command Detachment Boston, which oversaw the project, was extremely pleased with the undocking of Constitution.
“All of the Detachment Boston employees take great pride in the work accomplished,” said Moore. “The ship restorers, riggers and blacksmith are a group of skilled craftspeople who have put their talents to great use during Constitution’s dry dock restoration. Tonight’s successful undocking is the culmination of the Detachment Boston’s hard work on Old Ironsides over the past 26 months.”
On Sunday evening, as the tide in Boston Harbor began to rise, shipyard workers opened the valves in the caisson, the “floating gate” that has held back the harbor water and Dry Dock 1 flooded. It was the first time the sea has touched Constitution’s hull in 26 months. Constitution finally lifted from her keel blocks at about 9:45 p.m.
Later at 11:15 p.m., after checks and diver inspections were completed, Constitution crossed the sill of the dry dock and into Boston Harbor. USS Constitution History
Constitution started her service in the U.S. Navy with her launch Oct. 21, 1797. She was one of the six original frigates which began the new United States Navy and construction was authorized by an act of Congress in 1794. She and sister frigates were designed by shipbuilder Joshua Humphreys. As the Navy’s capital ships, they were larger and more heavily armed than frigates that had come before her, Constitution and her sisters became formidable opponents on the high seas.
Her keel was laid in Edmund Hartt’s Shipyard in Boston. She was built from the resilient Southern live oak from Georgia and her three masts were made from the strong white pine of Maine. Humphreys designed her hull at 22 inches thick at the waterline and to protect the hull, copper sheathing was added.
Undefeated in battle, she fought wars on the high seas, from the Quasi War with France to the Barbary Wars and most notably the War of 1812 against Great Britain. Her defining and most historic battle was with the British frigate HMS Guerriere, during which one of Constitution’s sailors noticed that some of the enemy’s cannon shot appeared to fall harmlessly off her hull. “Huzza! Her sides are made of iron!”, the sailor purportedly shouted – thus earning her the nickname Old Ironsides.
Restoring the ship in keeping with the tenets of her original design was an important objective in the project, said Naval History and Heritage Command Director Sam Cox.
“When she was built, Constitution was among the best-designed ships in the world, she could outrun anything she couldn’t outgun and outgun anything she couldn’t outrun,” Cox said.
“Expanding that advantage has been the objective of Navy shipbuilders since Constitution’s keel was laid,” Cox continued. “Just yesterday, the Navy commissioned the USS Gerald R. Ford, a technological marvel of today. Ford and her crew will make history in new and innovative ways and can trace their lineage back to USS Constitution and the Sailors who first took her to sea in 1797.”
Constitution remains in service to her country today, sharing the history and heritage of America’s Navy. The ship is expected to continue post-docking restoration work before re-opening to the public in early September.
This old Army guy was quite impressed by every thing (and every *one*) he saw.
As of this date the Constitution is the only vessel currently in active United States Navy service that has actually sunk an enemy ship.
Last time I was in Boston I stayed in a B&B that was a houseboat. I saw her under sail going into the harbor. Thrilling.
Wonderful news!
Good news. I'm going to be in Boston in October and would really like to tour her. I was four years ago but Obama had shut down the government and the navy yard was closed. Hopefully they won't do it again this year.
the 105-year old dreadnought that is the only surviving battleship to have served in both Worfd War One and Two--They just recently fixed some leaks that had the old gal listing 8 degrees to starboard.
https://res.cloudinary.com/sagacity/image/upload/c_crop,h_3365,w_4237,x_0,y_25/c_limit,dpr_auto,f_auto,fl_lossy,q_80,w_1080/IMG17193_i5aqwi.jpg
Other than for sentimentality, what’s the point? Leaky old obsolete sitting-duck battleship.
Captain Robert S. Gerosa, Jr., commanding officer of Constitution, has the coolest job on the planet.
Agree money well spent. I had the privilege of visiting the USS Constitution in the early 90’s while visiting Boston. Walked her deck, went below, talked to the folks on her. It was a great experience. Would love to get back to Boston (a great town IMO) and visit her again.
Because it is the USS TEXAS!!!!
ps
It is no longer an active battleship and belongs to the State of Texas.
Adding a visit to her to bucket list
I searched YouTube for a longer documentary on the entire job but found only short, under 5 minute clips of various stages of the reconstruction. Anyone know if a full documentary is out there yet?
I tell this story a lot because if I ever get my “Patriot’s History” videos made, this will lead an episode:
At 65 years old, Paul Revere was asked by the Navy to refit the U.S.S. Constitution’s brass and copper fittings. They also asked him to put copper sheeting on it. Revere didn’t have the equipment, but even at his age, he invested in a new copper rolling mill.
100 years later, in its first major rennovation, the Constitution was inspected by an officer who noticed in his report that every one of the copper bolts had been stretched to the limit, but not one had broken.
I love Boston and have countless good memories associated with that city. It’s a privilege in my opinion, to have even laid eyes upon this magnificent ship. I’m glad they’re keeping up with repairs and restoration.
Sometimes it seems that history was so very long ago, bit it wasn’t. When I was born, there were still people alive who survived the civil war. As a child, my friends had grandparents who experienced the civil war. The war of 1812 was only a few years before the civil war. One hundred years is one lifetime, and a lot can happen in a single day.
When you get to see the artifacts, it does bring things up close and personal. Makes it real.
When Bob Vila was doing his “This Old House” on NPTV. He did a show from the ships location repair shop which gave one a good idea on how complex the problems were .
They are already working on permanently dry berthing it.
Jim, how did you get such a large... 
sucking hole in your soul?
I know it was not just the apparent fact... 
you are not in any way a native Texan--
You are right - I am not not in any way a native Texan. But I love Texas. But not sentimental rusty buckets.
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