She Will Sail, Again

[dales]

BOSTON — The U.S. Navy’s oldest commissioned warship will sail under its own power for just the second time in more than a century to commemorate the battle that won it the nickname “Old Ironsides.”

The USS Constitution, which was first launched in 1797, will be tugged from its berth in Boston Harbor on Sunday to the main deepwater pathway into the harbor. It will then set out to open seas for a 10-minute cruise.

The short trip marks the day two centuries ago when the Constitution bested the British frigate HMS Guerriere in a fierce battle during the War of 1812. It follows a three-year restoration project and is the first time the Constitution has been to sea on its own since its 200th birthday in 1997.

Before that, it hadn’t sailed under its own power since 1881. The Constitution is periodically tugged into the harbor for historical display.

Chief Petty Officer Frank Neely, a Constitution spokesman and crew member, said the crew wants to honor and preserve the Constitution with Sunday’s sail.

“This ship is a national icon to us. ... She’s very special to us. We think she’s very special to the United States,” he said.

The Constitution was under the command of Capt. Issac Hull when it engaged the Guerriere off Nova Scotia on Aug. 19, 1812. The young war was not going well for America, which had surrendered Detroit to the British with basically no resistance a week earlier............who in the hell wants detroit?

But the Guerriere proved no match for the Constitution, which was heavier and longer. The vessels blasted away at each other at close range, even colliding at one point, during the 35-minute battle. The Constitution’s 24-pound cannonballs felled the Guerriere’s mast, while the British vessels’ 18-pound cannonballs had trouble penetrating the Constitution’s two-foot thick live oak hull, said Matthew Brenckle, a historian at the USS Constitution Museum.

Brenckle said a sailor’s memoirs recorded how one cannonball seemed to slightly penetrate the ship, before dropping into the sea. The sailor then called out the quote that would give the Constitution its nickname, “Huzzah, her sides are made of iron! See where the shot fell out!”

It wasn’t the first naval win in what would be a divisive, expensive war, but it set off celebrations around the country, Brenckle said.

“Strategically, it really did nothing to change the course of the war,” he said. “But the morale boost that that provided for the American cause, I think was quite important.”

During Sunday’s sail, the Constitution’s crew of about 65, accompanied by 150 sailors selected to be part of event, will unfurl four of its 36 sails, Neely said. The tugs will stand by as a precaution when the Constitution sails on its own. And the trip can’t happen unless the weather conditions are right.

The ship won’t move in winds less than five mph and anything over about 15 mph would put too much stress on the vessel, Neely said. But the forecast looks favorable.

The lengthy work in preparation for Sunday’s sail was largely on the Constitution’s aesthetics, though the masts were restored, Neely said. The crew also underwent extensive training on how to handle a vessel that’s unlike any other in the U.S. Navy.

“A lot of hours of work went into this one day right here,” Neely said. “I wouldn’t be surprised if I broke a couple of tears after this.”


Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/news/nationa ... z240VIKOvc

[rubato]

We have had the best ships, the best crews, and have dominated every sea we have sailed in since the Revolutionary War began. We have met and totally dominated every other challenger in wars both cold and hot.

Of course we will eventually be as nostalgic and doddering as the Brits are today when we decline from the only superpower in the world to just plain old 'better than you, anyway' and eventually on our way down to 'back then we were something'. Gives a man quite the sense of pride. Doesn't it? Basking in the achievements of others, merely because those others are of one's own citizenship? Quite the little frission of unearned glory.


yrs,
rubato

[Jarlaxle]

Hang on tight, Rube...your turnip truck is taking an off-ramp!

That might actually be the STUPIDEST THING EVER POSTED on this board. Would you please off yourself and put us out of your misery?

[loCAtek]

Awesome!!! ThX Dales

She stands as THE symbol of the Fleet on the US Navy Emblem;




Little trivia:

The sailors who manned this vessel did not have to take any further training in historic seamanship for this voyage: being assigned as crew to the Constitution is a full-time active duty station, and all members must know all aspects of the craft as part of their assignment. She is NOT RETIRED, but in full commission, and must be able to sail into battle at any time.

[oldr_n_wsr]

when we decline from the only superpower in the world to just plain old 'better than you, anyway' and eventually on our way down to 'back then we were something'.

With attitudes like that, I'm surprised we're not there already. Thankfully there are plenty who have better attitudes.

[Sean]

You know, I would tend to agree with ruby on that one...

These things are cyclical. The US will no more remain a superpower forever than the British or the Romans did.

Why should they?

[Lord Jim]

These things are cyclical. The US will no more remain a superpower forever than the British or the Romans did.

Why should they?

Because we're better than those sorry bitches...


HELLO?

[Sean]

[dales]

Jesus saith:

"Pride cometh before a fall"

Yet the USA isn't mentioned in Scipture.

[Lord Jim]

Well, as a person who, as I've mentioned before, has decided to "just say no" to the whole idea of dying, the passing of the power of empires is not particularly interesting...

I'm much more concerned about this:

In about 6 billion years, the Sun’s core will run out of hydrogen. When this happens, the inert helium ash built up in the core will become unstable and collapse under its own weight. This will cause the core to heat up and get denser. The Sun will grow in size and enter the red giant phase of its evolution. The expanding Sun will consume the orbits of Mercury and Venus, and probably gobble up the Earth as well.[ ] Even if the Earth survives, the intense heat from the red sun will scorch our planet and make it completely impossible for life to survive.

Read more: http://www.universetoday.com/18847/life ... z24Vi93WIj

Wow...

I don't know about you, but I intend to be long gone from here before that happens...

It never hurts to plan ahead....

[loCAtek]

USS Constitution Sailors Teach Naval History

Sep 13, 2012

Navy News| by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Kathryn E. Macdonald




WEST SENECA, N.Y. -- Sailors assigned to USS Constitution taught early U.S. Navy history to students at West Elementary School in West Seneca, N.Y., Sept. 10.

Constitution Sailors gave an interactive historical presentation to more than 120 fifth grade students as part of Buffalo Navy Week taking place Sept. 10-17.

"The level of knowledge and interest exhibited by the fifth graders was impressive," said Geiser. "Their curiosity and fearless engagement of us and the historical significance of Constitution and her role in winning the War of 1812 was incredibly rewarding."

Students learned about the creation of the Navy, Constitution's construction, her famous battle with HMS Guerriere during the War of 1812 and the mission of today's Navy as it relates to the past.

"I think it's thrilling to have authentic Sailors come to tell the students about the USS Constitution," said Anne Reukauf, a fifth grade teacher at West Elementary School. "I know the children were very excited. They have been reading up on a few things the past few days about the War of 1812. This presentation gave the students a better idea on the events of the war, having the Sailors here, instead of just reading text or watching a video."





Constitution Sailors undergo 20 weeks of naval history training as soon as they check on board, along with additional weekly training.

"It was great how we were able to share the history that we learn about USS Constitution with the students," said Thormodson. "Knowing what I do now about Constitution, I wish I was granted the opportunity to learn about the ship while I was in elementary school."

Buffalo Navy Week is the seventh of eight Navy weeks Constitution Sailors are scheduled to participate in throughout 2012. Buffalo Navy Week will commemorate the bicentennial of the War of 1812 and The Star Spangled Banner with U.S. Navy ship visits and special events recognizing America's Navy for keeping the sea free for more than 200 years.

The primary purpose of Navy week is to increase Navy awareness by presenting the Navy to Americans who live in cities that normally do not have a significant naval presence. Buffalo Navy Week will showcase the mission, capabilities and achievements of the U.S. Navy and provide residents the opportunity to meet Sailors firsthand.

Constitution is the world's oldest commissioned warship afloat and welcomes more than 500,000 visitors per year. She defended the sea lanes against threat from 1797 to 1855, much like the mission of today's Navy.

Constitution's mission today is to offer community outreach and education about the ship's history.

© Copyright 2012 Navy News. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Military.com


Real Sailors with Swords - can you dig that!?

[MajGenl.Meade]

Jesus saith:

"Pride cometh before a fall"

Yet the USA isn't mentioned in Scipture.

Neither is that 'quote'.

Proverbs 16:18 Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.
(ESV)

You're welcome
Meade

[dales]

My paraphrase.

[MajGenl.Meade]

....and misattribution to Jesus

[dales]

Between He and I.