Five Ships, One Name

Throughout United States naval history, it's common for ships to carry the same name as those who came before them. Yet few come with the controversy and excitement of the USS Constellation and the ships that bear its name. The first of five, the frigate Constellation, was designed by naval constructors Joshua Humphreys and Josiah Fox. After the creation of its design, it was built between the years 1796 and 1797. The frigate had an exceptional career since its launch in Baltimore. Highlights of her tour included participation in the first and second Barbary Wars, the blockade of Tripoli, the War of 1812, and numerous diplomatic missions around the globe including areas of the Mediterranean, India, and Peru. In 1853, the United States Navy realized the poor condition of the frigate and chose to fully dismantle the ship and create a brand-new vessel. It was decided that the frigate would be scrapped in order to create a new Constellation, the second ship of its name, a sloop of war. 

Frigate USS Constellation chasing the French ship L'Insurgente  on 9 February 1799
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In late May of 1853, the sloop was undergoing the design process by John Lenthall while workers started searching for oak timber. As late June approached, the timber for the keel was carefully laid out, using three pieces of the original frigate for the new ship. As September arrived, the Commandant of the Gosport Navy Yard wrote to the Secretary of the Navy to ask for authorization to auction off the leftover timber of the original frigate. 

On August 26th, 1854 at precisely 11:45 AM, the new sloop of war Constellation was launched. It would be the last warship designed and built by the Navy that was powered strictly by sails. It was officially commissioned on July 28th, 1855, and as we will later learn, it had a story every bit as interesting as the frigate before it. During the sloop's tenure, it served as part of the Mediterranean Squadron. It patrolled the coast of Africa in order to monitor and block the African slave trade, served as a training ship in Newport, RI, transported exhibits for the World's Fair in Paris, and carried food to Ireland during the famine in 1880.

USS Constellation, sloop of war
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The third Constellation (CC-2) was the second-in-line of the Lexington-class battlecruisers. It was laid down in Newport News, Virginia on August 18th, 1920. Before the ship was completed, it was canceled in August of 1923 as a result of the Washington Naval Treaty, the aim of which was to prevent an arms race post-WWI by limiting naval construction. The Constellation shell was then sold in November of 1923 for scrap for $10,666.66.

Possible picture of the USS Constellation (CC-2) in Newport News, Virginia
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The USS Constellation (CV-64) followed the Constellation (CC-2). Its keel was laid in September of 1957 at the New York Naval Shipyard in Brooklyn, NY. During the construction, there was a massive fire that took the lives of 50 workers, created damages of $75 million, and forced a delay of seven months. The finished Constellation was nicknamed "Connie" by its crew and was commissioned on October 27th, 1961 when it started conducting air operations in the Virginia Capes. In the summer of 1962, "Connie" began her journey in the Pacific Fleet, making the trip around Cape Horn to its new base in San Diego. Later, she would play a significant role in the Vietnam War, relieving the USS Kitty Hawk in the Gulf of Tonkin. Overall this Constellation had a total of five combat deployments during the Vietnam War. The ship also served in the Korean peninsula during the late 1990s in response to the tension between North and South Korea. The Constellation served for forty-two years and was decommissioned on August 7th, 2003. 

USS Constellation (CV-64)
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The newest Constellation, the FFG-62 is currently in the process of planning and construction. It will be built by Marinette Marine in Marinette, Wisconsin. It is expected to enter service in 2026. The ship will be sponsored by Melissa Braithwaite, the wife of Secretary of the Navy Kenneth Braithwaite.

Computer rendering of F/MM design Constellation (FFG-62) Class Frigate
Source: Fincantieri/Marinette Marine, screen capture from video entitled "Constellation Class Frigate 360 View," posted at https://futurefrigate.com/, accessed February 9th, 2022

This blog post kicks off a series of articles on the USS Constellation, in particular the unique and important history of the sloop of war vessel. In Spring 2022, the Naval War College Museum will open an exhibition on the sloop of war Constellation timed to coincide with the culmination of a restoration project on an original anchor of the sloop of war Constellation on display outside the museum. 

by Alex Kenney, Intern from Salve Regina University