USS Constellation ( 1797 ) USS " Constellation " was a 38 - gun frigate , one of the " Six Original Frigates " authorized for construction by the Naval Act of 1794 . She was distinguished as the first U . S . Navy vessel to put to sea and the first U . S . Navy vessel to engage and defeat an enemy vessel . Constructed in 1797 , she was decommissioned in 1853 . Design and construction . American merchant vessels began to fall prey to Barbary Pirates , along the so - called " Barbary Coast " of North Africa , Morocco , Tunis ( in future Tunisia ) , Tripoli ( in future Libya ) , and most notably from Algiers ( in future Algeria ) , in the Mediterranean Sea during the 1790s . Congress responded with the Naval Act of 1794 . The Act provided funds for the construction of six frigates to be built in six different East Coast ports ; however , it included a clause stating that construction of the ships would cease if the United States agreed to peace terms with Algiers . By the time of the conclusion in 1815 , of the later War of 1812 with Great Britain , the United States had fought a series of three brief , but savage naval and amphibious wars . Joshua Humphreys ' design was long on keel and narrow of beam ( width ) to allow for the mounting of very heavy guns . The design incorporated a diagonal scantling ( rib ) scheme to limit hogging and included extremely heavy planking . This gave the hull greater strength than those of more lightly built frigates . Humphreys developed his design after realizing that the fledgling United States could not match for size the navies of the European states . He therefore designed his frigates to be able to overpower other frigates , but with the speed to escape from a " ship of the line " ( equivalent to a modern - day " battleship " ) . The " " United States Frigate Constellation " " was built under the direction of Colonel David Stodder at his naval shipyard on Harris Creek in Baltimore ' s Fells Point maritime community , according to a design by Joshua Humphreys and launched on 7 September 1797 , just as the United States entered the Quasi - War with the revolutionary French Republic . Harris Creek which flows into the Northwest Branch of the Patapsco River was later filled in to gain additional land for residential / industrial development and diverted underground to a subterranean storm drain and culvert in the early 19th century . It was situated east of Fells Point and south of where modern - day Patterson Park , ( near Highlandtown ) , and the community of Canton are currently located . An earlier visitor to the Harris Creek naval shipyard of David Stodder , east of Baltimore Town in 1796 , the Duke de la Rochefoucaule - Liancourt , saw the " " Constellation " " under construction and noted in his journal : " I thought her too much encumbered with wood - work within , but in other respects she is a fine vessel being built of those beautiful kinds of wood , the ever - green oak and cedar ; she is pierced for 36 guns . " Armament . The Naval Act of 1794 had specified 36 - gun frigates ; however , " " Constellation " " and her sister - ship were re - rated to 38 ' s because of their large dimensions , being in length and in width . The " ratings " by number of guns were meant only as an approximation , as " " Constellation " " could and did often carry up to 48 guns . Ships of this era had no permanent battery of guns such as modern Navy ships carry . The guns were designed to be completely portable and often were exchanged between ships as situations warranted . Each commanding officer outfitted armaments to their liking , taking into consideration factors such as the overall tonnage of cargo , complement of personnel aboard , and planned routes to be sailed . Consequently , the armaments on ships changed often during their careers , and records of the changes were not generally kept . Quasi - War . " Constellation " vs . " L ' Insurgente " . On 9 February 1799 , under the command of Captain Thomas Truxtun , " Constellation " fought and captured the frigate " L ' Insurgente " of 36 guns , the fastest ship in the French Navy . The battle started about NE of the island of Nevis about midday when " Constellation " spotted " L ' Insurgente " who cracked on studding sails and attempted to run . " L ' Insurgente " had recently captured , a schooner , in November 1796 and three weeks previous had been chased by the " Constitution " and had escaped . " L ’ Insurgente " s job was that of commerce raiding ; she wanted nothing to do with another warship and tried to flee " Constellation " . Within an hour of hauling in chase Truxtun was close enough to make private signals to identify if the ship he was pursuing was British or not . With no answer , he proceeded to chase " L ' Insurgente " down , clearing for action and beating to quarters . Truxtun made private signals for the US Navy and again received no answer . " Constellation " crowded on all sail despite a rising squall that threatened to tear a sail or throw a spar . Reefing sail just long enough to weather the short squall , " Constellation " hardly paused but the same was not to be for " L ' Insurgente " as her topmast snapped and slowed her to the onrushing " Constellation " . Captain Barreaut ordered " L ' Insurgente " to lay up and prepared to fight . " Constellation " was outfitted with 24 pounder guns that caused her to lean too much to lee due to topweight and thus had to surrender the weather gage to " L ' Insurgente " . She would be refitted with 18 pounder guns in her next refit . " L ' Insurgente " raised the French Tricolor and Captain Barreaut tried to ask for parley . Captain Truxtun refused to answer as his orders were to attack any French warship or privateer and answered when his last gun could be brought to bear . American warships of this period fired for the hull as did the British and each of the 24 pounders had been double shotted . " L ' Insurgente " fired as per her training at the " Constellation " s masts and rigging . " Constellation " s masts were saved when her sail was reduced taking pressure off the damaged mast . " L ' Insurgente " was devastated by " Constellation " s first broadside with many dead and others deserting their guns . " L ' Insurgente " tried to board and slowed to close but this allowed " Constellation " to shoot ahead and crossed her bows for a bow rake with another broadside . " Constellation " crossed to windward and " L ' Insurgente " turned to follow with both crews now exchanging port broadsides instead of starboard . One of " Constellation " s 24 pounders smashed through the hull of " L ' Insurgente " ; unfortunately for " L ' Insurgente " , her 12 pounders were not equal to the same task against " Constellation " s hull . Captain Barreaut had been shown one of " Constellation " s 24 pound cannon balls and understood that he was in a completely unequal contest with sails down and nothing comparable to reply with many already dead and wounded . He struck colors — the first major victory by an American - designed and - built warship . " Constellation " vs . " La Vengeance " . " Constellation " sailed under Captain Thomas Truxtun from Saint Kitts on 30 January , and encountered the French frigate " La Vengeance " , of the " La Résistance " class ( design by Pierre Degay , with 30 x 24 - pounder guns and 20 x 12 - pounder guns ) during the night on 1 February . " La Vengeance " was out weighed by " Constellation " but had the heavier broadside , to . " La Vengeance " attempted to run and had to be chased down . An hour after sunset " Constellation " came into hailing range and when " La Vengeance " was ordered to stand to and surrender , she answered with a broadside . After an hour " Constellation " s foresails failed and had to be repaired ; she then overtook " La Vengeance " and a running battle exchanging broadsides continued . Twice the ships came close enough that boarders were called for on both ships , the second occasion was quite bloody as US Marines in the " Constellation " shot up the deck of " La Vengeance " leaving her deck covered in bodies of the dead and wounded , and forcing her boarding party to seek cover . A young Lieutenant standing next to Captain Pitot of the " La Vengeance " had his arm taken off at this time . " Constellation " was victorious after a five - hour battle . " La Vengeance " was so holed in the hull and her rigging so cut up that she grounded outside of the port of Curaçao rather than attempt to sail into port for fear of sinking . The French commander just managed to save his ship from capture and - upon returning to port - was so humiliated he later boasted that the American ship he had fought was a much larger and more powerful ship of the line . Despite a heavier broadside Captain Pitot of the " La Vengeance " accounted that she had fired 742 rounds in the engagement while Captain Truxtun of " Constellation " reported 1 , 229 rounds expended . " Constellation " s rigging and spars were so damaged she dare not try to sail upwind and so went to port in Jamaica . Unable to complete a refit she limped home on a jury rig . After the encounter , the " Constellation " s speed and power inspired the French to nickname her the " Yankee Racehorse . " First Barbary War . During the United States ' preoccupation with France during the Quasi - War , troubles with the Barbary States were suppressed by the payment of tribute to ensure that American merchant ships were not harassed and seized . In 1801 Yusuf Karamanli of Tripoli , dissatisfied with the amount of tribute he was receiving in comparison to Algiers , demanded an immediate payment of $ 250 , 000 . In response , Thomas Jefferson sent a squadron of frigates to protect American merchant ships in the Mediterranean and pursue peace with the Barbary States . The first squadron , under the command of Richard Dale in , was instructed to escort merchant ships through the Mediterranean and negotiate with leaders of the Barbary States . Sailing with the squadron of Commodore Richard Morris , and later , with that of Commodores Samuel Barron and John Rodgers , " Constellation " served in the blockade of Tripoli in May 1802 . She cruised widely throughout the Mediterranean in 1804 to show the flag ; evacuated in June 1805 a contingent of U . S . Marines , as well as diplomatic personages , from Derne at the conclusion of a fleet - shore operation against Tripoli ; and took part in a squadron movement against Tunis that culminated in peace terms in August 1805 . Constellation returned to the States in November 1805 , mooring at Washington where she later was placed in ordinary until 1812 . War of 1812 . " Constellation " underwent repairs at Washington in 1812 - 13 , and with the advent of war with England , commanded by Captain Charles Stewart , she was dispatched to Hampton Roads . In January 1813 , shortly after her arrival she was effectively blockaded by a British squadron of line - of - battle ships and frigates . She kedged up toward Norfolk , and when the tide rose ran in and anchored between the forts ; and a few days later dropped down to cover the forts which were being built at Craney Island . Here she was exposed to attacks from the great British force still lying in Hampton Roads , and , fearing they would attempt to carry her by surprise , Captain Stewart made every preparation for defense . She was anchored in the middle of the narrow channel , flanked by gun - boats , her lower ports closed , not a rope left hanging over the sides ; the boarding nettings , boiled in half - made pitch till they were as hard as wire , were triced outboard toward the yardarms , and loaded with kentledge to fall on the attacking boats when the tricing lines were cut , while the carronades were loaded to the muzzle with musket balls , and depressed so as to sweep the water near the ship . Twice , a force of British , estimated by their foes to number 2 , 000 men , started off at night to take " Constellation " by surprise but on each occasion they were discovered and closely watched by her guard - boats , and they never ventured to make the attack . Second Barbary War . Soon after the United States declared war against Britain in 1812 , Algiers took advantage of the United States ' preoccupation with Britain and began intercepting American merchant ships in the Mediterranean . On 2 March 1815 , at the request of President James Madison , Congress declared war on Algiers . Work preparing two American squadrons promptly began — one at Boston under Commodore William Bainbridge , and one at New York under Commodore Steven Decatur . " Constellation " , attached to the Mediterranean Squadron under Commodore Stephen Decatur , sailed from New York on 20 May 1815 and joined in the capture of the Algerian frigate " Mashuda " on 17 June 1815 . Treaties of peace soon ensued Algiers , Tunis and Tripoli . " Constellation " remained with the squadron under Commodores William Bainbridge , Isaac Chauncey , and John Shaw to enforce the accords , returning to Hampton Roads only in December 1817 . Later career . From 12 November 1819 to 24 April 1820 " Constellation " served as flagship of Commodore Charles Morris on the Brazil Station , protecting American commerce against privateers and supporting the negotiation of trade agreements with South American nations . On 25 July 1820 , she sailed for the first time to Pacific waters where she was attached to the Squadron of Commodore Charles Stewart . She remained thus employed for two years , protecting American shipping off the coast of Peru , an area where disquiet erupted into revolt against Spain . In 1825 , " Constellation " was chosen as flagship for Commodore Lewis Warrington and began duty with the West India Squadron to eradicate waning piracy operations in the Caribbean . During an outbreak of yellow fever at Key West , Florida , Warrington moved the squadron ' s home port to Pensacola , Florida where a permanent base was established . Other ships operating with " Constellation " during this period in the West Indies were , , , , , and . Warrington returned to the United States with " Constellation " in 1826 . In August 1829 , she cruised to the Mediterranean to watch over American shipping and to collect indemnities from previous losses suffered by U . S . merchantmen . While en route to her station , she carried the American ministers to France and England to their posts of duty . Returning to the United States in November 1831 , she underwent minor repairs and departed again for the Mediterranean in April 1832 where she remained until an outbreak of cholera forced her to sail for home in November 1834 . In October 1835 , " Constellation " sailed for the Gulf of Mexico to assist in crushing the Seminole uprising . She landed shore parties to relieve the Army garrisons and sent her boats on amphibious expeditions . Mission accomplished , she then cruised with the West India Squadron until 1838 serving part of this period in the capacity of flagship for Commodore Alexander Dallas . The decade of the 1840s saw " Constellation " circumnavigate the globe . As flagship of Captain Kearny and the East India Squadron , her mission , as assigned in March 1841 , was to safeguard American lives and property against loss in the Opium War , and further , to enable negotiation of commercial treaties . En route home in May 1843 she entered the Hawaiian Islands , helping to keep them from becoming a British protectorate , and thereafter she sailed homeward making calls at South American ports . Fate . In 1853 " Constellation " was struck and broken up for scrap at the Gosport Navy Yard in Norfolk , Virginia . At the same time , the keel was laid for what became known as the second USS " Constellation " . In the later half of the 20th century , the 1854 version was thought to be the 1797 version as the city of Baltimore promoted the ship as the original and some naval historians believed the Baltimore ship to be the rebuilt original . The paper " Fouled Anchors : The " Constellation " Question Answered " , by Dana M . Wegner , " et al . " , published by the Navy ' s David Taylor Research Center in 1991 , concludes that they are different ships . The conclusive proof came during the renovation of the ship in Baltimore concluding in 1999 in which all evidence pointed to the construction of an entirely new sloop - of - war from the 1850s era and not the 1797 ship . While there is no indication in the US Naval Registry from the time period of a complete destruction or for an appropriation for an entirely new ship , the yard log and account books from Gosport record in detail the breakup of the old ship and the building of the new , all under the Navy ' s " General Increase " or lump - sum construction and repair budget . A supposed notation that the original ship was remodeled instead , using the original building materials to construct an entirely new sloop - of - war , was one of several " Constellation " documents determined by the FBI to be forgeries .