 |
| The real-life USS Constitution in Boston Harbor - Photo courtesy of the National Park Service |
 |
| USS Constitution, as seen in Fallout 4 - Screen shot by Peace'n Hugs from the Fallout wiki |
USS Constitution is the oldest commissioned ship in the United States Navy. Built at Edmund Hartt's shipyard in the North End of Boston, it launched more than 220 years ago on October 21, 1797.
Sixty acres of trees were used in its construction. Bolts that fastened the timbers and copper sheathing were made by Paul Revere (whose house is also on the Freedom Trail and whose bronze statue sits outside Old North Church).
With a 204-foot overall length, Constitution was rated a 44-gun frigate but often carried more than fifty guns, along with a crew of around 450.
It earned the nickname "Old Ironsides" during the War of 1812 because the cannon fire from enemy ships could not penetrate the strong oak hull.
In Fallout 4, a rocket-powered USS Constitution is found atop Weatherby Savings & Loan, with a robotic crew led by a sentry bot named Captain Ironsides.
During the side quest "Last Voyage of the U.S.S. Constitution," players have the option of assisting Captain Ironsides by repairing the ship and earning a unique weapon called Broadsider, which is a modified naval cannon with explosive cannonballs.
 |
| Captain Ironsides (right) aboard USS Constitution in Fallout 4 PS4 screen shot by Jewelsmith |
"Old Ironsides" is also the name of a poem written by Oliver Wendell Holmes Sr in 1830, as a tribute to the real Constitution. His poem roused public sentiment and saved the ship from being decommissioned.
Today, officers and crew from the US Navy still serve aboard Constitution, which is located in the Charlestown Navy Yard and part of Boston National Historic Park.
After some renovations, Constitution sailed in July 1997 to celebrate its bicentennial, and again in August 2012 to mark the 200th anniversary of its victories in the War of 1812. But mainly the ship serves as a historic site, open to the public free of charge.
Check out my other articles and return for updates or follow me on YouTube, Twitter or Patreon for more information.
~ Jewelsmith (aka JLHilton)
Sources for this article and sites for further reading:
Comments
Post a Comment