USS Constellation - Sloop of War of the United States Navy
Sloop of War USS Constellation in Baltimore Harbor
The Sloop of War Constellation is preserved in Baltimore Harbor. Constellation is the last sailing ship designed for the US Navy (1854), and it is the last intact ship which saw active cruising service with the United States Navy during the American Civil War. (The frigate USS Constitution served only in training roles during the war.)
This website ordinarily tells the story of long vanished ships through their preserved cannons. Constellation still exists, though all the cannons aboard her are replicas and reproductions.
As a Sloop of War, she carried all of her main armament on a single gun deck. Her top most deck, the spar deck, was originally unarmed - though during the Civil War she carried two smaller Parrott Rifles on the spar deck: a 20-Pounder and a 30-Pounder. As displayed, she carries a reproduction 20-Pounder Parrott which is used in firing demonstrations.
Her main battery was carried aboard the gun deck: sixteen 8-Inch Shell Guns of 63 Hundredweight and four 32-Pounders of 57-Hundredweight. All of the 32-Pounders and 8-Inch guns aboard now are non-firing replicas.
For those interested in the United States Navy of the American Civil War, Constellation is a fascinating ship to visit. Though she lacks steam machinery, she gives some idea of what the steam frigates, sloops, and gunboats of the US Navy during the war may have looked like on the inside. She also is interesting to compare to the 1797 frigate USS Constitution. Aside from her armament, the two sailing ships are quite similar in internal arrangements.
I highly recommend watching the tour of USS Constellation presented by the YouTube Channel Destinations of History: America's Last Sailing Warship: USS Constellation from US Civil War
Constellation's starboard side seen from the aft gangway
Constellation's spar deck viewed from aft of the mizzen mast (near the stern). Note the lack of armament on this deck.
The reproduction 20-Pounder Parrott Rifle at the stern of USS Constellation. This cannon is used for firing demonstrations.
Constellation's wheel
Constellation's port battery. Note that the 8-Inch reproduction shell guns are mounted on traditional four truck (wheel) naval carriages.
Constellation's port battery. Notice the rammer and sponge mounted on the deck above the gun battery.
Constellation's starboard battery
Reproduction 8-Inch shell gun mounted on a four truck naval carriage. Note the breeching rope running through the cascabel. Note also how much lighter the ropes of the block and tackle are which are used to run out the cannon.
Replica 32-Pounder. This replica looks more like the "Gradual Increase" 32-Pounders of the 1820s than the 32-Pounders of 57 Hundredweight which the ship carried in service.
Constellation's starboard battery. Note the rammers and sponges hanging from the deck above.
The lock of one of the 8-Inch shell guns. The lanyard would have pulled the hammer down on a primer which would have fired the shell gun.
When used with a lanyard, the hammer falls on the primer. The continued pull on the lanyard then pulls the hammer back and clear from the vent.
The ship's pumps were worked by sailors pushing these bars up and down.
The captain's day cabin on the gun deck - looking aft towards the stern ports.
The captain's day cabin - looking forward towards the ship's cannons. The captain's sleeping quarters are at right.
Constellation's gun deck viewed from the bow looking aft. Note the stove at right.
Constellation's bow sprit viewed from the bow of the gun deck.
Hammocks on the berth deck (below the gun deck)
Another view of the berth deck from aft of the main mast. Note the hatches in the deck allowing stores to be lowered into the hold below.
The pipes of the ship's pumps as seen on the berth deck.
Messing (Dining) arrangements for a group of sailors set up on the berth deck
The wardroom (officers' common room and cabins) on the aft end of the berth deck
The Master's Cabin off of the wardroom
The Executive Officer's Cabin off of the wardroom
Stores area on the orlop deck (below the berth deck)
Museum walkway built over the hold. The ship's ballast and hull frames can be seen here.
The aft end of the hold. The aft end of the orlop deck can be seen in the top part of the photo.
The aft end of the orlop deck. The height of this deck seemed to me to be less than four feet. I could only crawl.
Sloop of War Constellation in Baltimore Harbor
