World's oldest warship, USS Constitution, launched in 1797, comes home to Boston Harbor for $15million refurbishment after two centuries of battles on the water
- USS Constitution was commissioned by President George Washington in 1797 after the American Revolution
- Built to protect ships from pirates off the coast of North Africa but also fought against France and Great Britain
- Now dry docked in birthplace, Boston, for a refurbishment that could take years and cost up to $15million
This is the world's oldest warship which has now drydocked for a $15million refurbishment after more than two centuries on the high seas.
The work is expected to take years and is now taking place in Boston, Massachusetts, where it was built
The USS Constitution was launched in 1797 in response to the threat of Barbary Corsairs, pirates threatening shipping lanes off the coast of north Africa.
It was one of six commissioned by President George Washington after the American Revolution as the United States' Continental Navy had been disbanded, leaving the nation without a credible sea power.
So while it had hugely lucrative trade routes, it had nothing to protect
The 44-gun frigate won all her engagements in her first two wars, the
And during the War of 1812 with Great Britain, to the surprise of both the Americans and the British, she defeated four English warships, earning each of her three captains a congressional gold medal.
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The 44-gun frigate is the world's oldest warship and has maintained its 18th century character despite two centuries on the water
This is the world's oldest warship which has now drydocked for a $15million refurbishment after more than two centuries on the high seas
The USS Constitution was launched in 1797 in response to the threat of Barbary Corsairs, pirates threatening shipping lanes off the coast of north Africa
The work is expected to take years and is now taking place in Boston, Massachusetts, where it was built
It was one of six commissioned by President George Washington after the American Revolution as the United States' Continental Navy had been disbanded, leaving the nation without a credible sea power
Two National Park Service Rangers watch as the USS Constitution is guided into a dry dock in Boston
So while it had hugely lucrative trade routes, it had nothing to protect
During the War of 1812 with Great Britain, to the surprise of both the Americans and the British, she defeated four English warships, earning each of her three captains a congressional gold medal
The 44-gun frigate won all her engagements in her first two wars, the
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