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USS ''Constitution'' is a wooden-hulled, three-masted heavy frigate of the United States Navy, named by President George Washington after the Constitution of the United States of America. Launched in 1797, ''Constitution'' was one of six original frigates authorized for construction by the Naval Act of 1794 and the third constructed. Joshua Humphreys designed the frigates to be the young Navy's capital ships, and so ''Constitution'' and her sisters were larger and more heavily armed and built than standard frigates of the period. The ''Constitution'' was built in the North End of Boston, Massachusetts, at Edmund Hartt's shipyard. Her first duties with the newly formed U.S. Navy were to provide protection for American merchant shipping during the Quasi-War with France and to defeat the Barbary pirates in the First Barbary War. ''Constitution'' is most famous for her actions during the War of 1812 against the United Kingdom, when she captured numerous merchant ships and defeated five British warships: , , , , and . The battle with ''Guerriere'' earned her the nickname of "Old Ironsides" and public adoration that has repeatedly saved her from scrapping. She continued to serve as flagship in the Mediterranean and African squadrons, and circled the world in the 1840s. During the American Civil War, she served as a training ship for the United States Naval Academy. She carried US artwork and industrial displays to the Paris Exposition of 1878. Retired from active service in 1881, ''Constitution'' served as a receiving ship until designated a museum ship in 1907. In 1934 she completed a three-year, 90-port tour of the nation. ''Constitution'' sailed under her own power for her 200th birthday in 1997, and again in August 2012, to commemorate the 200th anniversary of her victory over ''Guerriere''. ''Constitution''s stated mission today is to promote understanding of the Navy's role in war and peace through educational outreach, historic demonstration, and active participation in public events as part of the Naval History & Heritage Command. As a fully commissioned U.S. Navy ship, her crew of 60 officers and sailors participate in ceremonies, educational programs, and special events while keeping the ship open to visitors year round and providing free tours. The officers and crew are all active-duty U.S. Navy personnel and the assignment is considered to be special duty in the U.S. Navy. Traditionally, command of the vessel is assigned to a Navy commander. Usually berthed at Pier 1 of the former Charlestown Navy Yard, at one end of Boston's Freedom Trail, on May 18, 2015 ''Constitution'' entered Dry Dock 1 in Charlestown Navy Yard to begin a three-year restoration program.〔(【引用サイトリンク】 title= USS Constitution to begin restorations )〕 ==Construction== (詳細はBarbary pirates, most notably from Algiers, began to seize American merchant vessels in the Mediterranean. In 1793 alone, eleven American ships were captured and their crews and stores held for ransom. To combat this problem, proposals were made for warships to protect American shipping, resulting in the Naval Act of 1794.〔Allen (1909), pp. 41–42.〕〔Beach (1986), pp. 26–27.〕 The act provided funds to construct six frigates, but included a clause that if peace terms were agreed to with Algiers, the construction of the ships would be halted.〔Beach (1986), p. 29.〕〔''An Act to provide a Naval Armament''. (1794). Library of Congress. Retrieved 17 December 2010.〕 Joshua Humphreys' design was unusual for the time, being long on keel and narrow of beam (width) and mounting very heavy guns. The design called for a diagonal scantling (rib) scheme intended to restrict hogging while giving the ships extremely heavy planking. This design gave the hull a greater strength than a more lightly built frigate. Humphreys' design was based on his realization that the fledgling United States of the period could not match the European states in the size of their navies. This being so, the frigates were designed to be able to overpower any other frigate yet escape from a ship of the line.〔Toll (2006), pp. 49–53.〕〔Beach (1986), pp. 29–30, 33.〕〔Allen (1909), pp. 42–45.〕 Samuel Nicholson, who would become the first captain of the ship, offered the owner of the Old Avery Oak Tree "the unheard of price of $70" to buy the tree to harvest the timber, but the owner would not sell.〔〔 The name ''Constitution'' was selected by President George Washington.〔Toll (2006), p. 61.〕 Her keel was laid down on 1 November 1794 at Edmund Hartt's shipyard in Boston, Massachusetts, under the supervision of Captain Nicholson and naval constructor Colonel George Claghorn.〔(【引用サイトリンク】 work = Naval Vessel Register )〕〔Hollis (1900), p. 48.〕 Primary materials used in her construction consisted of pine and oak, including southern live oak, which was cut from Gascoigne Bluff and milled near St. Simons, Georgia.〔 ''Constitution''s hull was built thick and her length between perpendiculars was , with a length overall and a width of .〔 〕〔 In total, of trees were needed for her construction.〔Jennings (1966), pp. 10–11.〕 Paul Revere forged the copper bolts and breasthooks.〔Hollis (1900), p. 49.〕 The copper sheathing, installed to prevent shipworm, was imported from England.〔Toll (2006), p. 176.〕 In March 1796, as construction slowly progressed, a peace accord was announced between the United States and Algiers and, in accordance with the Naval Act of 1794, construction was halted.〔(【引用サイトリンク】 publisher = Library of Congress )〕 After some debate and prompting by President Washington, Congress agreed to continue to fund the construction of the three ships nearest to completion: , , and ''Constitution''.〔(【引用サイトリンク】publisher=National Archives )〕〔Allen (1909), p. 47.〕 ''Constitution''s launching ceremony on 20 September 1797 was attended by then President John Adams and Massachusetts Governor Increase Sumner. Upon launch, she slid down the ways only before stopping; her weight had caused the ways to settle into the ground, preventing further movement. An attempt two days later resulted in only an additional of travel before the ship again stopped. After a month of rebuilding the ways, ''Constitution'' finally slipped into Boston Harbor on 21 October 1797, with Captain James Sever breaking a bottle of Madeira wine on her bowsprit.〔Hollis (1900), pp. 55–58.〕 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「USS Constitution」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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