USS Constitution vs HMS Java

[jon_norstog]

This was one of those sea fights that did not go so well for the British. The Java was a total loss, its Captain dead and the senior officer left was the first lieutenant. After that fight, Admiralty ordered its fleet frigates to NOT engage American frigates in single-ship combat.

I was surprised to see this come in over the transom. Wedgewood commemorative plate on sale! A top-of-the-line British ceramics firm, no less! The King eats off this stuff!

https://www.replacements.com/china-wedgwood-constitution-and-java-18-oval-serving-platter/p/35182751

For those interested here is a rundown on that sea fight, courtesy of the USS Constitution Museum. It's worth a reading.

https://ussconstitutionmuseum.org/major-events/the-hms-java-battle/

jn

[pcox]

My dad's destroyer, the Ralph Talbot DD390, was moored in the Boston Naval Shipyard during a storm. The Constitution broke loose from her mooring lines and drifted across the anchorage and rammed the RT putting a hole in her side. The Constitution had no damage from the incident.

[jon_norstog]

Where is the LOL button on this site!

jn

[bruce]

:headbang:

[lyman]

Where is the LOL button on this site!

jn

you mean this one?


:icon_lol:

[Vern Humphrey]

The Constitution was one of "Humphrey's Frigates." The British Navy had standing orders not to fight one of these frigates one-on-one.