log

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Phone 301 992 2829

The Romance of Ships and Sails E-mail : info@shipsahoy.com

Log

" Cast yer sights on this month's news from the Ship's Log "

When pirates off the shores of Tripoli were threatening the young U.S.A.'s shipping interests, and finally captured the Polly in 1793 and held her for a cool $ 1 million dollars ransom, President George Washington went to Congress to demand money to build a navy that could protect the budding country's interests overseas. The first "ship of the line" became the USS Consitution.

She was commissioned in 1794, built by Philadelphia naval architect Joshua Humphreys. Humphreys specified the ship be built from sturdy Georgia oak, known for its density and durability.

In the War of 1812, the Constitution engaged the British frigate Guerriere in a decisive battle that gave the vessel her namesake. When a British cannonball bounced off the side of the Constitution, one of the proud seamen shouted "Huzzah!! Her sides are made of iron!" and the rest is history.

ITEM 262 USS Constitution 1:270th scale. 16". Plastic kit. 16.00

The Constitution was undefeated in battle--42 consecutive victories--but was mortally threatened by such a mundane enemy as the scrapyard in the late 19th Century. It was then that a freshman Congressman from Boston, a John F. Fitzgerald (grandfather to JFK), began a campaign to rehabilitate the ship and return it to Boston. The ship was renovated again in the 1920s when schoolchildren from all over our country donated pennies to replace her sails. Pennies from schoolchildren also saved Old Ironsides in this last, 4-year, $12 million dollar restoration.

For this olde salt, a former Marine, the words in the Marine Hymn, 'from the shores of Tripoli' have taken on new meaning...may she (and the country she still sails from) endure for generations yet to come!

If you're interested in British man o'wars, don't miss a look at the H.M.S. Victory, Admiral Nelson's famous flagship! (Item 264)

Be sure to visit the Hold (our catalog) for the real poop on ship' goods, the Treasure Chest for this month's specials, walk the Plank for items we're going to deep-six to you at bottom-feeder prices, and the Ship's Log for news and views from shipmates like you! If you want to return to the home page, try the Bridge!

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