Cannon from USS Constitution

AHM RESTORATION

USS Constitution Cannon

A national icon for more than 200 years, the USS Constitution had a long and illustrious career. The American Heritage Museum has been fortunate to receive one of its Carronade 32 pounder cannons to restore and display along with our 1795 6-pounder cannon.

The USS Constitution, also known as Old Ironsides, is a three-masted wooden-hulled heavy frigate of the United States Navy. She is one of the world’s oldest ships still floating. Launched in 1797, she is one of six original frigates authorized for construction by the Naval Act of 1794 and the third constructed. The name “Constitution” was among ten names proposed to President George Washington by Secretary of War Timothy Pickering in March of 1795. She was built at Edmund Hartt’s shipyard in the North End of Boston, Massachusetts. Her first duties 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.

The Constitution is most noted for actions during the War of 1812 against the United Kingdom, which included capturing numerous merchant ships and defeating five smaller British warships: HMS Guerriere, Java, Pictou, Cyane, and Levant. The battle with Guerriere earned her the nickname “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 she circled the world sailing over 50,000 miles. During the American Civil War, she served as a training ship for the United States Naval Academy.

Constitution was retired from active service in 1881 and served as a receiving ship until being designated a museum ship in 1907. Currently moored at the Charlestown Navy Yard in Boston, the Constitution remains open as living example of America’s maritime heritage. Heavy caliber cannons called 32 pounder guns were mounted on war ships in the mid-19th century. These cannons fired massive balls of metal traveling about 750 feet per second with a muzzle energy of over 24,000 foot pounds. Our 32-pounder carronade cannon is being restored by Dan Cullity and Son from East Sandwich, Massachusetts. In addition to their work on the cannon itself, they will construct a period accurate carriage and gear. The cannon was indexed as number 8 of the 18 -32 pounder carronades carried by the frigate Constitution in the official, definitive survey of all Navy ordnance in 1833. It is believed that this cannon was manufactured around 1822 by West Point Foundry.

When the cannon recently arrived at Dan’s shop, the base was encased in concrete and the whole apparatus weighed over 5,500 pounds. After reducing and removing the concrete, the gun weighs 2500 pounds including its iron base and the original wrought iron hardware found inside the concrete. Next, a quantity of spent firecrackers and other detritus were removed from the carronade barrel. The six inch bore originally accommodated a 32-pound cannon ball launched by 4 pounds of black powder.

Photo: The 32 pounder carronade cannon as it arrived at Dan Cullity and Son’s restoration shop. With the base encased in concrete for display purposes, the cannon weighed over 5,500 pounds. The first task was to delicately remove the concrete from the base without damaging the 200 year old cannon.

Scan QR code to see video of the destructive force produced by a 32 pounder carronade.

Mr. Cullity’s restoration will be broken down into three phases: The first phase is to clean the rust and old paint from the barrel, inside and out, preserving all found markings. The cast iron carronade base mount must be freed. It has been frozen solid from 200 years of rust and concrete. Once this work is complete, several coats of primer and black paint will preserve the gun barrel finish. The second phase will be to construct a historically correct carriage from timber and iron. This work involves research and will incorporate hardware details recovered with this gun. Plans based on the research will be drawn with dimensions for the carriage, the slide and iron hardware including trucks (wheels), elevation screw and the “fighting pin.” These parts allowed aiming and moving the gun. The carriage and its furniture will be made by hand. Blacksmithing, iron casting, machining and timber work will be key aspects of this phase.

The final phase will be to obtain gun tackle blocks. These were used to secure, load, and control a carronade. The fighting pin, tackles and breeching ropes were secured to the vessel. We plan to mount the completed carronade on a small representative section of the spar deck, bulwark, and gun port to display the complete gunnery system.

Top photo: The USS Constitution firing a 17-gun salute near US Coast Guard Base Boston on July 4th, 2014. Middle photo: The concrete display base is delicately chiseled away. Bottom photo: The original anchor bolts are freed with the help of some heat.