Photo: Chaiel Schaffel/WBZ NewsRadio
BOSTON (WBZ NewsRadio) — 212 years ago, the U.S. Navy fought in a pivotal battle, and the ship from that battle is still around today.
That ship is the USS Constitution, which is also known as Old Ironsides and is the oldest commissioned navy ship in the world.
U.S. Navy Seaman Chloe Whaley discussed why this battle was so significant, as Britain’s ship the HMS Java put Old Ironsides in a tough spot.
“The Java was firing broadsides, they were hitting us left and right, hope may have been lost,” Whaley said.
One shot severely injured Captain William Bainbridge, impaling his leg with a shard of copper railing. Despite the injury, he continued to fight on with his soldiers.
She mentioned how another shot blew the wheel off, sending the ropes that controlled the steering all over.
“When the wheel is blown off, there are ropes that actually go down from the spar deck all the way down to the tiller room that are usually wrapped around the middle of the wheel, so those ropes are just flung everywhere,” Chloe said.
The navy seaman were resourceful, however, using a system of lines of men and top notch communications to steer the boat manually using the ropes.
“Our sailors were actually able to steer the ship left and right without the British even knowing,” Whaley said.
These unorthodox tactics allowed for the U.S. to win that battle and, according to Susan Reed from the USS Constitution Museum, forced the British to change up their naval tactics entirely from there on out.
“They issued orders forbidding their captains from engaging American frigates one on one,” Reed said.
The battle also saved the reputation of Captain Bainbridge, a naval captain who had lost a few ships in other battles but risked his life for his crew and ship this time around.
“With him taking the time to prioritize the crew and the ship and completely setting himself aside and saving the ship ultimately,” Chloe said. “That was his story of redemption.”
212 years later, Old Ironside stands as a symbol of perseverance that continues to be revered to this day, especially by those who work onboard.
“Being a sailor working on Old Ironsides herself, the oldest commissioned warship in the Navy, there has to be an insane amount of trust,” Whaley said.
WBZ NewsRadio’s Chaiel Schaffel (@CSchaffelWBZ) reports.