johnsmachines

USS Constitution and the American heavy frigates outclassed British frigates in the 1812-1814 war between USA and Britain.

The British were in a very long and costly war with Napoleon’s France, had won every significant naval battle to date, and were probably feeling a little bit complacent about their naval superiority.

The British were therefore rather shocked out of their complacency when their ships lost almost every encounter with the American frigates in the 1812 -1814 war. There were several reasons for the losses.

American frigates (including USS Constitution) were newer, heavier, had thicker wooden sides made of “live” American oak, had larger crews, who were all volunteers, and they had more powerful guns, and more of them on each ship. To mention a few of the reasons.

In my model of the USS Constitution there are 54 guns. 32 long guns and 22 carronades. In older posts I have detailed making models of a 24 pounder long gun and a 32 pounder carronade. Photo below.

So last week I assembled the top deck (the “spar” deck), long guns (2 of them) and carronades (22 of them).

In 1797 all of the guns would have been mounted on wooden carriages. The guns in the Mamoli kit were cast metal, including the carriages. So I painted the carriages dark red, to look a bit more like wood, and because they were probably painted red in 1797.

There are another 30 long guns on the gun deck below, but I have yet to deal with them.

Oh, and BTW, the guns in the above photo are not yet attached. Just sitting there for the shot.