USS Constellation

Known also as the Yankee Race Horse, the USS Constellation was the second frigate completed under the Congressional authorization of 1794. America had decided, it wanted a Navy.

Among her many accomplishments is the capture of the 40 gun frigate L'insurgente on February 9th, 1799 during the Quasi-War with France. Her next major contest pitted her against the 52 gun Vengeance a year later, in a 5 hour night action off Guadeloupe after which the Vengeance escaped under cover of darkness.

The USS Constellation was blockaded in the Chesapeake during the War of 1812.

As part of Stephen Decatur's Mediterranean squadron she took part in the capture of the Algerian frigate Mashuda in June 1815.

From 1819 to 1845 Constellation served on a variety of stations, including Brazil, the Pacific, the Mediterranean, the West Indies and as flagship on the East India Squadron during the Opium War.

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