Wikipedia:Today's featured article/February 20, 2015

USS Constitution is a wooden-hulled, three-masted heavy frigate of the U.S. Navy. Named by President George Washington, she is the world's oldest commissioned naval vessel afloat. Constitution was launched in Boston in 1797 as one of the original six large, heavily armed frigates authorized by the Naval Act of 1794. Her first duties with the newly formed navy were to provide protection for American merchant shipping during the Quasi-War with France and to help defeat the Barbary pirates in the First Barbary War. During the War of 1812 against Great Britain, Constitution captured numerous merchant ships and defeated five British warships; the battle with HMS Guerriere earned her the nickname of "Old Ironsides". The frigate continued to serve as flagship in the Mediterranean and African squadrons. During the American Civil War, she served as a training ship for the U.S. Naval Academy. She carried American artwork and industrial displays to the Paris Exposition of 1878. Constitution was retired from active service in 1881 and designated a museum ship in 1907, and continues to receive visitors year round at the former Charlestown Navy Yard. The ship sailed under her own power in 1997 on the occasion of her 200th birthday, and again on 19 August 2012 to commemorate her victory over Guerriere. (Full article...)

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