The Constitution by Derek Gardner.

The Constitution, with the sloop Hornet in company, sailed from Boston on 26th October 1812. War with Great Britain had broken out in June of that year and the two ships, under Commodore William Bainbridge in the Constitution, headed south down the Atlantic with the intention of joining the frigate Essex in the Pacific. The Constitution had been launched at Boston in 1797. She and her two sister ships, the United States and President were the most powerful frigates of their day and for sixteen years their superiority in their class remained unchallenged. They were built to be an overmatch for those of an enemy and were constructed in such a way that their scantlings (ie. the sizes of their timbers) should be equal to those of a 74 gun ship-of-the-line. This superiority was soon to be shown when the Constitution overwhelmed the British frigate Java off the coast of Brazil on 29th December. Like the Victory, Constitution (old ironsides as she was long ago nicknamed) is still in existence and today remains in special commission at Boston, the oldest warship in the world still afloat and a unique link with the old sailing navy of the United States.

Signed limited edition of 850 prints, supplied mounted.

Image size 7 inches x 4 inches (18cm x 10cm)