Of the six, two were captured by the Brits, one by the Rebs and the others were eventually scuttled, excepting the Constitution of course. It was the right design at the right time for the Fledgling US Navy. Joshua Humphreys' design was truly inspired.
The cannon ball bouncing off the side of the Constitution is often repeated but it gives the impression that she was invincible which does an injustice to the brave men that manned her and gave their lives while defending their dear homeland. She certainly took her fair share of damage and spent months in repair.
Trivia: In 1834 the USS Constitution's figurehead was replaced with the bust of then president Andrew Jackson, who was so unpopular in Boston at the time that the commandant of the Boston Navy Yard had his very life threatened over the issue. Despite the ship being under armed guard, a brave sailor snuck in during a thunderstorm and cut off Jackson's figurehead and personally returned the head to the Secretary of the Navy.
She's also one of only four ships still commissioned to have ever sunk an enemy vessel.
The USS Constellation was rebuilt with some of her original timbers and floats in Baltimore, but the USS Constitution will always be the heart and soul of the US Navy.
Happy Birthday US Navy.
