Sail and fight with USS Constitution, 'Old Ironsides', the most famous of the six heavy frigates representing the birth of the US Navy! USS Constitution, the most famous among the original six frigates of the US Navy, is a wooden-hulled, three-masted heavy frigate. Launched in 1797, Constitution was built to provide protection for American merchant from French ships and to defeat the Barbary pirates. Constitution is most famous for her actions during the War of 1812 against Great Britain, when she captured numerous merchant ships and defeated five British warships. Retired from active service in 1881, Constitution served as a receiving ship until designated a museum ship in 1907.