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Line 2: − [[Image:VonStetina-USSConstitution&HMSJava.jpg|thumb|400px|right|"Another Victory for Old Ironsides" by [http://www.vonstetinaartworks.com/id1.html Bruce Von Stetina]]]
→The Action
==The Action==
==The Action==
USS Constitution sighted 2 sails in the [[Atlantic Ocean]] off the coast of [[Brazil]] and wore about to intercept. Both HMS Java and USS Constitution made private signals to identify the other. Failing that both ships raised Jacks and raised sails to intercept one another. HMS Java had the weather gauge and used it to attempt to rake USS Constitution. The opening phase of the action comprised both ships attempting to rake the other with little success. Captain Bainbridge wore USS Constitution to a matching course and opened fire with a broadside at 1/2 mile. This broadside accomplished nothing and forced Captain Bainbridge to risk raking to close HMS Java. Both ships began firing broadsides but HMS Java had a mast falling over her starboard side that prevented most of her guns from firing. USS Constitution's accuracy of fire and greater weight and number of her broadside put the smaller HMS Java at a large disadvantage. Within 1 hour and 55 minutes of the 1st exchange of broadsides HMS Java was a floating wreck and burned since she could not be salvaged.<ref name="USnavy">http://www.history.navy.mil/docs/war1812/const6.htm</ref>
USS Constitution sighted 2 sails in the [[Atlantic Ocean]] off the coast of [[Brazil]] and wore about to intercept. Both HMS Java and USS Constitution made private signals to identify the other. Failing that both ships raised Jacks and raised sails to intercept one another. HMS Java had the weather gauge and used it to attempt to rake USS Constitution. The opening phase of the action comprised both ships attempting to rake the other with little success. Captain Bainbridge wore USS Constitution to a matching course and opened fire with a broadside at 1/2 mile. This broadside accomplished nothing and forced Captain Bainbridge to risk raking to close HMS Java. Both ships began firing broadsides but HMS Java had a mast falling over her starboard side that prevented most of her guns from firing. USS Constitution's accuracy of fire and greater weight and number of her broadside put the smaller HMS Java at a large disadvantage. Within 1 hour and 55 minutes of the 1st exchange of broadsides HMS Java was a floating wreck and burned since she could not be salvaged.<ref name="USnavy">http://www.history.navy.mil/docs/war1812/const6.htm</ref>