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USS Constitution fires on Charlestown, but not intentionally

By adamg on Sun, 10/20/2024 - 11:04pm

Shortly after 6 p.m., a cannon onboard Old Ironsides misfired and seemed to have lobbed a projectile at a building on the grounds of the Charlestown Navy Yard.

Boston Police were requested to help find the projectile, in an unusual call that a BPD dispatcher had to relay to an officer twice, because the world's oldest commissioned warship is not in the habit of firing towards land and BPD isn't usually called on to help find errant projectiles.

In the end, no injuries were reported, no British frigates or Redcoats needed to be repelled, and the US Navy took control of the investigation into how one of the cannons - which technically consist of modern mortars inside replica cannons - misfired.

And then BPD had to respond to a more usual call - that somebody might be trying to break into an abandoned building nearby on Constitution Road.

Via Stanley Staco.

Neighborhoods: 
Charlestown
Free tagging: 
USS Constituion
Charlestown Navy Yard


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Comments

By perruptor on Mon, 10/21/2024 - 5:10am.

I assume that would be like the mortars used in fireworks displays, not the kind the Army uses to lob explosives at an enemy. I'm wondering what the projectile was.

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Voting closed 26

By lbb on Mon, 10/21/2024 - 9:27am.

Others may be different, but the Esplanade fireworks on 4th of July uses 105mm howitzers.

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By Bob Leponge on Mon, 10/21/2024 - 10:23pm.

A 105mm howitzer is used for the "cannon fire" sound in the 1812 overture played by the Boston Pops on July 4th on the Esplanande. Are you saying that the barge from which the fireworks are launched also has a bunch of 105mm howitzers on it to launch the aerial fireworks?

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By lbb on Tue, 10/22/2024 - 9:22am.

I was just thinking of the "cannon" sound effects (unclear writing, that's on me). Firing fireworks out of a howitzer would be a BAD idea.

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By Lee on Mon, 10/21/2024 - 7:21am.

… between the boat and the building is all about? Will there be retaliation? Grudges die hard in Charlestown.

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By anon on Mon, 10/21/2024 - 7:27am.

I am so confused by this cause 2nd Ave is far away from the ship and the cannon that they use for colors at sunset is on the starboard side generally since it faces the water and is away from the people in the apartments who complain about the noise

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By adamg on Mon, 10/21/2024 - 9:27am.

Because the address that police got (21 Second Ave.) is basically the main gate for the National Park Service part of the Navy Yard.

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By necturus on Mon, 10/21/2024 - 7:47am.

Well, that's disappointing. I always imagined they were the ship's original 18- and 24-pounders.

Does HMS Victory also have fake cannons?

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By Saddlebrook7 on Mon, 10/21/2024 - 10:27am.

My recollection from taking the tour of the ship is that all the original guns were removed long ago. When the ship was turned into a museum some similar guns were scrounged from other ships and shore displays. The forward most on each side have been bored out to allow them to fire modern, breach-loaded saluting charges. Damn loud if you are on board at morning or evening colors.

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By Section77 on Mon, 10/21/2024 - 8:17am.

But I understand.

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By anon on Mon, 10/21/2024 - 8:53am.

The Patriots misfired yesterday morning in London and later that evening in Charlestown

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By anon on Mon, 10/21/2024 - 9:03am.

Pretty serious mishap, it'll be interesting to see if big Navy relieves the Captain.

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By steve_ce on Mon, 10/21/2024 - 9:09am.

Allegedly

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By g on Mon, 10/21/2024 - 10:48am.

by ShotSpotters?

If it cannot ID a simple incoming mortar what good is it?

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By Username Unknown on Mon, 10/21/2024 - 11:08am.

This was probably just a training exercise to get ready for its deployment to the West Bank.

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By Vicki on Mon, 10/21/2024 - 11:27am.

The navy boasts that the Constitution isn't just their oldest ship, it's the oldest commissioned warship still afloat, and that implies that it's carrying weapons, even though it would make no sense to send a wooden sailing ship into a modern battle.

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By necturus on Mon, 10/21/2024 - 12:01pm.

...but only because HMS Victory, which is some 40 years older, is dry-docked. Victory, Nelson's flagship at Trafalgar, is technically still in commission, but hasn't been afloat for decades, presumably because it deteriorates more slowly in dry-dock than it would if it were in the water.

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By Brent Jeffries on Mon, 10/21/2024 - 11:31am.

Probably just the Sole Survivor completing the Constitution side quest.

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By Frelmont on Mon, 10/21/2024 - 11:56am.

I started to look up the mortar used, how many cycles the original guns were rated for and if the projectile was wading, or a cover and threw up my hands in resignation and cried “frigate!”

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By scollaysq on Mon, 10/21/2024 - 11:59am.

Maybe I just need more coffee.

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By Friartuck on Mon, 10/21/2024 - 1:30pm.

As a new recruit ...

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By tachometer on Mon, 10/21/2024 - 1:54pm.

And then BPD had to respond to a more usual call - that somebody might be trying to break into an abandoned building nearby on Constitution Road.

The cannon was obviously a diversionary tactic to the real crime!

I've watched lots of heist movies and there's no doubt in my mind about it.

/s

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By Rob on Mon, 10/21/2024 - 2:00pm.

Maybe they saw that "mortar & RPG training follies" video that's been making the rounds on social media and wanted to get some views.

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By SwirlyGrrl on Mon, 10/21/2024 - 9:42pm.

Those cannons were wicked loud - I was usually wrapping my day when they went off.

We would have these meetings with out of town committee members several times a year. People didn't expect a cannon firing event. One time the meeting was running late enough for the evening firing. Freaked a bunch of folks out. My boss was like "that means it is time to go to dinner".

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