--- title: "The only ship in the US Navy to sink an enemy ship is also the oldest ship in the US Navy" description: "The only ship left in the U.S. Navy fleet that has sunk an enemy vessel is made of freakin' wood, and it's older than your grandpa." date: "2021-02-22" modified: "2021-02-22" authors: - name: "Blake Stilwell" job_title: "Editor-In-Chief, Air Force Veteran" link: "https://www.wearethemighty.com/authors/blake/" url: "https://www.wearethemighty.com/popular/uss-constitution-oldest-ship/" categories: - "History" - "Navy" - "Ships" - "Tactical" tags: - "Navy" - "Ships" --- # The only ship in the US Navy to sink an enemy ship is also the oldest ship in the US Navy ![oldest ship in the US Navy]() *The oldest ship in the U.S. Navy is Old Ironsides, the USS Constitution. And it has one more kill than every other ship. (U.S. Navy)* The only ship left in the U.S. Navy fleet that has sunk an enemy vessel is made of freakin' wood. Yeah, that's right. The frigate USS *Simpson* (FFG-56) — which sank an Iranian missile patrol boat in the 1980s — was decommissioned in September 2015. That means the 219-year-old USS Constitution is the last ship to have a kill on its scorecard. First launched in 1797, the Constitution served until its retirement from active service in 1881, but the Navy continues to maintain the ship as a floating museum. It is perhaps best known for its exploits in the War of 1812, when the Constitution took out the HMS Guerriere, [which earned her]() the nickname "Old Ironsides." From Dan Lamothe at [The Washington Post:]() Naval encounters involving the United States still occur, of course. Navy ships have been buzzed by aircraft on numerous occasions, and [China has expressed concern this year]() about U.S. naval operations in the South China Sea. U.S. officials have downplayed any sign of conflict there, saying naval officers from the two countries regularly speak to each other while underway. The U.S. Navy also has continued to conduct aerial surveillance in the region [despite warnings from the Chinese](). The Constitution is also the oldest ship still afloat. The British Ship of the Line HMS Victory was first commissioned during the American Revolution but gained fame as Adm. Horatio Nelson's flagship at the Battle of Trafalgar (during a war the British could actually win). It technically predates the Constitution, but the Victory is held in drydock while Old Ironsides is still very much floating and sailing. Meanwhile, the Simpson, the final Oliver Hazard Perry-class frigate in service in the United States Navy, isn't really sailing. It was towed from Florida to Philadelphia, where it was put up for sale to a foreign military, USNI [reported](). Unless of course, anyone wants to set up a Kickstarter campaign to buy their very own warship. ![oldest ship with a kill]() *The guided missile frigate USS Simpson sank the Iranian Kaman-class missile patrol boat Joshan. Presumably with guided missiles. (U.S. Navy/Mass Communication Specialist Coleman Thompson)* ## Don’t Miss the Best of Mighty History We Are The Mighty is a celebration of military service, with a mission to entertain, inform, and inspire those who serve and those who support them. We are made by and for current service members, veterans, spouses, family members, and civilians who want to be part of this community. Keep up with the best in military culture and entertainment: [subscribe to the We Are The Mighty newsletter](). - [How an illegal immigrant was drafted and earned the Medal of Honor]() - []()[29 of the best politically incorrect Vietnam War slang terms]() - []()[These badass Marines held off an entire Viet Cong battalion]() ## Author Blake Stilwell is We Are The Mighty's Editor-in-Chief, covering military news, entertainment, and history, along with veteran education, employment and entrepreneurship. He is a former U.S. Air Force combat cameraman with degrees in Graphic Design, Television and Film, International Relations, Public Relations, Business Management and Middle Eastern Affairs. After leaving the military, he began working in film and television production in New York and Los Angeles, work that included ABC News, NBC Olympics, and HBO Sports. He then spent two years in Washington with White House Communications, before joining the Near East Foundation. At NEF he served as an International Development Fellow, then Communications Officer, and finally, Media Officer for the Middle East and Africa. Based in the Palestinian Territory, he coordinated strategic communications between eight country offices, international media, and government and NGO partners. He began a career focused on writing and editing in 2015 with We Are The Mighty. He left in 2019 for Military.com, but returned as Editor-in-Chief in 2025. Blake’s work has been seen on CBS News, Fox News, CBC, The Chicago Tribune, Task & Purpose, Military Times, Recoil, Skillset, American History, and was shockingly even used in a Supreme Court argument. He is an avid traveler and small business owner in Ohio, where he spends most of his energy fixing up a very old house. ### Author social links [Facebook]() [Twitter]() [Instagram]() [LinkedIn]()