Item  #  B1703

USS Essex 38"

• 38" long x 12" Wide x 28" High (1:30 scale).  25 Lbs.
• Requires hundreds of hours to build from scratch (not from a model kit) by our master artisans.
• Built with rare, high quality woods such as cherry, white lotus wood, birch, maple and rosewood.
• Painted the actual colors of USS Essex.
• Look at the amazing deck details; you can see the nail holes on the planked deck!
• The model rests perfectly on a large wood base between four arched dolphins (marble base pictured).
• No plastic fittings (metal anchors and machine turned brass cannons).
• To build this ship, extensive research was done using various sources such as museums, drawings, copies of original plans and photos of the actual ship.

The frigate was launched September 30, 1799 by Enos Briggs, Salem, Massachusetts, at cost of $139,362 subscribed by the people of Salem and Essex County. On December 17, 1799 she was presented to the United States and accepted by Captain Edward Preble.

With the United States involved in naval action against France on  January 6, 1800, Essex, under Captain Preble, departed New York in company with Congress to rendezvous with and convoy merchant ships returning from Batavia, Dutch East Indies. Shortly after commencement of her journey, Essex became the first U. S. Naval Ship to cross the Equator. Congress was dismasted only a few days out, and Essex was obliged to continue her voyage alone, making her mark as the first U.S. man-of-war to double the Cape of Good Hope, both in March and in August 1800 prior to successfully completing her convoy mission in November