Commission - USS Constitution 1943

A commission to explore the appearance of the USS Constitution as she appears in the Kantai Collection alternate-history fanfic "New Ironsides."

USS Constitution (CC-1) was a Constitution-class battlecruiser of the United States Navy. Originally the lead ship of the Kongō-class built for the Imperial Japanese Navy, Labor strikes in the Vicker’s Barrow-in-Furness shipyard eventually led to the Japanese canceling the order, leaving the ship's fate uncertain. The ship would then be purchased by the United States in a move of legal espionage conducted by then Naval Secretary Franklin D. Roosevelt. Kongō is renamed USS Constitution, with the heavy frigate bearing the same name being renamed Old Constitution and commissioned into the United States Navy in late 1914. "Konnie", as she becomes nicknamed, is placed as flagship of the Scouting Force.

She later would supplement an American task force in the region led by the battleship New York to safeguard American citizens and interests in Mexico in the aftermath of its civil war. During this time, she has an encounter with the flagship of the fledgling Mexican Navy, Zaragoza.

After U-Boats sink the cruise liner Lusitania and intercepting a telegram advising Mexico to declare war on them, the United States declares war on Germany. USS Constitution joins Battleship Division Nine as the American contribution to the Royal Navy. The American battlecruiser is paired with her cousin, HMS Tiger.

Later in 1922, The Washington Naval Treaty is ratified to prevent another naval arms race that in part led to the First World War. The USN, after extensive negotiations, manages to keep Constitution. The Royal Navy keeps Tiger, while the Japanese are able to keep a partly disarmed Hiei.

By the mid 1930s, her British machinery had been completely worn out, which required an extensive refit and overhaul between 1934-1940.

Upon the attack on Pearl Harbor, Constitution would be as sea escorting the Carrier USS Lexington. She would then later participate in the battles of Coral Sea, Midway, and the Guadalcanal Campaign. During the Battle of Santa Cruz, she would successfully defend the crippled carrier USS Hornet and tow her out of the battle zone. However, this would not be without cost as a Japanese aircraft slammed into her bridge superstructure, killing several of her command crew, including Admiral Callaghan.

This would take her out of the war for nearly six months. This refit would add several dozen 40mm and 20mm cannons as well as replace her previous single 5/38 mounts with enclosed twin ones. Afterward, she would participate in the battles of Philippine Sea, Leyte Gulf and Okinawa. During the later of which, she would prevent the USS Enterprise from being hit by a solitary Kamikaze that had snuck up on the fleet.

She would later be present for the Surrender of Japan on September 2, 1945. Deemed obsolete by the war's end, Constitution was designated to be used in the Operation: Crossroads nuclear tests. She would survive the first test but be sunk by the second as radioactivity prevented damaged control teams from boarding. She would settle in an upright position and become a popular diving destination once radiation levels had subsided.

So ended the tale of the United States Navy’s first, last, and only battlecruiser.