Frigate vs Frigate

On 29 December 1812 at 9:00 AM crewmen aloft the the 44-gun frigate USS Constitution, Captain William Bainbridge, sighted strange sails on the distant horizon. To ascertain the disposition of the unidentified ship the Constitution hoisted private signals (flags) at 11:30 AM, while the assumed British vessel also hoisted its signals, but neither ship made the correct counter-signal. The following day at 12:30 PM the ship, the 38-gun frigate HMS Java, Captain Henry Lambert, hoisted her colors and ensign with Constitution hoisting her colors in reply.

United States

44-gun frigate - USS Constitution


Great Britain

38-gun frigate - HMS Java


For further details:

http://www.sailsofglory.org/showthre...s-the-HMS-Java

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_Java_(1811)