Explanation: During the War of 1812, the USS Constitution got into a scrap with a British ship of comparable size, the HMS Guerriere. Despite the USS Constitution having a less experienced crew, it would emerge the uncontested victor, capturing the Guerriere as a prize.

While this was a largely materially inconsequential skirmish, it was heartening to the US, which had not fared well in the war up to that point. Notably, the USS Constitution’s sturdy construction resulted in some British cannon shot being rendered harmless, leading one adrenaline-pumped American sailor to note that the Constitution’s sides were “made of iron”, leading to the ship’s nickname of “Old Ironsides”.

The USS Constitution would remain in service for some 80 years, and would later be restored as a museum ship by the US Navy, who keeps a grove of oak trees specifically for repairs of Old Ironsides (since, you know, no other ship in the fleet uses wood for its hull anymore). They still crew it too, complete with classic uniforms!