Ironsides is a sentry bot and the captain of the USS Constitution in 2287.
Background
His mission as captain is to get the ship into the Atlantic Ocean and he will do anything to keep her protected.
Ironsides believes he is a colonial era Naval Captain, while the terminal on the ship's deck indicates that he was designed to entertain tourists on the USS Constitution. Additionally, an entry in 2055, before the bombs dropped in 2077, indicated that something was overheating and leading to data corruption and although the terminal entry is vague, it isn't unlikely that it was the robot's fault, as sentry bots are known for overheating. This all alludes to the fact that Ironsides' programming has run amok in the years since his human caretakers died, and as a result he has assumed complete control over the ship, having reprogrammed a variety of robots to serve as his crew. Despite his bizarre mannerisms and choice of hat, Ironsides is fully aware of his surroundings and knows full well that the U.S. Military no longer exists. He is attempting to repair and operate a rocket thrust system and he is in search for assistance.
He also believes that since the U.S. Military no longer exists, and as he is the only military robot having "evolved" past his programming (as far as he is aware), he is now the highest ranking member of the U.S. Army and therefore is now in charge of the entire U.S. Military. As his first priority, Ironsides has decided to mount a retaliatory strike on China.
Ironsides has developed a large amount of mercy and prefers to avoid killing others whenever possible. Despite the total seventeen times in which the USS Constitution has been attacked, Ironsides believes that violence should only be resorted to when there is no other option, and, in spite of Mr. Navigator's requests, refused several times to plan a counterattack.
Interactions with the player character
Interactions overview
| Interactions | ||
|---|---|---|
  |
This character is involved in quests. | |
Inventory
| Apparel | Weapon | Other items | On death |
|---|---|---|---|
| Captain Ironsides' hat | 1-20 fusion cells 1-20 steel Power relay coil |
Notes
- Ironsides is unable to be hacked by players with the Robotics Expert 3 perk, making him unavailable as a companion using that method.
- Despite Ironsides believing himself to be an American captain, he uses the British pronunciation of the word Lieutenant, so that it comes out as "Lef-tenant."
Appearances
Ironsides appears only in Fallout 4.
Behind the scenes
His name is a reference to the USS Constitution's nickname "Old Ironsides," given to the ship because she was said to be so sturdily constructed that "cannon balls just bounced right off her". She is the oldest commissioned warship currently afloat (HMS Victory is older, but is laid up in drydock). The ship has been well-preserved and fully restored, and currently serves as a museum and tour site in the Boston area.
