Naval History

[armysc_25b]

The U.S.S. Constitution (Old Ironsides), as a combat vessel, carried 48,600 gallons of fresh water for her crew of 475 officers and men. This was sufficient to last six months of sustained operations at sea. She carried no evaporators (i.e. fresh water distillers!) .

However, let it be noted that according to her ship's log, "On July 27, 1798, the U.S.S.

Constitution sailed from Boston with a full complement of 475 officers and men, 48,600 gallons of fresh water, 7,400 cannon shot, 11,600 pounds of black powder and 79,400 gallons of rum."

Her mission: "To destroy and harass English shipping."

Making Jamaica on 6 October, she took on 826 pounds of flour and 68,300 gallons of rum.

Then she headed for the Azores , arriving there 12 November. She provisioned with 550 pounds of beef and 64,300 gallons of Portuguese wine.

On 18 November, she set sail for

England. In the ensuing days she defeated five British men-of-war and captured and scuttled 12 English merchant ships, salvaging only the rum aboard each.

By 26 January, her powder and shot were exhausted. Nevertheless,

although unarmed she made a night raid up the Firth of Clyde in

Scotland. Her landing party captured a whisky distillery and transferred 40,000 gallons of

single malt Scotch aboard by dawn. Then she headed home.

The U.S.S. Constitution arrived in Boston on 20 February, 1799, with no cannon shot, no food , no powder, no rum, no wine, no whisky, and 38,600 gallons of water.

[RogueNavy]

Now THOSE...were REAL Sailors!

[Ben Shotalot]

I'm sure the small contingent of Marines had a large part in it!

[pingjocky]

And people wonder why I drink so much...just trying to fill the shoes of the Warriors who came before me!

R/
Pingjocky

[JohnP]

Originally Posted by pingjocky

And people wonder why I drink so much...just trying to fill the shoes of the Warriors who came before me!

R/
Pingjocky

I thought it was the liquid courage to get on one of those monsters and float around the world.

My hat is off to anyone who actually did or wants to do that.

[Woody]

The Royal Navy did not stop its rum ration till 1970 .Father in law still remebers distinct lack of work done after rum ration .

[RogueNavy]

They may not ration it out anymore, Tim...but they still drink pretty good! The evening of one of my birthdays was spent in Toulon, partying with the crew of a English aircraft carrier. We started onboard their vessel, drinking big cans of Foster's, and only after about 3 hours of that, did we head into town for a what they called a "right proper pub crawl". I still have the English Naval Ensign they have me for keeping up with them.