Little Known Naval History

15 July 2009, 18:02

LITTLE KNOWN NAVAL HISTORY..........

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 inScotland. 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.

GO NAVY!!!

15 July 2009, 20:24

The Dane

475 men
210 days trip

79400 gal rum
68300 gal rum
64300 gal wine
40000 gal whisky

So
187700 gal liquor and 64300 gal wine equals

1.88 gal/7.1liter liquor and 0.64gal/2.4liter wine per day.
Nah thats too thick

16 July 2009, 01:31

mousegun1

Well you would have to allow some for spillage. Probably very common at that level of use. And there were Marines on board

16 July 2009, 21:16

Gatogordo

quote:
Originally posted by mousegun1:
Well you would have to allow some for spillage. Probably very common at that level of use. And there were Marines on board

This reply is funnier than the joke.

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16 July 2009, 23:39

MuskegMan

quote:
Originally posted by mousegun1:
Well you would have to allow some for spillage.

The worst form of alcohol abuse there is!!!

17 July 2009, 05:04

Alberta Canuck

I figger if there was more than just one squad of Marines on board, the Swabbies must have been drinking milk! They clearly didn't use much water, and the Gyrenes wouldn't have had any extra booze to let the kiddies drink.

25 July 2009, 01:12

ledvm

An old man was sitting in my office one day and a young client of mine was in there bragging about how much whiskey he drank each day.

The old man ask: Say sonny you think you drink a lot of whiskey?

Young man: Hell yeah I do!

Old man: How much you figure you drink each day?

Young'n: At least a 5th.

Old man: Hell kid...I spill more than that before dinner!

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