Little Known History

Not known to be Fact or Fiction.

Navy Supply 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 (fresh

water distillers). However, let it be noted that according to her 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 merchantmen, salvaging only the rum

aboard each. By 26 January, her powder and shot were exhausted.

Nevertheless, and though unarmed, she made a night raid up the Firth of

Clyde in Scotland. Her landing party captured a whiskey 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

whiskey and 38,600 gallons of stagnant water. GO NAVY! Now these guys

knew how to drink!