Thanks to Dawn O. & Jim P.
Subject: Ironsides
Some little known American military 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 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, 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 stagnant water. GO NAVY!