This is for all you Navy boys.....

[Steve Sutton]

I don't know if its true...and don't plan to check its veracity anywhere because if it isn't, well, it should be.......

GO NAVY......

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.


Let me say it another way.....BOOOOOOOO-YAHHHHHHHH .......


Steve

 

[Mark W]

Now that is funny. Sounds like they got their priorities straight. Bunch of drunks I'd say. HOw times have changed in the modern Navy.

Mark W

 

[Wispete]

If anyone says drunks can't fight... You got all the proof you need.....

 

[Steve Froelich]

One of the rewards we would offer to our outstanding young sailors was to exchange them over to a British or Aussie ship for the day for a (wink wink) familiarization ride. Nearly to a man, our friends and allies would sent them back 3 sheets to the wind. God love em for keeping the tradition alive.

 

[Matt_n_Barb]

No wonder they whipped butt and took names......rum driven naval combat......

 

[Brad Bortner]

I support the Navy since my father served 31 years and I grew up on Navy bases all over the world, I was 35 years old before I realized the Star-spangled Banner didn't really end with BEAT ARMY! as the last verse. But do the math, either men were better drinkers then or the spirits were weaker. This works out to average daily consumption of approximately 3 gallons of rum, port or whisky per man per day. I know when I get above a gallon of scotch whisky a day the last thing I want to do is sail or fight.

 

[Matt_n_Barb]

maybe they were bathing in it to kill the stench........

 

[Gene R.]

Consumption was way higher in colonial america. Beer, wines, ciders, and whisky were not toxic as some water supplies might in city. Bad to none, waste management practices. Therefore from a young age drinking spirits was common and accepted. I bet they could handle quite abite of booze. No 7/11 slurppies or redbulls and bottled water for 2 bucks (that"s another thing that just pi$$es me off!!!!!) That amt per person seems like alot though.

Gene r

 

[ken smith]

Wow, that's nearly 3gals. per day per man. Hard to fathom. Prolly not high proof spirits,eh

 

[A Michael Chase]

Yes times have changed. Now it's a violation of General Order #1 and punishable by UCMJ. "Near Beer" in the mess hall is as close as we can get.

Mike

 

[Cas Alkanowski]

I think that Captian Jack of the BLACK PEARL found one of the Isle Lands that had some of that rum stored on if you saw the movie you know what I mean{ a private place to booze it up} hee heee hee.

 

[Ray]

Back then stored water killed you so the rum was used to kill what ever was in the water.

 

[Phil Nowack]

I support the Navy since my father served 31 years and I grew up on Navy bases all over the world, I was 35 years old before I realized the Star-spangled Banner didn't really end with BEAT ARMY! as the last verse. But do the math, either men were better drinkers then or the spirits were weaker. This works out to average daily consumption of approximately 3 gallons of rum, port or whisky per man per day. I know when I get above a gallon of scotch whisky a day the last thing I want to do is sail or fight.

nice!!!!