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rkanjl
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« on: September 01, 2010, 05:36:41 PM » |
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I'm not sure if this is historically accurate but I hope it is 'cuz it's a great story.
LITTLE KNOWN TIDBIT OF
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 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.
GO NAVY!
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