Go Navy!

DRM

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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.

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!
 
A great story!! What was the allotment of grog to the sailors? Is this known?




munk
 
Sounds a lot like the USS Barb of WWII fame, whose crew pulled off some of the most audacious raids in US history.
 
Can't say they were not well oiled for the duty they were supposed to perform.:D
 
208 days X 475 men = 98,176 manned drinking days
79400 gallons rum
68300 gallons rum
40000 whiske
------------------
187700 Hard stuff minumum = approx. 1.9 gallons per man per day. thats not counting the wine or other consumables taken. No wonder it was called grog!!!!
 
There is no way each man drank a gallon and a half of rum each day.

As for the water, I imagine there was some provision to replacing the stock with rainwater as possible.

Still, it would have been a natural choice for me as a young man, sorry it wasn't available. Join the Merchant Marine and drink a gallon of rum each day- guarenteed. What a recruitment inducement.
"Naw- I don't want to be a Pilot or Officer, just the Rum, where's the rum?

I'd never get out of the bunk.



munk
 
Originally posted by raghorn
Sounds a lot like the USS Barb of WWII fame, whose crew pulled off some of the most audacious raids in US history.

I never got to finish the original post... what I was getting at was that the captain, upon sighting a convoy, would immediately order three cases of beer placed into the cooler before going to battle stations. That way it would be plenty cold when the action was over and it was time to "splice the main brace." :D
 
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