posted 06-07-2005 01:28 PM         

Here's a little history lesson for you American History buffs:

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!

To put this feat in proper prospective, this equates to 310 gallons of rum, 135 gallons of wine and 84 gallons of Scotch whiskey for

each individual crew member. On this particular mission, they were out 205 days. Assuming that each crew member consumed an

equal amount of alcoholic beverages, each crew member consumed 2.5 gallons of alcoholic beverages per day. No wonder the Navy

has never had to participate in any draft.

posted 06-08-2005 08:30 AM         

Thanks for the great story about Old Ironsides. I happened to be lucky enough (I wouldn't have said that then but I will now) to have served 4 years on one of the battlewagons that Reagan pulled out of mothballs in the 80's.
The USS New Jersey which was homeported out of Long Beach, CA. That ship yard and naval station is now CLOSED.

Anyway...does anybody know what "NAVY" actually stands for?

Never
Again
Volunteer
Yourself

Brian