U.S.S. Constitution (Old Ironsides) 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, 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!

that must have been a "merry" crew... ;-)

Oh yeah! A simple case of "getting your priorities right"!

I wonder what the hangover was like...

That's why the English had to disengage with Capt. Perry, they ran out of rum in mid-maneuver!

This really stirs the imagination.

This was actually put out by the Navy to increase enlistment.

Or maybe they used the alcohol for medical purposes.

One thing is for sure, they weren't treated for inestinal worms when the ship docked.

Peace,
LcJ

I WANT TO JOIN THE NAVY!

Even though the navy boys can mostly handle their booze....I am surprised the ship was not renamed "Old Barfsides" upon returning.