A little known tidbit of navel history

[Destroyer]

The USS 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 6 months of sustained operations ar sea. She carried no evaporators. (Fresh water distillers)

However, let it be noted that, according to her ships log, "On July 27, 1798, the USS Constitution sailed from Boston with a full compliment of 475 officers and men, 48,600 gallons of fresh water, 7,400 cannon shot, 11,600 pounds of black powder and 12,400 gallons of rum".

Her mission? "To destroy and harass English shipping".

Making Jamaica on 6 October, she took on 826 pounds of flour and 9,300 gallons of rum.

Then she headed for the Azores, arriving there 12 November. She provisioned with 550 pounds of beef and 15,300 gallons of Portuguese wine.

On 18 November she set sail for England. In the following days she defeated 5 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 transfered 9,600 gallons of single malt Scotch aboard by dawn. Then she headed home.

The USS Constitution arrived in Boston harbor 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!!!!