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Knife Network Community TKN is all about excellence and sharing info. Our 'other' lives are also filled with stories, events, and opinions. This forum is an opportunity to discuss outside interests, personal experience, things that make us happy and things that don't!

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  #1  
Old 10-07-2009, 11:54 AM
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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 and68,300 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 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 water.


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Old 10-07-2009, 06:11 PM
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DaveRuhlig DaveRuhlig is offline
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Sounds like a bunch of stinky, drunk, dehydrated guys. You sure this is a Navy story and not a bunch of knifemakers on a guild cruise? Great story, thanks for sharing!
-Dave


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Old 10-07-2009, 07:13 PM
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What wonderful things you can accomplish when you keep your priorities straight!


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Old 10-08-2009, 01:48 AM
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Andrew Garrett Andrew Garrett is offline
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Perhaps it's our vices that win wars!

It certainly keeps the discipline on a tall ship.

Thanks Jim!


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Old 10-08-2009, 08:18 AM
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Those sailors were always stinky.

If you can picture our dress blues (cracker jacks) think about the tie around the neck and the flap in the back. Originally they were one piece the sailors wore to keep from having to wash their uniform as much from carrying ammo and tarred barrels/wood. Their water rations were for both washing and drinking.

Jim


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Old 10-30-2009, 12:21 AM
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Just for the fun of it, I did a little math. The end result was 2.5 gallons of alcohol per man per day, not counting anything they captured off other ships. Sailors might be a hearty lot, but I'm doubting they could handle 2.5+ gallons of alcohol a day for 7 months
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Old 10-30-2009, 11:14 PM
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There was, of course, some loss due to evaporation.

Also spillage - it's very hard to get down a drink without spilling it during rough seas when you're drunk.

The ship's complement may not have included the Marines on board. Now, those fellers can drink them some booze!


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