NO WONDER THE BLOODY BRITS LOST THE WAR.
THEY DRANK ALL THEIR WATER!!!


Some little known American military
history.



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 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 USS
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 USS 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!

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