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 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
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,
and38,600 gallons of water.

GO NAVY!