DescentBB

Some of you may have seen this before, but I thought I would share anyway. It has been floating around again....

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 (fresh water distillers). However, let it be noted that according to her log, â??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.â?

heh, my kinda people

Around 20 pints of booze a day per sailor, not including the stuff nicked of the British ships!!? I don't think so Tim.

Yeah, I did the mental math too - and those numbers are apocryphal. Unless the captain was trading the stuff - which seems far more likely.

Sailors in those days used to get a "tot of rum a day" as part of their contract. I don't know how much a "tot" is, but it aint 20 pints.

Bwhahaha, nice.