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And if you wondered why I like the Navy...........read on.

LITTLE KNOWN TIDBIT OF
NAVAL  HISTORY...

Courtesy of Allan Furtado (USPS D8)

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 whisky 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 whisky, and 38,600 gallons of water.

NOW - to read Greg Absten's take on these DRUNKEN SAILORS! ..... CLICK HERE!

GO NAVY!
British Navy