OT: Go Navy

[Guest guest]

Hey y'all,

 

Though I'm Army through and through .. this one deserves repeating. I

think folks who were associated with the Navy will particularly like it

and will remember the old salts talking about the good old days. ;-p

 

This is reported by the husband of a lady in the military.

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I went to a luncheon today to represent Major General Moorhead, my

wife's boss at his Kiwanis meeting. He could not be there because he

was ill. At any rate, one guy got up to give announcements and tell

some funny news stories.

 

The main speaker was an Army Major who just got back from Iraq and

relayed some good stuff but that's for another time. The announcement

guy told the following story:

 

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, " 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 said for England.

 

In the ensuring days she defeated five British Men-of-War and captured

and scuttled 12 English Merchantmen, salvaging only the rum aboard each

vessel.

 

By 26 January, her powder and shot were exhausted.

 

Nevertheless, and though 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 stagnant water.

 

Those must be the good old days they're always talking about! GO NAVY!