[BITList] Fwd: Fw: Fwd: Little known bit of Naval History

[CT's]

cg,

    this old chestnut has been around for some time in various editions, where the fuck it came from and who was the imbecile that composed it, no one seems to know  – however, what is certain that it is all untrue. [and I don’t want to receive it again.]
    the true story of the ship can be found at the official USS Constitution web site.
    apparently she took years to build, took years to commission and was used only once, when the US Navy found sufficient cash,  on an uneventful cruise to the Caribbean – never went any further east than that.
    as far as the whisky goes, logistically-speaking – rowing boats and hand tackle could not load that amount of whisky [8000 five gallon casks] in a few hours – in December in Scotland. apart from that, it is unlikely that this amount of whisky was laying around ready for removal, although I will give the benefit of the doubt.
    to consume that amount, every man aboard would have to consume about 3 GALLONS or more PER DAY [and doubtful if the officers would imbibe] on the return voyage to  Boston, over the north Atlantic in January/February..................I leave the rest to you.

    CT

    GO BULLSHIT!



From: C.G. Holbrook 
Sent: Thursday, November 18, 2010 12:50 AM
To: Taylor, Colin ; Sutton, Ron ; Woodward, Elliot (alone) 
Subject: Fwd: Fw: Fwd: Little known bit of Naval History

You believe this tale ??  Did they only wash in salt water?  Thought that was not a good thing long term.


---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Dave Harrell <davepharrell at yahoo.com>
Date: Tue, Nov 16, 2010 at 10:18 AM
Subject: Fw: Fwd: Little known bit of Naval History
To: "A. J. Ordogne" <ajordogne at yahoo.com>




 
Dave Harrell


----- Forwarded Message ----
From: John Herman <jeherman at bellsouth.net>
To: Undisclosed-Recipient at yahoo.com
Sent: Tue, November 16, 2010 7:11:13 AM
Subject: Fw: Fwd: Little known bit of Naval History






         
          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 and79,400 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.

          GO NAVY! 






-- 
Chappy Holbrook
Full Time Retiree

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