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SaltyMonkey · 10-06-2013, 20:24

Quote:

Originally Posted by SkiprJohn

Where does a young serviceman/woman go now to blow off a little steam and meet some new and interesting peers?

They join the real military. They join the army.

goboatingnow · 10-06-2013, 23:41

Quote:

Originally Posted by River Cruiser

For all the true salts. 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 and64,300 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, and 38,600 gallons of water . GO NAVY!

That story has been debunked several times of course , the ship only arrived in European waters in 1803. It never raided up the firth of Clyde. To do so would have been suicidal.

Dave

squarerigger · 11-06-2013, 00:29

Not to mention that the United States and Great Britain were not at war in 1798-1799. Most of the other statistics are equally nonsensical. Fun story though.

muskoka · 11-06-2013, 01:23

I was kind of wondering how 475 crew and officers managed to consume 40,000 gallons of Scotch in 25 days?

I mean, assuming no Tea-totalers, that amounts to 3 1/3 gallons of whiskey per man every day. Forget about sailing her back to Boston, being that hammered they'd be lucky to get up to any 'friggin' in the rigging'.

goboatingnow · 11-06-2013, 03:46

upto the 17th century , the Royal Navys ration was approx 9 Uk pints of beer a day, this was a weaker beer then typical today and essentially was a water ration. in 1650s it was repalced with rum, but the rum ration was much smaller, close to 1/2 pint twice a day and reduced to 'tot' in the 1750s

Quote:

Doesn't the Royal Navy still sail with a full provision of Pussers?

No, the run ration was discontinued in 1970 and replaced with a two cans of beer allowance. The US Navy abolished it in the 1860s, the last was teh Royal New Zealand , in 1990.

dave

SkiprJohn · 11-06-2013, 11:05

Quote:

Originally Posted by SaltyMonkey

They join the real military. They join the army.

My Army friends used to like it when they'd say they were going on maneuvers and I'd say, "Have fun camping."

After spending two weeks with the Army at Camp Di An in Vietnam at their perimeter defense training course I had a new appreciation and sympathy for those guys.

Interservice rivalry was always a great deal of fun and luckily I served with some of the best of all services while at Joint Headquarters for two different tours.

Have to admit though the toughest training we got was with the Marines, not the Army. So if you want to join the real military then go Marines or SEALS.

SkiprJohn · 11-06-2013, 11:10

Quote:

Originally Posted by goboatingnow

That story has been debunked several times of course , the ship only arrived in European waters in 1803. It never raided up the firth of Clyde. To do so would have been suicidal.

Dave

Yes, That's why it's a "Sea Story." I used to love it when one of old salts used to start a conversation with, "This ain't no sh--!" because you knew the next few minutes will have you enthralled with mostly exaggeration interspersed with a couple of truths.

courageous cat · 11-06-2013, 11:39

Quote:

Originally Posted by muskoka

I was kind of wondering how 475 crew and officers managed to consume 40,000 gallons of Scotch in 25 days?

I mean, assuming no Tea-totalers, that amounts to 3 1/3 gallons of whiskey per man every day. Forget about sailing her back to Boston, being that hammered they'd be lucky to get up to any 'friggin' in the rigging'.

Well if you are going to drink all day you need to start in the morning

SaltyMonkey · 11-06-2013, 12:30

Quote:

Originally Posted by SkiprJohn

My Army friends used to like it when they'd say they were going on maneuvers and I'd say, "Have fun camping."

After spending two weeks with the Army at Camp Di An in Vietnam at their perimeter defense training course I had a new appreciation and sympathy for those guys.

Interservice rivalry was always a great deal of fun and luckily I served with some of the best of all services while at Joint Headquarters for two different tours.

Have to admit though the toughest training we got was with the Marines, not the Army. So if you want to join the real military then go Marines or SEALS.

My mother was Navy. I was Navy. I went to Navy military school as a kid. I grew up in MD and lived in Annapolis. Navy everywhere. Marines are cool too.

Navy, navy, and more navy. You can see it in their eyes. Navy in their eyes.

BUT, the seals *HA they are soooo overrated. You know its true. They have their own publicists and agents.

I appreciate the Green Berets who never brag about nuthin' and are better educated.

**hpeer** · 11-06-2013, 12:53

USCG, they are on mission 365, war or no war.

SaltyMonkey · 11-06-2013, 13:38

Quote:

Originally Posted by hpeer

USCG, they are on mission 365, war or no war.

rescue swimmers

muskoka · 11-06-2013, 16:16

Quote:

Originally Posted by courageous cat

Well if you are going to drink all day you need to start in the morning

That's what I've been doing wrong. I'm such an amateur...

SkiprJohn · 11-06-2013, 19:15

Quote:

Originally Posted by SaltyMonkey

My mother was Navy. I was Navy. I went to Navy military school as a kid. I grew up in MD and lived in Annapolis. Navy everywhere. Marines are cool too.

Navy, navy, and more navy. You can see it in their eyes. Navy in their eyes.

BUT, the seals *HA they are soooo overrated. You know its true. They have their own publicists and agents.

I appreciate the Green Berets who never brag about nuthin' and are better educated.

Well, I guess we'll have to agree to disagree.

kind regards,