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The USS Constitution 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 to make water. However, let it be noted that according to her log, "On July 27, 1798, the USS Constitution sailed with a full complement 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 63,000 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 ensuing days she defeated British men-of-war and captured and scuttled 12 English merchants 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 USS Constitution arrived in Boston on 20 February, 1799, with no cannon, no shot, no food, no powder, no rum, no wine, no whiskey, and 38,600 gallons of stagnant water. Epilogue: Ship was gone for 208 days (Jul 27, 1798 through February, 1799). Total amount of booze brought aboard in those 208 days was 252,000 gallons (not including what was salvaged from the British). Divided by Crew of 475 and the time spent at sea equals 2.55 gallons per man per day. (This is certainly a candidate for a Guiness Record.)
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