U.S. YARDS LAUNCH 800 SHIPS A YEAR

Press, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 23818, 11 December 1942, Page 4

U.S. YARDS LAUNCH 800 SHIPS A YEAR

AMERICAN SHIPBUILDING

(By Ray Maley. Washington Staff Correspondent of the "Sydney Morning Herald,^

The Oregon Shipbuilding Corporation operated by Mr Henry Kaisei, and the’California Shipbuilding Corporation have each launched then hundredth Liberty ship, making the total by each corporation 1,000.000 tons since the first Liberty ship was launched on American merchant shipbuilding programme been that the goal of 8,000,000 ions of new shipping for 1942 will now P and it can be said with safety that the battle of the sea-lanes cannot oe lost. It cannot be said that the submarine menace has been conquered and it may never be conquered before the war ends, but (hanks to the might and speed of American production he Allies will be able until the end of the war to launch more ships than the enemy can sink. . Indeed, Allied shipping tonnage will probably steadily increase rather than continue the ominous dwindling that frightened Allied leaders in 1940, 1941, and even earlier this year. Month-by-month figures of vessels delivered for service are not only a recurrent blow to the Axis, but constant proof of the ability of the United States war effort to grow and keep on growing.

This places another 3,000.000 tons in the scales against the Axis,

To attack the question from another angle, it can be stated that, at the outbreak of war, the British Empire had about 16,300.000 tons; Allied and neu. tral countries possessed about 7,000,000 tons; and purchases, building, and can. tures have added about 3.300,000 tons, bringing the total shipping available to 26.600.000 tons.

British losses to the end of 1941 amounted to about 8.300,000 tons. i n December, America came into the war adding about 6,700,000 tons,from whiclj losses in 1942, estimated ifr 5,000,000 tons, must be deducted leaving u, e pool at 20,000,000 tons. To Wi* must be added new building in 1942, These calculations are based on estimates from the best unofficial sources in Washington.

Improved Position

Monthly Rises

In January 16 vessels were launched with a tonnage of 197,628. Since then the figures have been;— February, 26 ships, 289,549 tons; March, 26 ships, 291,473 tons; April, 36 ships, 401,632 tons; May, 57 ships, 619,779 tons; June, 67 ships, 749,154 tons; July, 71 ships, 791,167 tons; August, 68 ships, 752,774 tons; September, 93 ships, 1.016,112 tons; October, 81 ships, 889,737 tons. The totals for the year so far are 541 ships and 5,999 005 tons. In April the yards began delivering one ship a day. By June it was two ships a day. and in September it went up to three ships a day. The present rate of delivery is slightly better. Equally impressive is the constant decrease in the average number of shipconstruction days from keel-laying to delivery. In January it was 241.3 days, and monthly figures since then have improved as follows; February, 227.8 days; March, 217.7 days; April, 179.2 days; May, 155.4 days, June, 122.4 days; July, 108.4 days: August, 83.3 days; September, 70.1 days; October, 66 days. This average will fall still lower. One Kaiser yard as a special project to show what can be done built a ship and sent it into service in less than a fortnight, and at another yard a ship was launched in four days and 15 hours.

If Allied building for 1942 is conser. vatively estimated at 10,000.000 tons, then the figures appear to support the theory that the Allied position as far as tonnage is concerned is better than at any time since the beginning of the war. Officials have also estimated that the reopening of the Mediterranean route to the East would be worth at least two months of American building, 0 r 2,000,000 tons. The Allies have seized nearly 300,000 tons in African ports. It must be remembered, however, that demands on Allied shipping are far greater to-day than they were i* 1940 or 1941. Another important aspect of the shipping problem is the war against the submarines. The adoption of the convoy system by the United States, although' it has retarded the turnaround of ships, has resulted in fewer sinkings. , Admiral Emory Land, of the United States Maritime Commission, believes that the best and most productive policy is to attack the U-boat at its source—attack its bases, its repair de? pots, and even its factories, indeed, attack at any point where successful bombing will prevent the maraudej putting out to sea, where the chancel are always in its favour. Air raids on St. Nazaire, Lorient, and the big raid on Augsburg are id accordance with this policy. Another weapon against the submarine which is being turned out as quickly as possible, even at the expense of new merchant ships, is the escort vessel, designed specifically for antisubmarine work.

Manning New Ships

The Maritime Commission’s programme is obviously booming, with steel supply the only question mark in an otherwise rosy outlook. Next year’s quota is IfiOO ships, or about 16.000.000 tons. The commission is confident that facilities will permit of reaching and perhaps exceeding this total if the development of the war makes it necessary. 60 Yards At Work

About 60 shipyards are working on contracts, and the number of slipways runs into hundreds. More than 800 industrial plants are contributing materials for the gigantic undertaking, and about 2,000,000 persons are engaged in yards and plants. It is worth noting, too, that in addition to these ocean-going vessels the merchant marine programme to the end of 1943 calls for the production of 1 nearly 1000 smaller and auxiliary ships.

Of course, any real analysis of the shipping situation to-day must include other factors besides shipbuilding results. It is unofficially estimated that 532 United Nations’ ships have been sunk in the Atlantic since Pearl Harbour, or about 4,250,000 tons.

There has been no reliable statement of Pacific losses, but they would not approach those in the Atlantic. American launchings for the same period approach 8,000,000 tons, or nearly twice losses.

Canada is launching 1,000,000 tons this year, and British production, ah though a closely-guarded secret, could be estimated at about 2,000,000 tons.

One of the problems of American shipping expansion has been the provision of crews for some 3000 new ships. They require a complement of 25.000 licensed deck and engineer officers, about evenly divided, and abqut 100.000 unlicensed seamen. Experienced men now in shore jobs are being asked to return to sea, but, in addition, plans have been made to train the necessary new officers and men. So far no difficulty has been experienced in recruiting men, but the Government is carrying on a national campaign to meet the need when it arises. America is also concentrating on methods of assuring that the best possible use is made of shipping. Exports are being rigidly controlled, so that only priority cargoes may be carried. Occasionally stories are told here of ships leaving in ballast, after delivering cargoes of war materials. Officials admit that there is considerable truth in these reports. For instance, there is nothing that can be brought out of Murma'nsk, anp ships from Hawaii spmetimeS hutfry back empty to the Pacific Coast.--i{r‘,ttc officials explain that this is ~-Qoije to save vital days waiting for a cargo of pineapples or sugar. Ships that have left Australia empty have returned by way of Chile to pick up copper or nitrates. . Officials jf the United States Marktime Commission say that a good proportion of the new shipping is being reserved for use in the Pacific. That means that many ships will be employed in supplying American forces scattered throughout that win! area, including Australia.