GIGANTIC FLEET

Dominion, Volume 34, Issue 181, 29 April 1941, Page 8

GIGANTIC FLEET

Great Building Programme In United States

SEVENTEEN BATTLESHIPS

Figures showing the remarkable expansion of the United States Navy, published last month in the “Boating Industry,” an American technical shipbuilding periodical, reach proportions little realized in New Zealand. Millions of dollars are involved in the construction at yards on both coasts of America of a mighty fleet of war vessels. The summary has been made of vessels in construction on February 1 this year. The chief feature is the building of 17 battleships. They have already been named as follows: North Carolina, Washington, South Dakota. Indiana, Massachusetts, Alabama, lowa, New Jersey. Missouri, Wisconsin, Illinois. Kentucky, Montana, Ohio, Maine, New Hampshire and Louisiana. Cable advice published this month announced that the North Carolina had been commissioned. Described as the world's deadliest battleship, she will be followed by similar ships. The Washington is nearing completion. Twelve aircraft-carriers are under construction. They are the Hornet. Essex, Bon Homme Richard, Intrepid, Kearsarge, Franklin, Hancock, Randolph, Cabot, Bunker Hill, Oriskany, and Ticonderoga. In addition to these ships the building programme includes 54 cruisers, 79 submarines, 294 destroyers and three destroyer tenders. There are nine minesweepers, 17 coastal minesweepers, four netlayers, four repair ships, seven submarine tenders, five submarine rescue vessels, 20 seaplane tenders, three minelayers, 6S submarine chasers and IS motor torpedo-boats.