United States Huge Naval Programme

Northern Advocate, 15 May 1943, Page 3

United States Huge Naval Programme

WASHINGTON, May 14. The largest naval Appropriation Bill in history, requesting almost 30,000,100.000 dollars, was submitted to the House of Representatives by the Appropriations Committee, which released the evidence of high naval officers, who detailed the growth of America's rapidly expanding navy. Vice-Admiral Horne, Vice-Chief of Naval Operations, revealed that the navy’s strength on July 1, 1944, was expected to be 5100 ships, with a total oersonnel of two and a half million men, 225,000 officers. Six 35,000-ton battleships are already in service and two are nearly ready. Seven Cardinal Points

Highlights of Vice-Admiral Horne’s evidence are:

(1) The navy’s greatest need is escort vessels for combating submarines, the building of which is outstripping sinkings. „ (2) Cur battleships, at the time ot Pearl Harbour, lacked speed and flexibility. However, the modern battleship has proved that the day of the battleship has been far extended. (3) The aircraft-carrier, around which the ideal task, force is built, has become the backbone of the fleet. Whether our Pacific strategy becomes a step by step re-investment of islands, or a flank approach to Japan, we are going to need carriers in quantity. The traditional naval battle battleship against battleship, big fleet against big fleet—is out of the picture. (4) Expenditure for ammunition after the defeat of Hitler will increase instead of decrease. (5) Contracts for 27,642 naval planes is expected in 1944, including 100 fourengined transports, 20 of which will be similar to the 70-ton Martin-Mars fly-ing-boat. . ~ (6) The navy is acquiring considerable numbers of auxiliary carriers—flying decks mounted on merchantship hulls. . (7) The Normandie requires la more months before salvaging is completed. The total cost will be 20 millions, or 20 per cent, of the cost to reproduce the ship from hull to superstructure. Need for Landing Craft Several officials emphasised the importance of landing craft as a requisite for amphibious operations. Vice-Admiral Horne said we must get to the Axis on the Continent of Europe’ regain the islands in Melanesia and Micronesia and make a final assault against Japan by amphibious operations, utilising landing craft Rear-Admiral Cochrane asked for a million tons of small amphibious craft 70 per cent, of which are landing craft. He predicted that losses in some cases exceed 50 per cent. Losses in North African landings ) v f re very heavy They were not violently opposed, but the weather was bad.