Vital Economies In Allied Shipbuilding

Northern Advocate, 24 August 1943, Page 3

Vital Economies In Allied Shipbuilding

(8.0. W.) RUGBY, August 23. i Vital economies, achieved by American.! British and Canadian co-ordination ini effecting simplification of ship designs; have been explained by the Chairman of j the United States War Production Board] (Mr Donald Nelson). A few months ago it. became 'evident: that] the war which.the Allies were getting well prepared to wage on land and in the air could well be lost meanwhile at sea unless extraordinary measures were taken immediately. At the request of combined production jand resources board, the combined chiefs-iof-staf¥.' organised 'a combined shipbuilcl-. lings committee and appointed as chairIman Mr W. F. Gibbs, Controller for Ship- | building in the War Production Board, 'who is a. designer, of wide experience in ! preparing plans for mass production ships ! and, accomplishing, accumulation of cbmjpenents from many sources for inclusion jin special ships-made--in many yards, i New Victory Ship

Tire first problem was propulsion for a new fast Victory cargo-ship. • Geared turbines were preferred for economy in performance. However, a supply of turbines and"-gears for any substantial quantity of ship's was not available and now facilities would take too much time as well as new plants and tools. All turbine' manufacturers and marine users were brought into consultation, and all others who might contribute towards solution of a problem which so far had provi'd unresponsive to individual efforts. Exhaustive but: quick and combined study revealed that the number of types cf geared turbines could be reduced from 27 ic nine. Geared turbines became available for 350 ships fit 1944. In like manner it was found possible to cur varieties of turbine-generator sets for power and lighting of ships from 77 to 17 and comparable savings and necessary performance was maintained. Tug-boats wore made of steel in the United States alone in 23 types and it was found that these could be cut to seven and still serve amply the same purposes. The committee also recommended that the number of types of escort, vessels built for the United States. Canadian and British navies be cut drastically, with consequent savings and speeding up of the programme. These and other accomplishments that the committee in its first six months recently completed are described as not only remarkable in themselves but even more so as an indication of what further substantial economies can be made in capital investment.

To Britain.—Thousands more American troops, including air force personnel and coloured troops, recently reached England without incident.