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Two-Ocean Navy Act

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Two-Ocean Navy Act
Great Seal of the United States
Other short titlesVinson-Walsh Act
Long titleAn Act to establish the composition of the United States Navy, to authorize the construction of certain naval vessels, and for other purposes.
NicknamesNavy Construction Act of 1940
Enacted bythe 76th United States Congress
EffectiveJuly 19, 1940
Citations
Public lawPub. L.Tooltip Public Law (United States) 76–757
Statutes at Large54 Stat. 779, Chap. 644
Codification
Titles amended34 U.S.C.: Navy
U.S.C. sections amended34 U.S.C. §§ 494-497, 498-498k
Legislative history
  • Introduced in the House as H.R. 10100 by Carl Vinson (D-GA) on June 19, 1940
  • Committee consideration by House Naval Affairs, Senate Naval Affairs
  • Passed the House on June 22, 1940 (Passed)
  • Passed the Senate on July 10, 1940 (Passed) with amendment
  • House agreed to Senate amendment on July 11, 1940 (Agreed)
  • Signed into law by President Franklin D. Roosevelt on July 19, 1940

The Two-Ocean Navy Act, also known as the Vinson-Walsh Act, was a United States law enacted on July 19, 1940, and named for Carl Vinson and David I. Walsh, who chaired the Naval Affairs Committee in the House and Senate respectively. The largest naval procurement bill in U.S. history, it increased the size of the United States Navy by 70%.[1]

More importantly though, and the Act was not the last that increased the size of the Navy during World War II, it immediately enabled a program to grow the fleet at an unprecedented rate and marks the moment (in retrospect) the United States switched to a war-time naval economy.

Although the United States did not enter the war for another 16 months, the apparent impact of the expanded navy in the first 12 month of fighting was minimal. The first of the significant battles in the Pacific War in which these units constituted the bulk of the fleet was the Battle of the Philippine Sea in June 1944, but this is also a result of Japanese unwillingness to confront United States naval forces in 1943 with a high concentration of their own. See for example Operation Hailstone.

History

Modest naval expansion programs had been implemented by the Vinson-Trammell Act of 1934 and the Naval Act of 1938.[2][3] In early June 1940, the U.S. Congress passed legislation[4] that provided an 11% increase in naval tonnage as well as an expansion of naval air capacity.[5] Given that the expansion authorized in 1938 had already been implemented, the June 1940 law was likely going to happen anyway. On June 17, a few days after German troops conquered France, expelled British forces from continental Europe, and Winston Churchill announced Britain's intention to continue the war, a vitally important campaign of which would be fought in the Atlantic, Chief of Naval Operations Harold Stark requested four billion dollars from Congress to increase the size of the American combat fleet by 70%, adding 257 ships amounting to 1,325,000 tons.[6] On June 18, after less than an hour of debate, the House of Representatives by a 316–0 vote authorized $8.55 billion for a naval expansion program, that put emphasis on aircraft. Rep. Vinson, who headed the House Naval Affairs Committee, said its emphasis on carriers did not represent any less commitment to battleships, but "The modern development of aircraft has demonstrated conclusively that the backbone of the Navy today is the aircraft carrier. The carrier, with destroyers, cruisers and submarines grouped around it[,] is the spearhead of all modern naval task forces."[7] The Two-Ocean Navy Act was enacted on July 19, 1940.

The increase of total underage tonnage authorized in June

  • capital ships: +0t -> 660,000t
  • aircraft carriers: +79,500t -> 254,000t
  • cruisers: +66,500t -> 479,000t
  • destroyers: +0t -> 228,000t
  • submarines: +21,000t -> 102,956t
  • Essential equipment and facilities (shipbuilding): $35,000,000
  • Essential equipment and facilities (ordnance, munitions, armor): $6,000,000

with a total allowed variation between categories of 33,400t

The increase in July

  • capital ships: +385,000t
  • aircraft carriers: +200,000t
  • cruisers: +420,000t
  • destroyers: +250,000t
  • submarines: +70,000t

with an allowed variation of the increase in each category of 30%.

The Act authorized the procurement of:[1][6]

The expansion program was scheduled to take five to six years, but a New York Times study of shipbuilding capabilities called it, "problematical" unless proposed "radical changes in design" were dropped.[8]

Explanatory note: The acts of 14 June (11% increase) and 19 July (70% increase) authorized the Navy Department (as a part of the executive branch of government) to construct those ships. No funds have been allocated for their construction in the budget though. And so these acts are followed by a series of supplemental appropriation acts that serve to extend the Navy Appropriation Act for fiscal year FY41 (passed 11 June). That act already had 2 parts (called Titles I and II) due to the declaration of an emergency situation. This section concerns itself mainly with Titles III, IV and VI of the appropriation act and details the process by which initial funding is provided to commence the construction of authorized ships. The regular FY41 appropriation act is described in the budget history section of this article. Title VII added funds for further auxiliaries and is relevant here, but that already summarizes its complexity.

Of the $259,071,979 (hulls and machinery) and $81,300,000 (armor, armament and ammunition) appropriated for in FY41 by the Appropriations Act of June 11, 1940, during Hearings on 4 January 1940,[9] the portion dedicated to the commencement of the 24 vessels appropriated for in the act was stated as $24,443,000 (M+H) and $3,000,000 (A+A+A), the rest being appropriated for continuing construction of previously ordered ships. An increase in the appropriations for FY41 must be measured against those latter figures (with exceptions noted). $50,000,000 for hulls and machinery were termed immediately available in the FY41 appropriations act and are now taken out and added again as part of the $109m deficiency on 26 June, albeit the figure has changed to $45,000,000[10]

26 June 1940, H.R. 10055, PubL 76-667, First Supplemental National Defense Appropriations Act, 1941,[11] Title III (Navy Department)

  • Hearings: 15 June — 17 June[12]
  • also named: "Title III of the Naval Appropriation Act for the Fiscal Year 1941"
    • note that Title I and II of the 26 June act are for other departments appropriated for and Title I and II of the Naval Appropriations Act are for the Navy, but contained in the act of 11 June
  • $144,000,000 for hulls and machinery (new total: $353,071,979[13] TODO: $65m are missing here from App Act Title II)
    • of that figure $109,000,000 towards deficiency in spending including prior FY vessels (8BB, 1CV, 6CL, 27DD, 14SS, 12aux) and FY41 vessels (2BB, 1CV, 8DD, 6SS, 5aux) appropriated for on 11 June. See also: Hearings, June 11 App.Act, pp. 8 - 10
      • this requires further explanation, but apparently the Navy Department as first order of business asks again for money it has previously been denied.
    • $35,000,000 towards vessels not previously appropriated for (listed below)[14]
    • HR3617 17 March 1941 claims there should be $9,000,000 towards facilities here
  • $78,400,000 for armor, armament and ammunition (new total: $159,700,000)
  • for facilities and the commencement of[15]
    • 6 CL, 22DD, 8SS authorized by the Act approved March 27, 1934
    • 2CL, 8DD authorized by the Act approved May 17, 1938
    • 3CV, 4CA, 1CL, 14SS authorized by H.R. 8026 (14 June 1940)
    • type and number of ships concurs with an estimate introduced by Harold Stark before the subcommittee on 17 June 1940
    • the White House/Navy Department pulls the trigger given to it on 27 March 1934, replacing all available overage tonnage, with the exception of some battleship tonnage
    • total cost estimate: $728,000,000, by 18 February 1941 revised to $837,674,000[16]
  • $24,360,000 Alterations to Naval Vessels. This item will become a major second avenue of auxiliary creation, and it comes with blanket authorization (in Title IV) for the tonnage acquired with these funds

9 September 1940, H.R. 10263, PubL 76-781, Second Supplemental National Defense Appropriations Act, 1941,[17] Title II (Navy Department)

  • Hearings: [18]
  • also named: "Title IV of the Naval Appropriation Act for the fiscal year 1941"
  • $93,000,000 for hulls and machinery
    • to commence 200 combat ships: $25m
    • private plant expansions: $30m
    • to commence 52 auxiliaries: $18m
    • patrol craft: $20m[19]
  • $90,000,000 for armor, armament and ammunition
    • (breakdown of $85,000,000 requested used during Hearings)
    • to commence 200 combat ships: $10,000,000
    • plant expansion: $65,000,000
    • patrol craft: $5,000,000
    • to commence 52 auxiliaries: $5,000,000
  • for facilities and the commencement of[20]
    • 109,000t combatant vessels (battleship tonnage[21]) (27 March 1934)
    • 1,325,000t combatant (19 July 1940)
      • total cost estimate: $4,000,000,000
    • 8 auxiliary authorized 17 May 1938 and 175,000t (allocated to 44 vessels) authorized 14 June and 19 July
      • 3AD, 5AS, 3AV, 10AVP, 2AO, 5AOG, 8AM, 2AP, 4AN, 3AR, 2CM, 5ASR
      • total cost estimate: $242,500,000
      • of which a portion are slated to be acquired and converted ($91,500,000)
        • 3 AD: C3 steam
        • 3 AV: C3 steam
        • 5 AS: C3 diesel
        • 2 AO: national defense tanker
        • 3 AR: C3 steam
  • $75,000,000 Alterations to Naval Vessels, (in addition to $16,000,000 appropriated in Title III[22]) for the acquisition and conversion of 22 auxiliaries, with statutory limits allowed to be exceeded with funds under this item
    • 1AD, 3AV, 2AS, 2AO, 1AH, 4AP, 3AK, 1AK(refrigerated), 2AE, 2AF, 1AT[23]
    • $91,000,000 is the total cost estimate
    • already acquired or selected for acquisition since HR10055
      • Sea Arrow, SS President Grant, SS President Jackson
      • SS Mormacpenn, SS Iraqouis, SS Santa Barbara, SS Santa Maria
    • Title VI of 17 March 1941 allocates a further $58,000,000 towards the acquisition of 31 auxiliaries
    • during Hearings in February 1941 the list was given as:[24]
    • 3AV, 3AS, 1AH, 10AP, 3AK, 2AE, 2AF, 1AT, 1PG, 1APV, 2AKS, 1AG, 1 unspec
    • some information from a list given in Title VII hearings[25] of 48 vessels acquired overall starting before 1940 has been used to augment the incomplete list given in Title IV hearings, with some synthesis that appears inevitable.
    • On 14 January 1942, during Hearings on the Navy Department Appropriation Act for 1943, Admiral Robinson characterized these 1941 acts as follows[26]
      • 26 June (Title III): authorized the acquisition of 7 large auxiliary vessels
      • 9 September (Title IV): authorized the acquisition of 23 large auxiliaries
      • 5 April 1941 (Title VII): authorized the acquisition of 12 large auxiliary vessels
List of ships acquired under the "Alterations to Naval Vessels" program
Title Type Original Navy acquired comm.
III Iraqouis Solace (AH-5) 22 Jul 40
IV C2 Shooting Star MC-23 Lassen (AE-3) 15 Nov 40
IV C2 Surprise MC-24 Kilauea (AE-4) 14 Nov 40
IV C2 Staghound MC-27 Aldebaran (AF-10) 22 Dec 40
IV C2 Donald McKay MC-18 Polaris (AF-11) 27 Jan 41
IV C2 Mormachawk MC-19 Arcturus (AK-18) 26 Sep 40
IV C2 Sweepstakes MC-25 Procyon (AK-19) 14 Nov 40 28 Aug 41
IV Cape Lookout AK TBD
IV C2 Challenge MC-14 Castor (AKS-1) 23 Oct 40
IV C2 Comet MC-33 Pollux (AKS-2) 2 Jan 41
III 1029 President Grant Harris (AP-8) 17 Jul 40 19 Aug 40
III 1029 President Jackson Zeilin (AP-9) 17 Jul 40 3 Jan 42
III Furness[27] Santa Barbara McCawley (AP-10) 26 Jul 40
III Furness Santa Maria Barnett (AP-11) 9 Aug 40
IV AW[28] City of Baltimore Heywood (AP-12) 26 Oct 40
IV AW City of Los Angeles George F. Elliot (AP-13) 4 Nov 40
IV AW City of Newport News Fuller (AP-14) 12 Nov 40
IV AW City of San Francisco William P. Biddle (AP-15) 13 Nov 40
IV AW City of Norfolk Neville (AP-16) 14 Dec 40
IV (1931) Exochorda Harry Lee (AP-17)
IV (1908) George Washington Catlin (AP-19) TBD
III C3 Mormacpenn MC-44 Griffin (AS-13) 13 Dec 40
IV C3 Mormacyork MC-45 Pelias (AS-14) 15 Nov 40
IV C1-B Fred Morris MC-70 Otus (AS-20) 27 Dec 40
III C3 Sea Arrow MC-51 Tangier (AV-8) 8 Jul 40 25 Aug 41
IV C3 Exchequer MC-64 Pocomoke (AV-9) 16 Oct 40
IV MC-171 AV-10 TBD
IV yacht Orion Vixen (PG-53) 13 Nov 40
IV Mormacmail AVG-1 TBD
IV Dixie Alcor (AG-34) 1 May 41
IV AT TBD
VII MC-162 AD
VII MC-168 AD
VII MC-125 AE
VII MC-126 AE
VII MC-128 AF
VII MC-129 AF
VII (1927) Shawnee AH
VII Rainbow AK
VII Exceller AK
VII MC-127 AK
VII (1940) Seatrain Texas APV
VII (1940) Seatrain New Jersey APV

8 October 1940, H.R. 10572, PubL 76-800,[29] Third Supplemental National Defense Appropriations Act, 1941

  • also named: "Title V of the Naval Appropriation Act for the fiscal year 1941"
  • does make appropriations for the Navy Department, but none have to do with shipbuilding as covered in this article

31 January 1941, H.R. 1437, PubL 77-4[30]

  • Further authorization for essential equipment and facilities (shipbuilding): $315,000,000
    • new total: $500,000,000 (35 + 150 + 315)
  • Further authorization for essential equipment and facilities (ordnance, munitions, armor): $194,000,000
    • new total: $300,000,000 (6 + (65 + 35) + 194)
  • Authorization for 400 patrol, local defense, escort, salvage, towing craft with contract authorization of $400,000,000

17 March 1941, H.R. 3617, PubL 77-13,[31] Fourth Supplemental National Defense Appropriation Act, 1941, Title II (Navy Department)

  • Hearings: [32]
  • also named: "Title VI of the Naval Appropriation Act for the fiscal year 1941"
  • $100,000,000 hulls and machinery[33]
    • $52,300,000 towards new ships
      • $31,300,000 for delivery of 55 destroyers before 1943
        • there are several contracts with completion dates before 1943
        • Bethlehem San Francisco: 9 Benson
        • Bethlehem San Pedro: 4 Benson
        • Bethlehem Staten Island: 2 Fletcher, 5 Benson
        • Federal Shipbuilding: 18 Gleaves, 6 Fletcher
        • Bath Iron Works: 2 Gleaves, 6 Fletcher
      • $16,000,000 towards commencement of additional 1AD, 1AV, 7AO with total cost of $74m
        • 4 oilers to be bought in 1941: $14,000,000
        • $500,000 conversion work on each in 1941
      • $5,000,000 of the total cost of $24,000,000 for 40 motor mine sweepers
    • $47,700,000 facilities
      • updated estimate of $86,700,000 for facilities in 1941
      • minus $9,000,000 Title III minus $30,000,000 Title IV
      • note that significant work on facilities has been underway since the 9 September appropriations and those facilities are nearing completion for the purpose of building the first ships
  • $102,000,000 armor, armament, ammunition
  • $58,000,000 Alterations to Naval Vessels, in contract authorization towards 31 auxiliaries authorized in Title III and Title IV

5 April 1941, H.R. 4124, PubL 77-29,[34] Fifth Supplemental National Defense Appropriation Act, 1941, Title II (Navy Department)

  • Hearings: [35]
  • also named: "Title VII of the Naval Appropriation Act for the fiscal year 1941"
  • $60,000,000 Alterations to Naval Vessels, for the acquisition and conversion of 12 additional ships, added to the number of 48 previously authorized (this includes authorizations predating Title I), as detailed in:[36]
  • since this appropriation comes with a list of entirely new ships, it is not to cover the contract authorization of Title VI, even though the dollar amount would suggest that.

6 May 1941, H.R. 3981, PubL 77-48, Naval Appropriation Act 1942

  • $1,215,000,000 hulls and machinery
  • $442,000,000 armor, armament, ammunition
  • provided that none of it be available for vessels delivered or acquired prior to 1 July 1940 and to no ships after 12 month since their delivery or acquisition have passed

outside the scope of this article:

23 December 1941, H.R. 6223, PubL 77-369

  • combatant ships: +150,000t
    • allocated to: 2CV, 2CL, 10DD, 23SS
    • with a total cost estimate of $561,195,000 (hulls and machinery) and $145,900,000 (armor, armament, ammunition)
    • tonnage was specifically designed in order to keep existing slipways busy[37]

13 May 1941, H.R. 6932, PubL 77-551

  • combatant ships: +200,000t

9 July 1942, H.R. 7184, PubL 77-666

  • combatant ships: +1,900,000t
    • aircraft carriers: +500,000t
    • cruisers: +500,000t
    • destroyers and destroyer escorts: +900,000t
  • 800 patrol and mine vessels
  • 200 coastal patrol and mine vessels
  • remove $50,000,000 limit on Section 5a of 19 July 1940 law, add limit of 72 ships
  • remove $400,000,000 limit on Section 2 of 31 January 1941 law

Implementation

In addition to contracts awarded in June 1940[38] ...

In the latter half of 1940 numerous contracts were awarded to private enterprises[39]

with the last 4 Gleaves ordered in January of 1941

More precise dating of those contracts as well as information about their value can be obtained from the "Alphabetical listing of major war supply contracts, cumulative, June 1940 through September 1945"

  • Volume 1: A-C
  • Volume 2: D-J
  • Volume 3: K-Rex
  • Volume 4: Rey-Z

These contracts do not precisely represent the state of 1940

  • reordered Independence-class carriers are contracted as aircraft carriers with a contract value not matching orders for Cleveland-class cruisers
  • cancellations of 3 Fletchers from contracts to Bethlehem Staten Island

and in a few cases are not accurate as to the location in which contracts were fulfilled, for example due to reassignment within a company or between companies. They should be considered an approximation.

Contracts (to private businesses) and project orders (to naval yards, undated) for the construction of facilities for that same time period were summarized in statements by rear admirals Robinson and Furlong, 15 February 1941, in hearings on the Forth Supplemental National Defense Appropriations Bill 1941. Included are lists of hulls to be constructed in those facilities, which allows the following summary of vessels scheduled to be produced in government yards.

    • Portsmouth: SS-228 ... SS-235, SS-275 ... SS-280
    • Boston: DD-461, DD-462, DD-472 ... DD-476, DD-581 ... DD-586, DD-632 ... DD-635, AVP-21, AVP-22
    • Brooklyn: BB-63, BB-69, BB-70
    • Philadelphia: BB-64, BB-65, BB-67, BB-68
    • Norfolk: BB-66, BB-71, AM-57
    • Charleston: DD-463, DD-464, DD-477 ... DD-479, DD-587 ... DD-591, DD-640, DD-641
    • Mare Island: SS-236 ... SS-239, SS-281, SS-282, AS-12, AS-15, AS-16
    • Puget Sound: DD-480, DD-481, DD-592 ... DD-597, AS-17
    • 10 Gleaves-class destroyers, assuming that, by allocation of hull number, DD-641, DD-462, DD-463, DD-464 belong to FY41 (8 needed total) and Norfolk and Philadelphia entries do not include their destroyers laid down in 1941 and Feb-1942, because facilities were not expanded
    • 27 Fletcher-class destroyers
    • 17 Gato-class submarines, assuming SS-228, SS-229, SS-236 belong to FY41 (6 needed total) from their 1940 construction date and from allocations to Portsmouth and Mare Island in previous FYs

Tonnage of ships referred to in records of congress:

  • e.g. A.B. Homer, vice president, Bethlehem Steel, Investigation of national defense program, 16 July 1941
    • building at Fore River: 8 13,000-ton heavy cruisers, 6 10,000-ton light cruisers
    • building at Staten Island: 5 1620-ton destroyer, 7 2100-ton destroyer
    • building in San Francisco: 4 6,000-ton cruisers
  • e.g. Harold Stark, Navy Department Authorization Bill for 1941, 4 January 1940
    • "There are at this date in commission ten Omaha class 7,500 -ton, 6-inch, light cruisers; eighteen 10,000-ton, 8 -inch cruisers ; and eight 6 -inch ,10,000 -ton light cruisers of the latest type. There are under construction one more 10,000 -ton , 6 -inch, and four 6,000-ton, 5 -inch, light cruisers. Plans will soon be out for two 10,000-ton , 6 -inch cruisers in general similar to St. Louis class. Funds to commence two additional cruisers are being requested for the fiscal year 1941."
  • e.g. E.G. Allen, same, 4 January 1940
    • "For the 20,000 -ton carrier that we are building now, the Hornet, as I remember, the contract price was $31,800,000. The Yorktown and Enterprise cost about $ 22,000,000."

As per the provisions of the Second London Naval Treaty, replacements for overage cruisers can be laid down 3 years before the overage date. Cruisers become overage after 16 years if laid down before 1920, this applies to

They become overage after 20 years in laid down after 1920.

The United States Navy in June 1940, including vessels under construction (also including Cleveland (CL-55) and Columbia (CL-56), authorized in 1938, presumably already ordered some time prior, but laid down in July and August)

  • CL: 9 Brooklyn (10000t), 2 Cleveland (10000t), 4 Atlanta (6000t): 15 (134,000t)
  • CL (overage then or soon to be, i.e. at the date of completion of the replacement vessel): 10 Omaha

Contracts 6/40

  • 2 Cleveland
  • 4 Gleaves
  • 3 Gato
  • apparently 4 more Gleaves 461-464 (2 Boston, 2 Charleston)
  • apparently 3 more Gato from hull ranges 228-235 (Portsmouth) and 236-239 (Mare Island)

Contracts 7/40

  • representing a tonnage of
  • aircraft carriers: 90,000t (ca $131m)
  • cruisers: 142,000t (ca $250m)
  • destroyers: 58,770t (ca $200m)
  • 3 Essex
  • 3 Independence (as Cleveland)
  • 4 Baltimore
  • 6 Cleveland
  • 2 Benson (Beth SF)
  • 7 Gleaves (5 SeaTac, 2 Federal)
  • 21 Fletcher (2 Beth NY, 13 Federal, 6 Bath)
  • the tonnage math only works out if DD-472 ... DD-481 assigned to navy yards on 28 June are cancelled at this point or delayed (until September or at least 19 July)
  • 13 Gato
  • apparently the remaining 9 Gato from hull ranges 228-235 (Portsmouth) and 236-239 (mare Island)
    • "The Log" February 1941 edition claims the order date on 237,238,239 as 28 June

Contracts 9/40

  • representing a tonnage of
  • aircraft carriers: 240,000t
  • cruisers: 336,000t
  • 8 Essex
  • 4 Independence (as Cleveland)
  • 6 Alaska
  • 4 Baltimore
  • 4 Cleveland
  • 4 Atlanta
  • 8 Gleaves (8 Federal)

Contracts 10/40

  • 6 Cleveland (60,000t)

Contracts 12/40

  • 2 Independence (as Cleveland) (20,000t)
  • 20 Benson (6 ForeRiver, 7 Beth SF, 4 Beth SP, 3 Beth NY)
  • 21 Gleaves (5 SeaTac, 6 Federal, 4 BostonNY, 2 PhiladelphiaNY, 2 CharlestonNY, 2 NorfolkBY)
    • speculation on navy yard orders in this timespan from hull number assignment
  • 6 Fletcher (Bath)

Contracts 1/41

  • 4 Gleaves (4 Federal)

Several yards that had never produced at a large scale, businesses that had not before contracted with the federal government or were mothballed after the Great Depression became operational as a result of those contracts. None of those yards produced any warships for the US Navy since the early 1920s

contract issued description amount delivery comment
NOD1512 9/40 destroyers $87,781,000 = 12 Fletcher
1544 9-Sep-40 facilities $5,367,400 DD-569 ... DD-580
wartime facilities $11,952,000 1939: new plant
wartime products $638,766,000[41] 39 DD, 102 DE, 106 LCI
contract issued description amount delivery comment
NOD1502 7/40 destroyers $29,406,000 2/43 5 Gleaves 493-497
NOD1511 9/40 destroyers $109,726,000 5/44 15 Fletcher 554-568
NOD1502S 12/40 destroyers $29,406,000 8/43 5 Gleaves 624-628
1543 9-Sep-40 facilities $4,600,000 DD-493 ... DD-497, DD-554 ... DD-568
wartime facilities $6,518,000 [42]1939: shipbuilding and repair
wartime products $318,953,000[43] 45.5 DD 1.5 AD
    • 25 destroyers ordered
    • first keel laid 1 May 1941
    • building 10 destroyers concurrently by 27 September 1941
  • William Cramp & Sons, Philadelphia
contract issued description amount delivery comment
OD1498 10/40 light cruisers $113,882,000 = 6 Cleveland 89-94
1550 29-Oct-40 facilities $12,000,000 CL-89 ... CL-94
wartime facilities $21,819,000 1939: shipbuilding and repair
contract issued description amount delivery comment
NOD1510 9/40 destroyers $29,260,000 = 4 Fletcher 550-553
1545 9-Sep-40 facilities $2,500,000 DD-550 ... DD-553
public wartime facilities $5,452,000 1939: shipbuilding and repair
private wartime facilities $5,592,000
contract issued description amount delivery comment
NOD1514 9/40 submarines $30,495,000 = 10 Gato 265-274
1542 9-Sep-40 facilities $1,000,000 SS-265 ... SS-274
public wartime facilities $2,261,000 1939: shipbuilding and repair
private wartime facilities $940,000
    • 10 submarines ordered
    • building 3 concurrently by 26 November 1941

existing private enterprises which had previously been underutilized in favor of government yards increased their rate of production

contract issued description amount delivery comment
NOD1442 7/40 aircraft carriers $130,986,000 3 Essex 9,10,11
NOD1438 7/40 light cruisers $38,545,000 2 Cleveland 62,63
NOD1495 9/40 light cruisers $38,545,000 2 Cleveland 80,81
OD1532 9/40 aircraft carriers $138,375,000 3 Essex 13,14,15
NOD1490 9/40 aircraft carriers $42,725,000 1 Essex 12
1540 9-Sep-40 facilities $14,000,000 CV-9 ... CV-15, CL-62, CL-63, CL-80, CL-81
contract issued description amount delivery comment
NOD1380 6/40 light cruisers $17,580,000 1 Cleveland 57
NOD1381 6/40 light cruisers $17,580,000 1 Cleveland 58
NOD1437 7/40 aircraft carriers $65,333,000 3 Independence CL-59,CL-60,CL-61
OD1492 9/40 large cruisers $139,534,000 6 Alaska CB-1 ... CB-6
NOD1494 9/40 aircraft carriers $86,988,000 4 Independence CL-76 ... CL-79
NOD1494S 12/40 aircraft carriers $41,316,000 2 Independence CL-99,CL-100
1533 9-Sep-40 facilities $10,500,000 CB-1 ... CB-6, CL-57 ... CL-61, CL-76 ... CL-79
contract issued description amount delivery comment
OD1439 7/40 light cruisers $74,292,000 12/44 4 Cleveland 64-67
NOD1440 7/40 heavy cruisers $94,472,000 12/43 4 Baltimore 68-71
OD1493 9/40 heavy cruisers $94,472,000 8/45 4 Baltimore 72-75
OD1496 9/40 light cruisers $37,146,000 3/46 2 Cleveland 82,83
OD1491 9/40 aircraft carriers $158,214,000 4/44 4 Essex 16-19
NOD1632 12/40 destroyers $30,801,000 2/43 6 Benson 598-601, transfer from NOD1633: 616,617
      • Heavy Cruisers
      • Destroyers
        • first keel laid 1 May 1941
        • building 2 concurrently by 20 May 1941
        • had built 9 destroyers in FY33 to FY40
    • San Francisco
contract issued description amount delivery comment
NOD1431 7/40 destroyers $11,954,000 4/42 2 Benson
OD1499 9/40 light cruisers $58,780,000 2/45 4 Atlanta
NOD1508 9/40 destroyers $121,344,000 12/43 16 Fletcher
NOD1641 12/40 destroyers $41,832,000 11/42 7 Benson
1536 9-Sep-40 facilities $12,909,900 CL-95 ... CL-98, DD-459, DD-460, DD-536 ... DD-543
contract issued description amount delivery comment
NOD1509 9/40 destroyers $30,336,000 8/43 4 Fletcher 544-547
NOD1633 12/40 destroyers $23,908,000 12/42 4 Benson 612-615
1537 9-Sep-40 facilities $3,950,000 DD-544 ... DD-549
      • first keel laid 1 May 1941
      • building 4 destroyers concurrently by 29 May 1941
      • acquired from Western Pipe and Steel in 1925, had not built warships before
    • Staten Island, New York
      • (records are low quality scan, hard to read)
contract issued description amount delivery comment
???1435 7/40 destroyers $14,862,000 12/42 2 Fletcher 470,471
???1501 ?/40 destroyers $11,954,000 5/42 2 Benson 491,492
OD1507 ?/40 destroyers $29,445,000 ?/43 4 Fletcher 518-521
???1?4? 12/40 destroyers $17,931,000 ?/42 3 Benson 602-604
1535 9-Sep-40 facilities $3,586,000 DD-470, DD-471, DD-491, DD-492, DD-518 ... DD-525
contract issued description amount delivery comment
NOD1376 6/40 destroyers $5,277,000 10/41 1 Gleaves 453
NOD1377 6/40 destroyers $5,277,000 11/41 1 Gleaves 454
NOD1430 7/40 destroyers $10,554,000 1/42 2 Gleaves 455,456
OD1432 7/40 destroyers $20,476,000 12/46 2 Fletcher 452,482
NOD1433 7/40 destroyers $42,958,000 9/42 6 Fletcher 445-448,465,466
NOD1503 9/40 destroyers $36,800,000 1/43 5 Fletcher 498-502
NOD1500 9/40 destroyers $43,038,000 7/42 8 Gleaves 483-490
NOD1642 12/40 destroyers $33,474,000 11/42 6 Gleaves 618-623
NOD1732 1/41 destroyers $22,316,000 4/43 4 Gleaves 645-648
contract issued description amount delivery comment
NOD01378 6/40 destroyers $4,898,000 12/41 1 Gleaves 457
NOD01379 6/40 destroyers $4,898,000 1/42 1 Gleaves 458
NOD1434 7/40 destroyers $32,400,000 9/42 6 Fletcher 449-451, 467-469
NOD1506 9/40 destroyers $74,943,000 4/43 1 Fletcher 507-517
NOD1506S 12/40 destroyers $40,870,000 7/43 6 Fletcher 629-631,642-644
contract issued description amount delivery comment
NOD1373 6/40 submarines $2,957,000 1 Gato 212
NOD1374 6/40 submarines $2,957,000 1 Gato 213
NOD1375 6/40 submarines $2,957,000 1 Gato 214
NOD1436 7/40 submarines $36,335,000 13 Gato 215-221,253-258
OD1513 9/40 submarines $65,3?0,000 25 Gato 222-227,240-252,259-264
1541 9-Sep-40 facilities $4,600,000 (SS-215 ... SS-227, SS-240 ... SS-264)

Government yards increased production, though at a smaller rate.

  • Mare Island Navy Yard, San Francisco
    • 4 submarines concurrently by 1941
    • probably having been scheduled to produce 1 in a normal FY41
  • Portsmouth Naval Shipyard
    • 4 submarines concurrently by 1941
    • probably having been scheduled to produce 2
  • Boston Navy Yard
    • first keel laid January 1941
    • finishes 2 and builds 4 destroyers concurrently by June 1941
    • built 2 destroyers per year in fiscal years FY33 to FY40 (16)

What remains are businesses of less importance and scale (at this point in time and towards this purpose), which are included here as they are referred to in acts of congress discussed here

contract issued description amount delivery comment
NOD1569 12/40 seaplane tenders $12,164,000 3/44 AVP
wartime products $64,752,000 AVP, AM
contract issued description amount delivery comment
NOS75455 7/40 boom net tenders $1,916,000 10/41
NOD1567 12/40 motor torpedo (mislabeled) $25,680,000 10/43 AVP
wartime products $96,903,000 25 AVP, repair, conversions
  • Ingalls Shipbuilding
  • Moore Dry Dock Company
  • Defoe Shipbuilding
  • Los Angeles Shipbuilding and Drydock Company
  • Sun Shipbuilding and Drydock Company
  • General Engineering and Drydock Company
  • Willamette Iron and Steel

Destroyer production summary

Benson + Gleaves + Fletcher
Quarter Laid down Launched Commissioned
Q12/38 3 + 1 =     4
Q34/38 2 + 1 =     3
Q12/39 1 + 6 =     7
Q34/39 0 + 8 =     8 4 + 1 = 5
012/40 0 + 2 =     2 2 + 8 = 10 0 + 1 = 1
Q34/40 1 + 8 =     9 0 + 7 = 7 6 + 5 = 11
Q12/41 17 + 15 + 7 =    39 0 + 4 = 4 0 + 11 = 11
Q34/41 2 + 14 + 18 =    34 5 + 16 = 21 0 + 6 = 6
Q12/42 2 + 7 + 23 =    32 14 + 17 + 18 = 49 8 + 16 + 3 = 27
Q34/42 1 + 4 + 13 =    18 5 + 11 + 31 = 47 11 + 14 + 23 = 48
Q12/43 0 + 0 + 0 =     0 0 + 2 + 10 = 12 2 + 10 + 24 = 36
Q34/43 0 + 0 + 0 =     0 0 + 0 + 2 = 2 0 + 3 + 10 = 13

(until DD-541)


The Budget for the United States Government (as published) for fiscal year 41, starting on 1 July 1940, had called for

  • 1 aircraft carrier
  • 2 battleships
  • 2 light cruisers
  • 8 destroyers
  • 6 submarines
  • 1 submarine tender
  • 3 seaplane tenders
  • 1 minesweeper

to be built.[45]

Budget History

Note on references for contracts: Not all contract dates given have the same level of accuracy. This is due to a discrepancy between orders to navy yards which are undated, but given with a date at which work shall commence. in that case the latter date is given and is different from the keel laying date. In some cases hull numbers are not mentioned for issued contracts and most likely candidates have been guessed, because it seemed obvious (from hull number sequencing and from the appearance of hull numbers in the actively building list from one FY to the next). All contract information comes from the Annul Report of the Secretary of the Navy for each FY and no other sources to correlate to. The majority of contracts are exact quotations, especially for private yards and for ships that are not auxiliaries.

FY41[46] (Appropriation Act of June 11, 1940, Vol 54 p. 265)

FY40,[48] Appropriations Act of 25 May 1939, PubL 76-90[49]

26 April 1939, Navy - auxiliary vessels, PubL 76-45[51]

  • TBD

25 June 1938, H.R. 10851, PubL 75-723,[52] Second Deficiency Appropriation Act, fiscal year 1938; Title I

Naval Act of 1938, 17 May 1938

  • ... The President is hereby authorized to undertake such construction, including replacements as is necessary to build the Navy to the total authorized underage composition ...
  • ... There is hereby authorized to be appropriated, out of any money in the treasury of the United States not otherwise appropriated, such sums as may be necessary to effectuate the purposes of this act ...
  • ... The president is authorized to construct
    • 3 destroyer tenders (27,000t), 2 submarine tenders (18,000t)
    • 3 large seaplane tenders (25,000t), 7 small seaplane tenders (11,550t)
    • 1 repair ship (9,500t), 4 oil tankers (32,000t)
    • 1 mine layer (6,000t), 3 minesweepers (2,100t), 2 fleet tugs (2,500t)

FY39[54], PubL 75-493[55], Naval Appropriations Act of April 26, 1938

25 August 1937, H.R. 8245, PubL 75-354,[57] Third Deficiency Appropriation Act, fiscal year 1937, Title I

  • ...authorized by the Act approved July 30, 1937
  • 1 seaplane tender, 1 destroyer tender, 1 minesweeper, 1 submarine tender, 1 fleet tug, 1 oiler
  • the funds of the Appropriations Act of 27 April 1937 shall be made available towards those vessels
  • Contracts[58]

20 July 1937, S. 2193, PubL 75-226,[59] Authorize the construction of certain auxiliary vessels

  • 36,050t not to exceed $50,000,000
  • 1 seaplane tender (8,300t)
  • 1 destroyer tender (9,000t)
  • 1 mine sweeper (600t)
  • 1 submarine tender (9,000t)
  • 1 fleet tug (1,150t)
  • 1 oiler (8,000t)

FY38[60] (H.R. 5232, PubL 75-54,[61] Appropriations Act of April 27, 1937, Vol 50 p. 96)

FY37[63] (Appropriations Act of June 3, 1936, Vol 48 p. 1398)

Great Britain invokes article 21 of the London Naval Treaty in July 1936. As a result the underage destroyer tonnage allowed to the United States increases from 150,000t to 190,000t

FY36[65] (Appropriations Act of June 24, 1935, Vol 49 p. 398)

FY35 (Appropriations Act of March 15, 1934, Vol 48 p.403)

Emergency Relief Appropriation Act of 1935

Vinson-Trammell Act of 1934, March 27, 1934 - P73-135

Executive Order 6174 on Public Works Administration, June 16, 1933

National Industrial Recovery Act of 1933, June 16, 1933

FY34, H.R. 14724, PubL 72-429, Navy Appropriations Act of 3 March 1933

law of February 13, 1929[71]

1924 scout cruiser law

Impact on the War

Some of the vessels authorized in July 1940 were commissioned before the United States entered the war.

Bristol (DD-453), Ellyson (DD-454), Emmons (DD-457)

Submarines saw action as early as Midway

During the Guadalcanal Campaign (7 August 1942 - 9 February 1943) post-act ships showed up occasionally, but none of those larger than a destroyer. In the 3 major battles of that Campaign (bold), the Japanese Navy enjoyed a advantage in fighting ships by most measures.

Operation Hailstone (February 1944) marks a point at which the majority of the task groups consisted of post-act ships

The forces that attacked the Gilbert and Marshall Islands in November 1943 had a similar composition (TF50 provided the carrier forces in both operations).

See also

References

  • Gardiner, Robert; Chesneau, Roger (1980). Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1922-1946. London: Conway Maritime Press. ISBN 0-83170-303-2.
  1. ^ a b Hutcheson, John A., Jr. Encyclopedia of World War II: A Political, Social, and Military History. p. 1541.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  2. ^ Allan R. Millett, "Assault from the sea: The development of amphibious warfare between the wars—the American, British, and Japanese experiences," in Williamson R. Murray, Allan R. Millett, eds., Military Innovation in the Interwar Period (Cambridge University Press, 1996), 83
  3. ^ "Vinson-Trammell Act of 1934 - P.L. 73-135" (PDF). 48 Stat. 503 ~ House Bill 6604. Legis★Works. March 27, 1934. Archived from the original (PDF) on November 3, 2015. Retrieved December 30, 2017.
  4. ^ "Uslaw.link".
  5. ^ David C. Evans and Mark R. Peattie, Kaigun: Strategy, Tactics, and Technology in the Imperial Japanese Navy, 1887-1941 (Naval Institute Press, 1997), 356
  6. ^ a b The Decline and Renaissance of the Navy, 1922-1944, Senator David I. Walsh, 78th Congress, Session 2, Document No. 2, http://www.ibiblio.org/pha/USN/77-2s202.html
  7. ^ Trussell, C.P. (19 June 1940). "8 1/2 Billion is Voted for 1,500 Warships" (PDF). New York Times. Retrieved 9 August 2012.
  8. ^ "New Navy Building Proceeds Swiftly" (PDF). The New York Times. 21 July 1940. Retrieved 9 August 2012.
  9. ^ Navy Department Appropriation Bill for 1941, p. 49
  10. ^ HR10055, Hearings, p. 114
  11. ^ "Uslaw.link".
  12. ^ https://www.google.com/books/edition/First_Supplemental_National_Defense_Appr/9AREAQAAMAAJ
  13. ^ E.G. Allen, Hearings H.R. 10263, 22 July 1940
  14. ^ Hearings HR10055, p. 108, p. 114
  15. ^ Hearings HR10055, p. 115
  16. ^ HR3981, Hearings, p. 666
  17. ^ "Uslaw.link".
  18. ^ https://www.google.com/books/edition/Second_Supplemental_National_Defense_App/gz0uAAAAMAAJ
  19. ^ Hearings, p. 2
  20. ^ HR10263, Hearings, pp. 51-54
  21. ^ Hearings, 22 July 1940, p. 51
  22. ^ $24,360,000 of 10055 Title III minus $8,360,000 for AA upgrades to existing ships, see HR10055, Hearings, p. 113
  23. ^ HR10263, Hearings, p.50
  24. ^ HR3981, Hearings, p. 670
  25. ^ HR4124, Hearings, p. 294
  26. ^ Navy AppAct, Hearings, p. 197
  27. ^ not an official type designation, both ships launched in 1928 and constitute the McCawley class.
  28. ^ not an official type designation. All 5 were launched ca. 1918 and constitute the Heywood class.
  29. ^ "Public Law No. 800, 76th congress".
  30. ^ "Public Law No. 4, 77th congress".
  31. ^ "Public Law No. 13, 77th congress".
  32. ^ https://www.google.com/books/edition/Fourth_Supplemental_National_Defense_App/hV0eAAAAMAAJ
  33. ^ HR3617, Hearings, pp. 338-350
  34. ^ "Public Law No. 29, 77th congress".
  35. ^ https://www.google.com/books/edition/Fifth_Supplemental_National_defense_Appr/Ks-uprkyJygC
  36. ^ HR4124, Hearings, p. 294
  37. ^ Navy Department Appropriation Act for 1943, Hearings, p. 198
  38. ^ "Index to Vol. 22".
  39. ^ "Index to Vol. 23".
  40. ^ Navy Department Appropriation Bill for 1940, Hearings, p. 48
  41. ^ this figure is unfortunately quite useless, as it includes $350m for destroyer escorts, which is way too much for the number produced and must include funds for canceled ships, of which there were hundreds altogether in the case of destroyer escorts
  42. ^ listed as "Todd Pacific Shipyards, Seattle"
  43. ^ a contract for 5 gasoline tankers, contracted to Seattle, but built in Tacoma, has been subtracted, but the completed and the unfinished destroyer tender are not part of this total given here
  44. ^ "Index to Vol. 22".
  45. ^ page 669, "Replacement of Naval Vessels"
  46. ^ Budget of the United States Government FY41, p. 669
  47. ^ HR3981, Hearings, p. 665
  48. ^ Budget of the United States Government FY40, p. 592
  49. ^ "Uslaw.link".
  50. ^ Annual Report of the Secretary of the Navy FY39 p. 23
  51. ^ "Uslaw.link".
  52. ^ "Uslaw.link".
  53. ^ Annual report of the secretary of the navy, FY38 p.19, FY39 p. 22
  54. ^ Budget of the United States Government FY39, p. 548
  55. ^ "PubL 75-493".
  56. ^ Annual report of the secretary of the navy, FY38 p.19, FY39 p. 22
  57. ^ "Uslaw.link".
  58. ^ Annual Report of the Secretary of the Navy; FY38 p. 19, FY37 p. 21
  59. ^ "Uslaw.link".
  60. ^ Budget of the United States Government FY38, p. 533
  61. ^ "Uslaw.link".
  62. ^ Annual Report of the Secretary of the Navy; FY38 p. 19, FY37 p. 21
  63. ^ Budget of the United States Government FY37, p. 481
  64. ^ Annual Report of the Secretary of the Navy; FY37, pp. 10 - 20
  65. ^ Budget of the United States Government FY36, p. 499
  66. ^ Annual Report of the Secretary of the Navy; FY37, pp. 10 - 20
  67. ^ Annual Report of the Secretary of the Navy, 1936, p. 18
  68. ^ mentioned in the FY36 budget p. 499
  69. ^ mentioned in the FY36 budget p. 499
  70. ^ Annual Report of the Secretary of the Navy, 1936, p. 18
  71. ^ "Uslaw.link".
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