Q&A · 5:44:10-5:45:27

How much could a small Canadian capital-ship yard build?

A John Brown yard begun in 1933 might add several capital ships, but slipway count and fitting-out time constrain the result more than ambition does.

Question

If John Brown established a discreet Canadian capital-ship yard in 1933, what could it build?

Short answer

Roughly three ships from one slip or six to seven from two, probably a mixed force of battleships and fleet carriers.

Notes

The proposed Canadian yard would need to be relatively small to remain inconspicuous. With one slipway, a hull might be launched about every eighteen months and take roughly two years to complete. That gives an estimated three additional ships in service, probably two battleships and a carrier. Two slipways could raise the total to six or seven ships, with four battleships and three carriers suggested as the desired mix. The carriers could use the 27,000-ton design, while the battleship armament would depend on whether Henderson's preferences prevailed. These are approximate production estimates for the hypothetical yard.