Chapter ยท 22:07-23:53

New yards expanded output while experienced builders supplied the bulk

New facilities expanded destroyer output, while established builders supplied most of the ships.

Notes

Wartime destroyer construction drew on purpose-built yards, yards new to destroyers, and established builders. Consolidated Steel built twelve Fletchers and twenty-seven Gearings. Todd's output included ten Bristols, twenty-one Fletchers, five Sumners, and nine Gearings, while Chickasaw built seven Fletchers. Established destroyer builders still provided the bulk of production. Bath and Bethlehem's yards illustrate the importance of that existing capacity. Simplifying construction helped experienced builders work efficiently while the industrial base expanded.