Sumner complexity narrowed the pool of experienced builders

The extra capability of the Sumner design introduced construction complexity beyond the Fletcher. Fletchers could be built across a broad range of yards, while Sumner production depended more heavily on experienced builders. Bethlehem Steel is credited with twenty-seven of the fifty-eight Sumners directly, including eight built at San Pedro and six at San Francisco. At least another twenty are attributed to closely associated companies. Todd in Seattle and Federal also built Sumners. The associated companies were closely tied to Bethlehem, without necessarily being its subsidiaries. Bethlehem is judged especially capable of demanding construction work. Other yards could progress toward Sumners after gaining experience and proving themselves with Fletchers.