Labour requirements and multiple shifts frame a comparison of how quickly escorts could be built. Hiburi was laid down in January 1944, launched in April and completed in June, a little over five months. Other examples took roughly four months. Ships laid down by August 1944 were in service before the end of the year, and further hulls were still being started in early 1945. Shimushu's November 1938 laying down, December 1939 launch and June 1940 completion provide a comparison of about 19 months. Simplified construction allowed more escorts to pass through the yards in the same time. The suggestion of around 20 Hiburi-type ships in place of four Shimushus remains conditional on achieving that later production capability earlier.
Notable Point · 38:03-41:26
Hiburi's faster construction compared with Shimushu
Hiburi's four-to-five-month construction times contrast with Shimushu's roughly 19 months, supporting a conditional estimate of what earlier production could have achieved.