Warship Builders divides private construction among large yards for battleships, carriers, and cruisers and medium yards for destroyers and submarines. Merchant builders, reactivated facilities, and new government-owned but contractor-operated emergency yards expanded the system during the war. Those emergency plants concentrated on destroyer escorts and landing craft while established firms handled more demanding warship types. Together, private and contractor-operated yards produced more than 80 percent of US naval tonnage. Their expansion depended on Navy-funded facilities, supervisors, and additional personnel, blurring the line between private ownership and government-created production capacity.
Chapter · 25:33-26:35
Private yards build most US naval tonnage with public investment
Established private yards, merchant builders, reactivated facilities, and emergency plants provide more than four-fifths of wartime US naval tonnage.