The American commercial shipbuilding programme overtook British output by 1918 as British yards concentrated on escorts, other warships, and repairs. Oil-fired merchant ships could serve long routes without depending on Britain's coaling network. Mercogliano describes British concern about this commercial challenge, while Clarke distinguishes the Admiralty's expectation that Congress would eventually reduce its funding. From 1921, the Harding administration curtailed the programme and sold ships into private ownership. Operating costs and management problems also weakened hopes that the expanded trade would become self-supporting.
Chapter · 37:18-43:00
America's World War I shipbuilding surge and postwar retreat
The Shipping Act of 1916 created a major US merchant fleet, but political retrenchment and operating costs limited its postwar challenge to Britain.