Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1940-09-09
'3.8 Billion Contracts
Let by Navy as Huge
Arms Bill Is Signed
20l Ships Bought
And z 400 Planes
Negotiated For
BY FRED H. MORHART, Jr.

The Navy Department today let
contracts for 200 combat vessels and
one repair ship, costing more than
$4,000 100000, and completed negoti-
atoms for 2,4OO planes, costing
more than 500. 1000. 900.
The commitment came within a
few hours after the President at
Hyde Park, N. Y, signed the $5,246,-
100000 defense appropriation bill.
Naval authorities said that as the
bill carries only S183 900 600 for i'm
mediate construction Congress at a
later date would be asked to make
deficiency appropriations for the
difference.
The contracts, largest let in
the Nays history, include 7 battle
ships, 8 aircraft carriers, q cruisers,
lis deStroyers and 43 submarines.
They went to private companies and
to Navy yards.
Vessels Cost S3,S6I ,053,3I2.
The estimated cost of construction
of these vessels was given as So
86l,053,312 This includes the cost
of armor and armament and in the
case of the submarines the Govern
ment will furnish machinery ~
The battleships are estimated to
cost S100,000,000 each; the aircraft
carriers SAT, 100000 each: the cruis-
ers about s30O0O,O00 each; the de-
stroyers about $4,000 900 each. and
the submarines around $4,000 900
each.
The 2,400 naval planes are esti-
mated to cost sl08, 100000. Navy
officials said the negotiations for
them had been completed and con-
tracts would be signed within two
or three days. Completion of these
negotiations would bring the total
involved in the current series of con-
tracts to more than 100000 900.
Along with the ship contracts, the
Navy announced that officials were
signing contracts calling for the
expenditure of an additional s31,-
653,5oo to expand naval establish
ments.
Forrestal Issues Statement.
Acting Secretary of the Navy
James v. Forrestal declared:
by enacting this measure into
law the Congress has authorized the
United States Navy to award con-
tracts and allocate the building of
200 combatant naval vessels and
2,400 naval aircraft. This act also
authorizes the acquisition Of
ordnance material and the expan-
sion of facilities necessary for the
Navy to do its part in the national
defense program. Together with
previous defense appropriations. the
Navy is now able to move toward
our authorized goal of $50 fighting
ships and $4,000 aircraft"
Nays Strength.
The Nays strength is now:
Battleships, Is built. II building:
total. 80
Aircraft carriers, built, II build
/ ing: total, ID.
Cruisers, 81 built, 4S building;
total, IS.
Destroyers, 1877 built, IT'S building;
total, 372.
Submarines, 1Os built, 80 building;
total, 1876.
Total shipbuilding program, 35o
built. $50 building; total. 6S8.
| This does not include the program
announced today which will give the
United States a two-ocean Navy,
and the worlds largest at the end
of five years.
BattleShip Tonnage Secret.
The appropriations just granted
provide funds for 100000 tons of
combat vessels, authorized in 1894:
eight auxiliary vessels authorized in
1888; $1,000 tons of auxiliary ves-
sells authorized last June and 1,325.-
900 tons of combat vessels, 100000
tons of auxiliary vessels and patrol
craft authorized the middle of July.
An additional fund s3l, 653,500 is
provided for the expansion of naval
shore establishments.
Naval officials declined to reveal
| the tonnage of the seven battleships
to be built in navy yards. However,
it is believer at least four of these
will be in the 45,000-ton classes.
The 1916 building program, as
compared to the one announced to-
day, shows that 157 naval vessels
were authorized. Of those ships laid
down during the World War, seven
battleships and four battle cruisers
were scrapped. In addition. two bait
tie cruisers we're converted to air.
craft carriers.
Navy Had Been Ready.
The Navy Department, in antici-
patton of the act. had conferred
with representatives of commercial
shipyards regarding the new ship
construction. Tentative agreements
were negotiated on the basis of pro-
posals submitted by the private COM
panies in order that contracts could
(See NAVY, Page A-3)