The chronicle-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1920-1941, 1940-12-20
FOUR VESSELS COSTING
5O-MILLION DOLLARS ORDERED
BUILT IN ~PASCAG0ULA
Contract Involves Considerable Expansion OF Facilities To
Accommodate Naval Personnel And
Equipment.

} The ingalls, Snlpbulidine Corpor-
alton announces an award q . con-
tract b. the Secretary Of Navy for
four large Naval Vessels 70 be con-
structed ct the pxscagoula Ship
yard: the award received on De-
cernber 18th followed negotiations
which have been In progress for
several weeks
me ships viii be similar n
length and beam to the comhana-
ton Passenger Cargo ships now be-
ing constructed at the PascagoulA
YARD but due 20 the difference IN
characteristics and design. Il wau
require several years TO complete
the construction OF the four ships.
the last OF which Is scheduled for
delivery in the latter part Of 1874
While OF approximately the same
Ieneth and beam. the vessels are
designed with much finer lines ano
with provision for greater power
and speed
Special facilities for the building
of these ships will be constructed
AL1tf Tic 0uCSk3A Va 4@ N@&
Department at the Pascagoula
Shipyard. adjacent 70 the present
Shipbuilding plant. which viii also
be utilized IN part
While the construction of the
special facilities are under way. the
detail drawings for the ships VII
be In process BY The Drafting De-
partment Of the Navy in collabora-
ton with the ingalls, Naval Archd-
tects and Engineers. and the fab
rication Of the steel VIII be under
way.
The plans for these vessels VIII
differ from any hulls being con-
structed by the Navy. in that all
welded construction viii be adopted
Work on these ships VIII COM
mence after the completion Of the
construction Of two additional ways.
which viii be started in January
and which viii bring the total num-
Der Of ways at the Pascagoula yard
to eight, making II comparable IN
this regard to most Of the major
shtpyards In America.
This award followed acceptance
BY the Navy Department from the
Maritime Commission. OF the s. s
E~xcheuuer, which was the first OF
the an-welded vessels being built
nuder contract for nae uutt4a
states Mnr1klme Commission ~ NE
Pascag0ula yard. The S. S, Exche-
u11er was delivered to the Maritime
Commission BY the ingalls, Ship
building Corporation on October
18th, and was simultaneously de-
nvered hY the Commission to the
U. 8 Nasy and then transferred
to the Norfolk Navy Yard BY q
Pascagoula crew. The S. S. Exche-
ouer is one OF the fifteen flush
plated, all-welded. rivetlesS ships Of
the C-3 class being built at the
PascagouIa yard.
1t has been said that the Ingalls,
Shipbuilding Corporation made his
tory in the successful completion
Of the first all-welded. general cargo
snip TO be built In America. It
nov falls TO the lot Of the Pasca-
goula Shipyard 70 build the first
aI-welded. ~rigetless ship ever to be
constructed under the specifications
Of the U. S. Navy.
The negotiated fixed price for
the four ships as announced BY the
Secretary Of Navy, is $50. 00,000O 90.
on a unit price Of sI2500.0 10000 per
vessel. the price is exclusive Of tur-
refs and ordnance and other ap-
purtenanceS TO be furnished by the
Navy Department.
Delivery Of the vessels will be
made at the Norfolk Navy Yard.
Portsmouth. Virginia. The vessels
are designated as Eetlayers Nos.
AMI, AN-2. AN-3 ana AM
This additional contract viii pro-
vide continuous employment for the
present employees. howver. Il viii
Be necessary. In order 70 handle the
large building program, 70 increase
the force materially.
The Navy will begin eonstruc-
ton on TOO houses early In Janu-
ary 70 accommodate the shipyard
employees. and II Is expected that
this program Of house building will
De enlarged 20 take care Of addi-
tionaI men that will be necessary
On account Of the Navy shipbuild-
ing program.
IT. increased forces and the con-
struction Of facilities and houses,
al mean much 70 P~ascagoula