Evening star., 1941-10-18
U. 5. Drafts Program
That May Double
Tank Schedules
Combined Production Of
America and Brituin
Far Behind Nuzis

A new expanded tank program
that may double present schedules
is being completed by defense au
thorities and will be announced
shortly, it was learned today.
Emphasis will be on medium
tanks, and converted automobile
plants are to play major role in
the acceleration.
Drastic upward revision of Ameri-
can production plans is necessary,
defense authorities insist, because
combined tank output in this coun-
try and Britain still falls far short
of that of Germany. Moreover,
while current schedules indicate
considerable increases in monthly
deliveries within go days, the sched-
ules are so low, comparatively. that
defense officials estimate that 1T
will be several years before we can
match German production unless
We raise our sights"
Estimate 14,00O in Germany.
Reports from Europe indicate that
Germany perhaps has $4,000 or more
tanks, even after her heavy losses in
Russia. Some idea of what this fig
| ure means may be obtained from
newspaper stories of early August
| telling Of the delivery Of the 100Oth
light tank turned out in the United
20 cfF l,n
/ launched a year or so before. There
probably will be 10 announcement
when the 1,000th medium tank rolls
| off the assembly line.
English military leaders have as
| serted that a total of 10000 tanks
/ will be required next year if real
| land offensive is to be launched
| against Axis powers. That goal is
out of the reach of current produc-
ton schedules.
About 200 medium tanks are be-
| ing turned out each month.
! This rate Of output defense au-
| thoritles say, is only slightly better
| than that of Britain And point
/ ing out that the industrial capacity
/ OF this country is 10 times that Of
Britain, they contend that the de-
/ gree to which anti-Axis production
can be expanded depends almost
! entirely on the United States.
Among the larger participants in
the enlarged program are expected
to be the Fisher body plant at Flint.
| Mich, and the Ford Motor Co.
| These concerns are expected 10 op-
crate assembly plants, while parts
/ Will come from a number of sub
| contractors, including Studebaker.
Chrysler Ahead of Schedule.
The Chrysler Corp. has three as
sembly lines rolling out medium
tanks well ahead of its original
schedule of five a day. In addition
to It's Fisher Body plant, General
/ Motors also has surveyed posSibil-
tiles of its Buick Motor division in
Flint for conversion. The two Flint
units and the Ford company near
| Detroit would produce both medium
and heavy tanks
Predictions a few weeks ago in
automotive circles were that between
40 and so tanks a day would be de-
hvered next spring. Recent esti-
mates have gone considerably higher,
with some officials forecasting as
high as 100 day.
Armor Plate Shipped.
To assist Britain in its tank pro-
duction, the United States has been
sending armor plate overseas for
! some time. Russia deprived of the
greater part of her manufacturing
facilities by the German invasion,
! can be depended upon TO produce
| few, if any. tanks over the winter
unless she receives large shipments
of tools and materials.
| Light tanks, weighing about Is
tons, are coming out at faster clip
than the medium tanks. weighing
around % tons, but experience has
convinced the British that the
lighter weapons are good primarily
for scouting and mopping up opera
| tionS. Their small armament, 81
nm. guns, and thin armor cannot
handle tougher assignments.
The medium tanks, equipped with
rs nm. and 81 nm. guns. can be
used to attack enemy tanks and ar
tillery and for breaking through
fortified positions.