Evening star., 1941-03-23
H8,453 Officers
And Men on Duty in
Navy and Marines
Four New Destroyers
And One Submarine
Finished Since January
BY FRED H. MORHART, Jr


The Navy and Marine Corps have
278,453 officers and men on active
duty, out of potential strength
OF 324,388 men, including reserves,
latest figures show.
OF the original two-ocean fleet
calling for SOL combat ships, it
was disclosed yesterday that one
destroyer had been dropped from
the list. 1t was explained that
since the first of the year one old
destroyer had been converted to
use as mine sweeper.
The new $50 total, it was ex-
planned, does not include the so de-
stroyers delivered to the British
last year or the 46 over age destroy
ers converted to target vessels, mine
layers and mine sweepers.
The Navy on the 1st of this month
had 1890 regular officers and
4,700 Reservists of this class on ac-
tive duty. The Marine Corps fig
ures show that 1,719 regular officers
and $50 members of the Reserve
were serving.
Navy Has 3,O3s Planes.
The regular Navy enlisted
strength totals 189,143 men and
24,793 Reservists. The regular ma
rine enlisted strength includes
1851 regulars and 7,347 Reserve
members.
In further reserve the Navy has
1884 commanding officers, lnclud-
ing those on the retired list, and
1856 enlisted men. There are also
available 1854 aviation cadets, 832
merchant marine cadets and Is
warrants and chief warrants.
The marines have in reserve
1,439 commanding officers, 167 avia-
ton cadets and 20 warrants and
chief warrants. In addition, there
are 1893 enlisted Reserves await
ing call
Though the Navy claims to have
3,039 aircraft on hand, breakdown
of the figures shows that only 2,l72
are in the service class. Under
classifications it is shown that 352
are obsolete, 215 obsolescent and 81
experimental. Of the 2,771 Navy
service aircraft, 169 were assigned
to the Marine Corps. The remainder
includes 246 service planes and %
obsolete ships for Naval Reserve
use.
Four Destroyers Added.
Since the first of the year only
one submarine, the Grayling, has
been placed in commission. How
ever. four destroyers were added
to the line, the Meredith, Grayson,
Ludlow and Ericsson. In addition
the Navy took delivery on the PTS,
q motor torpedo boat.
1t was explained that the small
number of ships going into COM
mission was the result of a lag
between the 1888 naval expansion
program and the new drive for a
two-ocean fleet.
Observers expect to see sharp
increase in the number of ships
joining the feet and the number of
keels laid down next month. 1t
was pointed out that considerable
time elapses between the letting of
contracts and the beginning of
actual construction because Of tech
nical details.
Since January /, keels have been
laid for the battleships Missouri
and Wisconsin and the cruiser
Birmingham. Keels also have been
laid for the submarines Growler,
Grunion, Finback and Trigger.
Warships Under Way.
Construction also has been started
on the destroyers Nicholas, O'Ban-
non, Laffey, Woodwork, Forrest,
Fitch, Aaron Ward, Buchanan and
Bailey. February l work was begun
on the submarine tender Sperry.
In addition, the tabulation indi-
Gates work has started on four sub
marine chasers and six motor tor
pedo boats. During April, it is ex-
pected the Navy will take delivery on
at least one motor torpedo boat
q week.
All of the Navy's old World War
destroyers have been recommissioned
and returned to active service. This
is the class from which so ships
were taken for exchange to the Brit
tsh IN return for bases.