Evening star., 1952-01-22
ST. Billion Navy Bill
Calls for Atomic Sub
And New Big Carrier
By John A. Giles

By John A. Giles
A billion dollar shipbuilding bill
to authorize the Navy to con-
Struct a second atom-powered
submarine and a second super air.
craft carrier able to handle atom
carrying planes was before Con-
gress today.
Chairman Vinson Of the House
Armed Services Committee intro
duced the measure authorizing
the Navy to spend about $1.l
billion to build new warshipS and
renovats others.
In all IS new ships would be
built, 10 others now in service
would be strengthened and mod
ernized and $40 landing and Serv-
Ice craft would be constructed.
Would Provide Two Carriers.
Mr.. Vinson, Democrat, Of Geor-
gia said the new program was
necessary to keep our Navy
in step with new developments"
and to replace outworn and obso-
lete, ships.
The bill would sauthorize two
carriers, one, not to exceed $4,000
tons, would be of the Forrestal
class-the first large fiattop for
which the contract already has
been let to the Newport News
(vaO Shipbuilding g. Drydock Co.
Secretary Of the Navy Kimban
has said the Navy hopes to get
10 Of the huge ships. one . year
for . decade, and that 1t hopes
that some of them viii be atomic
powered.
"only ships OF this size" Mr..
Vinson said. "are capable Of.
handling the present-day larger
fighter and attack aircraft re-
quired for naval warfare, as well
90 even heavier and larger fighter
and attack aircraft which naval
warfare will require and develop
during the expected lifetime Of
thsse ships. "
Submarines Emphasized.
Continued stress ON submarine
and anti-submarine warfare was
indicated in the VinSon statement.
In asking that q 16.000-ton escort
carrier be authorized, he COM
mented that the ship will have
sufficient speed and will be large
enough to carry new anti-Sub-
marine aircraft designed not only
to locate submarines but to carry
weapons with which to attack
them"
Naval experts now look to the
day when the 27.100-ton Essex
class carriers-the backbone of
the wartime fieet-will be given
over to the anti-sub role. The
Navy also has three $4,000 ton
Midway class carriers, all in the
Atlantic.
MIR. Vinson gave no details of
the nuclear-powered sub but said
it would be provided with full
submarine attack capabilities" Hel
also declined to- estimate the cost.
The keel of the first such atom
sub will be laid at the Electric
Boat Co. Grotron Comm yard inl
April or May. It is scheduled for
completion in 1854. Such ship
would have virtually unlimited
range and q destroyer's speed
beneath the surface. experts say.
The introduction of the billt
highlights concern of officials
about the submarine possibilities
of Russia. Mr.. Kimball has said
the Red sub fleet has grown from
SO submersibles to 300 or 400.
with the aid Of German techni-
clans. 4
Meanwhile, the Secretary said,
the United States sub strength
has risen from 10 to 100.
The bill would provide for a
total authorized construction oil
237, 900 tons Of new craft, includ-l
ing four destroyers. two other SUBJ
marines, 80 mine sweepers, three
destroyer escorts. % landing ships,
100 landing craft for mechanized
equipment, $50 landing craft for
vehicles and personnel. two re-
frigerator ships, two tankers and
80 service craft.
It also would authorize the con-
version of 10000 tons of present
ships, including two Essex class
carriers, two light cruisers and six
destroyer escorts.