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Excellent idea!EwenS wrote: ↑10 Sep 2022 10:17Here is a link to the Bureau of Ships Reports for Nov/Dec 1941 circulated to FDR amongst others, showing the expected completion dates of the ships then on order. I think it helps give some context to the above posts. Note it uses the original ship’s names. Many were changed before launch to perpetuate those of ships lost.
https://catalog.archives.gov/id/16618988
If you compare these dates with actual completion dates you can see just how far wartime production rates were speeded up. For example, the carrier Essex contractual completion date April 1944. Expected per this report Jan 1944. Actual completion date Dec 1942.
11 Essex class planned by the end of 1945. The last of these 11 completed historically in Oct 1944. Historically there were 19 by the end of 1945.