32 in '44

March 15, 2011

America's mass production of naval vessels during the war was truly amazing. Here is an examination of one particular government shipyard in New Hampshire that launched 32 boats in 1944. This is primarily an administrative history that shows how manufacturing innovations were successfully adapted for a relatively small yard. Industrial and bureaucratic topics dominate, but there are also pages on the social aspects of working in this shipyard amid an influx of new categories of workers. Watterson, a naval vet and Ph.D. historian, here expands his recent dissertation, concluding that enlightened management enabled dedicated employees to meet production goals in a difficult environment, a good example for all, then and now. Well documented but a little dry, so best for those pursuing this specialized subject of naval and local history.

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