An item dated Washington, USA 1st reported that any moment large numbers of submarine hunters of a new powerful design were to be available. After a discussion with the Navy Commission in the House of Representatives a day earlier agreed Daniels (1) to announce that contracts for a large number were given to the Ford Motor Company at Detroit, USA. He described the vessels as 200 feet long mix between destroyers and submarine chasers fitted out with the latest anti submarine warfare inventions. The ships were toe be assembled along the seacoast. The necessary adaptations in the factory of Ford were within such a short time accomplished that deliveries according to the contract in the coming summer were certain. These new ships were expected to be far better as the now available vessels including the 110 feet. They were steam driven, had a larger range, better seagoing capacities and able to be heavier armed.
Note
1. Josephus Daniels (18 May 1862-15 January 1948), Secretary of the Navy between 5 March 1913 and 4 March 1921. The steel-built Eagle-class patrol vessels were although smaller as destroyers were indeed a improvement compared with the wood-built submarine chasers dating from 1917. Named USS Eagle Boat No. 1, 2, 3 served some of these vessels in the Second World War. Henry Ford who is known for his T-ford was also the big man behind mass production (the assembly line) was asked to join the United States Shipping Board by the American president Woodrow Wilson in June 1917. Ford known with the designs of the patrol vessels suggested to use steam turbines and that the hull plates would be flat. When asked by the Secretary of the Navy Daniels to built the new vessels he agreed and the result is known. The first was lad down on 7 May 1918, launched on 11 July 1917 and commissioned on 27 October 1918. She was sold on 11 June 1930. Since 1920 were the names of the vessels changed in PE-1 and so on. With a displacement of 625 tons/615 long tons were the dimensions 61,2 x 10,1 x 2,6 metres or 220.8 x 33.1 x 8.5 feet, a speed of 18,32 knots, a crew numbering 61 men and an armament consisting of 204” guns, 1-3” guns and 2-0.50” machines guns, by the Eagle no.’s 4-7 increased with a s-called Y-gun.
