The facilities and ships under construction at the US naval shipyard at Charleston according to a memorandum dated 30 July 1937

President Roosevelt asked on 17 July the Navy Department what extra building ways and shop facilities were needed at the navy yards to built each a merchant ship (hospital ship, passenger ship or transport) of 10.000-15.000-20.00 tons. In a memorandum dated 30 July 1937 he got his wanted details. While all naval facilities were in use or obligated by June 1939 there were 6 new building ways needed if 6 merchant ships were to be built. The given costs were if a 20.000 tons ship was to be built, for the 10.000 and 15.000 tons was the building way 400.000 US dollars cheaper except for the yard at New Orleans.

Costs for the naval shipyard at Charleston for 1 complete building way 1.500.000 US dollars, plant improvements 900.000 US dollars and machine tools 700.000 US dollars, totally 3.100.000 US dollars. The 900.000 US dollars for plant improvements included 200.000 storehouses, 200.000 extend machine shop, 100.000 extend structural ship, 100.000 welding platforms, 50.000 steel storage, 150.000 other shop improvements and 100.000 rolling stock. The 700.000 US dollars for tools included 100.000 welding equipment, 200.000 extend machine shop, 250.000 extend structural shop, 50.000 cranes and 100.000 other shop improvements.

The yard was suitable for building destroyers, gunboats and smaller vessels and possessed two ways no. 1 and no. 2, lying side by side, both with dimensions 350 x 60 feet for destroyers or gunboats. On No. 2 was on the moment a tug under construction. On no. 1 the destroyer Sterret (DD407) 17% complete (1), the destroyer Roe (DD418) was probably to be laid down in January 1938.(2)  

Notes

1. Of the Benham-class, preceded by Somers-class, succeeded by Simms-class, laid down on 2 December 1936, launched on 27 October 1938, commissioned on 15 August 1939, decommissioned on 2 November 1945, stricken on 25 February 1947 and sold to be broken up on 10 August 1947.  

2. Of the Simms-class, preceded by Benham-class, succeeded by Benson-class, laid down on 23 April 1938, launched on 21 June 1939, commissioned on 5 January 1940, decommissioned on 30 October 1945, stricken on 16 November 1945 and sold to be broken up in August 1947.  

Source

Franklin Roosevelt D. Roosevelt Presidential Libray&Museum. Map Navy Department October 1936-1937 FDR’s President’s Secretary’s File (psfc000057).