The facilities and ships under construction at the US naval shipyard at Boston 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 Boston for 1 complete building way 1.500.000 US dollars, plant improvements 910.000 US dollars and machine tools 575.000 US dollars, totally 2.985.000 US dollars. The plant improvements included 600.000 US dollars new structural shop, 100.000 remodeling old structural shop for pipe shop, 60.000 for plate yard and 150.000 for extending an repairing pier 5 or 6. For tools included 300.000 new structural shop, 75.000 remodeling old structural shop for pipe shop and 200.000 tools for machine shop, welding etc.

The shipyard was fitted out for building 2 destroyers a year which was done for several years in the past in dry dock No. 2 at the same time. The existing building wat with as dimensions 445 x 60 needed major reconditioning. On the moment were under construction:

Destroyer Mugford (DD389), afloat and nearing completion (1)

Destroyer Ralph Talbot (DD390), afloat and nearing completion (2)

Destroyer Mayrant (DD402), building in dry dock No. 2 10% complete (3)

Destroyer Trippe (DD403), building in dry dock No. 2 10% complete (4)

Destroyer O’Brien (DD415), keel not laid down,, probably January 1938 (5)

Destroyer Walke (DD416), keel not laid down,, probably January 1938 (6)

Notes

1. Of the Bagley-class, preceded by Gridley-class, succeeded by Somers-class, laid down on 28 October 1935, launched on 31 October 1936, commissioned on 16 August 1937, decommissioned on 29 August 1946, scuttled off Kwajalein on 222 March 1948 and stricken on 5 April 1948.

2. Of the Bagley-class, preceded by Gridley-class, succeeded by Somers-class, laid down on 28 October 1935, launched on 31 October 1936, commissioned on 14 October 1937, decommissioned on29 August 1946, scuttled off Kwajalein on 8 March 1948 and stricken on 5 April 1948.

3. Of the Benham-class, preceded by Somers-class, succeeded by Sims-class, laid down on 15 April 1937, launched on 14 May 1938, commissioned on 13 September 1939, decommissioned on 28 August 1946, scuttled off Kwajalein on 4 April 1948 and stricken on 30 April 1948.

4. Of the Benham-class, preceded by Somers-class, succeeded by Sims-class, laid down on 15 April 1937, launched on 14 May 1938, commissioned on 1 November 1939, decommissioned on 28 August 1946, sunk as a target on 3 February 1948 and stricken on 19 February 1948.

5. Of the Sims-class, preceded by Benham-class, succeeded by Benson-class, laid down on 31 May 1938, launched on 20 February 1939, commissioned on 2 March 1940 and foundered on 19 October 1942.

6. Of the Sims-class, preceded by Benham-class, succeeded by Benson-class, laid down on 31 May 1938, launched on 20 October 1939, commissioned on 27 April 1940, sunk in the battle of Guadalcanal against the Japanese fleet on 15 November 1942 and stricken on 13 January 1943.

Source

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