Hopkins Papers
The British Minister of Supply ( Beaverbrook ) to President Roosevelt 1
Dear Mr. President, Now that you have disposed of the programme for weapons of war and also for the mercantile marine, I beg to bring to your notice the naval projects in contemplation.
In 1942 it is expected that 112 major naval craft and 600 minor craft will be brought to completion.
But 600 minor naval craft is not an output consistent with the great projects which have been launched in other directions. And I would make bold to recommend that the building of minor vessels in 1942 be increased by not less than 640 craft.
These might be built in the yards already at the disposal of the navy and also in places engaged in building river vessels and ferry boats.
If this proposal finds favour with you, then I would recommend that 150 of the vessels should be tank landing craft each carrying 20 tanks of 25 tons and equipped to make ocean passages.
These tank landing craft would be made use of by the United States or Great Britain for landings on the beach in France or elsewhere according to the strategical programme that you may direct.
The 150 tank landing craft should be supplemented by 300 vessels of smaller type, each carrying 4 25–ton tanks, and suitable for landings on shallow sand beaches.
Expeditions on this scale would require in addition to merchant ships, (for which there is an expanded programme) not less than the following protecting vessels to maintain sea communications:—
- 80 minesweepers,
- 60 Small anti-submarine vessels of 500 tons each,
- 50 Convoy escort vessels of the D.B.E. type
These 50 convoy escort vessels are already projected and delivery is promised in 1943. But acceleration should bring delivery to pass in 1942.
Outside the naval programme proper is the essential provision of auxiliary aircraft carriers. These will be adapted merchant ships. The present programme is 24 fast vessels. But the merchant ship building programme has been increased by a third. So I suggest that a further 8 slower vessels be adapted to provide convoy air protection.
[Page 346]No doubt questions arise touching ship plate, and certainly turbine and Diesel engine output. All these issues present considerable difficulties.
But determination will certainly overcome the obstacles in the way.
I am, Mr. President,
Yours sincerely,
- The source text, marked “copy”, was presumably sent by Beaverbrook to Hopkins.↩