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- Title
Book Review: Warship Builders: An Industrial History of US Naval Shipbuilding, 1922–1945 by Thomas Heinrich.
- Authors
Matala, Saara
- Abstract
Thomas Heinrich's book, Warship Builders: An Industrial History of US Naval Shipbuilding, 1922–1945, explores the industrial history of American naval shipbuilding during the Second World War. The book challenges the dominant narrative of American industrial mobilization, which focuses on mass-produced cargo ships, by highlighting the unique characteristics of warship production, such as batch production, continuous interaction between design and production, and the use of high-skilled labor. Heinrich's research expands beyond the war years to examine the interwar period, questioning the view that the United States lacked competence in military production before the war. The book provides detailed descriptions of shipyards and personal stories of naval architects, offering a colorful account of the US Navy's history. It also explores the technical development and managerial processes behind US military flagships, contributing to broader debates in maritime history and industrialization. The book concludes by highlighting the advantages that benefited US naval shipbuilding, including the interwar industrial cartel, governmental investments, encouragement of modern shipbuilding techniques, a well-organized administration, and extensive investments in shipbuilding facilities. Overall, Warship Builders adds a new dimension to the understanding of industrial mobilization and its impact on naval shipbuilding.
- Subjects
UNITED States. Navy; NAVAL history; SHIPBUILDING; WARSHIPS; INDUSTRIAL mobilization; WORLD War II; MARITIME history
- Publication
International Journal of Maritime History, 2023, Vol 35, Issue 4, p687
- ISSN
0843-8714
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1177/08438714231202179