NAVY DEPARTMENT SUPPLEMENTAL HEARINGS BEFORE THE SUBCOMMITTEE OF THE COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS U... Angus HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES SEVENTY-SIXTH CONGRESS THIRD SESSION ON THE SENATE AMENDMENTS TO THE NAVY DEPARTMENT 234784 Printed for the use of the Committee on Appropriations UNITED STATES WASHINGTON: 1940 CLARENCE CANNON, Missouri J. BUELL SNYDER, Pennsylvania ROSS A. COLLINS, Mississippi BUTLER B. HARE, South Carolina JOHN TABER, New York RICHARD B. WIGGLESWORTH, Massachusetts FRANCIS H. CASE, South Dakota MARCELLUS C. SHEILD, Clerk SUBCOMMITTEE ON NAVY DEPARTMENT Messrs. SCRUGHAM (chairman), FERNANDEZ, CASEY, CALDWELL, DITTER, PLUMLEY, AND MCLEOD SUPPLEMENTAL HEARINGS, NAVY DEPARTMENT APPRO- HEARINGS CONDUCTED BY THE SUBCOMMITTEE, MESSRS. JAMES MONDAY, MAY 27, 1940. GENERAL STATEMENT ON EMERGENCY DEFENSE PROGRAM STATEMENT OF ADMIRAL HAROLD H. STARK, CHIEF OF NAVAL Mr. SCRUGHAM. Admiral, with respect to the supplemental estimates embraced by House Document 753, as you know, we took up the aviation items out of turn. We should like to have you present a general picture now as to the entire program, leaving the details to the bureau chiefs. We have the Senate hearings on those supplemental proposals and find them quite abbreviated because much of the testimony was of a confidential character, which very properly should not be published. Our inquiry will be as brief as possible consistent with properly informing ourselves as to just what is in contemplation. Admiral STARK. The $250,000,000 cash allocated to the Navy by the President from the emergency funds was divided by the President into three categories, as follows: The mimeographed 4-page summary which I have supplied the members itemizes the purposes for which those funds are to be expended so that you may readily grasp the scope of the Department's request. În addition, detailed break-downs under the appropriation titles have also been supplied the committee so the items and justifications are available for their study. Before discussing the items in this $250,000,000 set-up, I also invite the attention of the members to the fact that $34,000,000 cash and $34,000,000 contract authorizations have been made available to the Navy from the President's special fund of $100,000,000 cash and 1 $100,000,000 contract authorizations. While the general purpose of this special fund is for plant expansions to expedite the production of ships, munitions, and aircraft, for which the Navy Department has already made a tentative allocation totaling $32,165,000, in addition the Department has other authorized projects exceeding this total, the summary of which is available under appropriate Bureau and appropriation totals. BREAK-DOWN OF URGENT NATIONAL DEFENSE ITEMS To return to the $250,000,000 cash set-up. First, the $50,000,000 of urgent national defense items is concerned primarily with the following projects: To equip and provide landing equipment for the fleet marine force. To finish project to make ready 900 3-inch antiaircraft guns and provide their ammunition_. Toward net project for commercial harbors of United States, including depots to house the nets To expedite project of 1.1-inch anticaircraft guns. Equip and arm 24 motor torpedo boats which the Department has under contract__ For protecting the vessels of the Navy against mines For aircraft bombs and fuzes___ For storage and defense facilities and structures_ For getting decommissioned ships ready for commissioning and con verting 22 destroyers to special purposes_ For sweeps for mines.. For miscellaneous expenses, Navy Departmental_ $1,357, 780 5, 250, 000 10, 000, 000 6, 284, 200 2, 525, 000 5, 629, 500 1,075, 000 7, 950, 000 10, 101, 000 300, 000 256, 700 212, 380 The summary further breaks down these projects into bureau totals. I have recited them in order that you may obtain the scope of them. BREAK-DOWN OF AVIATION EXPANSION PROGRAM As to the $100,000,000 which has been assigned to aviation, it is proposed with this money to broaden out the scope of training in Pensacola and adjacent areas in order to double the production of pilots. As a matter of fact, we expect to considerably more than double it. This should raise the monthly production from 100 cadets to 300 cadets. We intend to expend the $100,000,000 approximately as follows: Training facilities at Pensacola and in the Gulf area_ Personnel and training expenses under the Naval Reserve and pay appropriations, which cover the required instructors and mechan ics. Aircraft and equipment $45, 000, 000 7, 000, 000 44, 000, 000 Aviation ordnance for these aircraft, including aircraft cannon, armor for pilot seats and flat armor for aircraft The major portion of the planes will be training planes. SPEEDING UP OF THE SHIPBUILDING PROGRAM 4, 000, 000 As to the $100,000,000 for shipbuilding, this sum is for the speed-up of the 68 ships now under construction, the 24 in the 1941 naval appropriation bill, and also those in the proposed 11-percent expansion of the Navy provided in bill H. R. 8026 just reported out of the Senate Naval Affairs Committee. In general, the Department is putting two 8-hour shifts on in the navy yards and will use overtime where practicable. In case of the privately built ships, suitable arrangements will be made with the contractors for expedition of material under material contracts and expedition of delivery of ships under ship contracts. ADDITIONAL NAVAL AND MARINE PERSONNEL In addition to the 250 millions of emergency funds for the Navy and the 34 millions cash and 34 millions of contract authorizations, title II of the naval appropriation bill for 1941 contains funds for 20,000 additional naval personnel for ship complements and 2,300 naval enlisted men for avaiation, and 9,000 additional marines. Moreover, the Department requests in conference that the House conferees ask the Senate to recede on the cuts made in personnel to enable the Department to reach 172,300 naval enlisted and 34,000 marine enlisted as soon as possible. To review, the Senate bill contains funds as to enlisted men: Title I. 145,000 Navy, 25,000 Marine Corps. Title II. 22,300 Navy, 9,000 Marine Corps. We ask Senate to recede on 5,000 Navy, 0 Marine Corps; Totals, 172,300 Navy, 34,000 Marine Corps. If this recommendation is approved, it is requested that on page 82, lines 9, 10, and 11, after the word "necessary", the remainder of the sentence be deleted. The removal of this restrictive language on numbers will enable the Department to meet conditions as they occur. We will not exceed 172,300 men unless the President so directs and it might be embarrassing to have a restriction in the bill as to numbers. We have not had them in the past, and have not exceeded the quotas established by the committee's reports. The funds for the Marine Corps include the provisions necessary to equip and house two additional defense battalions. OTHER URGENT DEFENSE PROJECTS In addition to the plant extensions which the Department would. propose to finance against the President's $34,000,000 cash and $34,000,000 contract authorizations assigned to the Navy, which may total approximately $32,165,000 as now set up, which plant extensions are designed to facilitate the delivery of munitions and ships, the Navy Department has the following urgent projects, some of which have been initiated in the $50,000,000 for general purposes and the $250,000,000 cash allocated to the Navy. Ordnance and stores Ammunition deficiencies against artillery and weapons of fleet marine force and 4 defense battalions__ $1, 800, 000 To complete net project for fleet and commercial harbors (includes plant extensions). 18, 000, 000 To complete 1.1-inch gun project (includes plant extensions). 17, 275, 800 Steel helmets__. Submarine project. Against commissioning 35 destroyers, 3 oilers, and maintenance for 1 year, including overhauls. Overhaul of Reserve batteries_ Stock and issue material.. Total_ 700, 000 50,000 220, 200 639, 170 3, 620, 000 1, 000, 000 43, 305, 170 |