With the unprecedented sinking of American merchant marine ships across the Atlantic starting with the Robin Moor in May of 1941, America had unofficially entered into World War II. As the outrage of Americans grew because of those events and the navy’s lack of response, Admiral Ernest King became subject to vilification. He was blamed for the initial Allied merchant shipping failures in the Atlantic. His private philosophy to fleet escort was that the U.S Navy had a very small number of ships and for that reason they could not be secured to give escort to civilian shipping (Messenger, 292). As a result, the German U-Boats got the chance to choose the cargo ships they wished to attack without being challenged.
It was also during the span of this era that Henry Kaiser came up with a better ship construction method after the repeated sinking of many ships that were constructed with steel. Initially, ships were constructed by the use of this material because little was understood about how brittle it was and how it had a grave impact on ships when exposed to cold waters (Walker, 209). When exposed to cold waters caused by cold weather, these ships would often break at the bridge, and they would often sink, hence the notion of a Bridge of Ships. It was discovered that fractures in welded ships were brought about by notches and by steel, which were susceptible at operating temperatures. It was during this period that Kaiser applied Dr.Garfield’s new idea of designing in simple modernist mode. The new strategy that was applied by Henry Kaiser involved the construction of welded ships, which replaced the riveting method. The welding got better with advanced training and advanced rod and flux quality (Walker, 209).
Women played a major role in the shipbuilding workforce during the war. This was because their families had been torn apart by the war. They were consequently forced to take on labor roles in shipyards. During the WWII, they entered the workforce in large numbers hence making history (Pursell, 15). Their numbers increased, and they made up more than 10 percent of labor force in most shipyards. This was during 1943, a period that was at the peak of production. Wendy the wielder is linked to the truth about women who assisted by participating in assembling of the earliest generation of ships that were welded. Other women who worked in shipyards were Maria Isabel Solis Thomas and her sister Elvia. These dual sisters had the ability to work in ship spots that were utterly cramped during the war at the Richmond shipyard in Calif.
The early war period was a high point for the U.S. merchant marine. With the flourishing economy that was owed to the industrial revolution, the U.S. merchant marine was able to reach its peak. The American Revolution was cultivated in the first sea ports and was to some extent tied to the trade constraints that had been imposed by England on the American colonies. This resulted in the ejection of the new America from the British Empire’s trading family.
Trade by sea became essential since America was not a self-sufficient country. Merchants who were adventurous sent their ships in search of new partners. In Africa, the Caribbean, Asia, and Europe, they sought after markets for American stuff where they could get fabric, sugar, manufactured goods, rum, tea, spices, and slaves. Trade in passengers and goods across the Atlantic speedily got back to its earlier prominence. Therefore, sea trade was essential to the new American nation because 90 percent of the government’s budget was paid by the custom duties on imports.
Essential advantages for America were strategic, low priced timber in New England, coastal trade, a speedy growth in the shipping for the river networks, whaling, fisheries and trade with America’s California and the Far East. At the peak of United States’ merchant shipping during the Clipper Ship era that was in1850, the total of America’s shipping was estimated to be three fourths the size of Britain’s merchant trade.
Works Cited
Messenger, Charles. Reader's Guide to Military History. New York: Routledge, 2013. Print.
Pursell, Carroll W. Technology in postwar America: A history. New York: Columbia University
Press, 2007. Print.
Walker, Fred M. Ships & shipbuilders: Pioneers of design and construction. Barnsley: Seaforth,
published in association with the Royal Institution of Naval Architects, 2010. Print.
