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danexpat · 01-20-11, 01:40 PM

1939-vintage British BBs cost about 12,000,000 pounds sterling to manufacture, or $48,000,000 1939 USD, ~ $750 million 2010 USD.

Liberty ships cost about $1.6 million 1941 USD/400,000 pds sterling to manufacture, plus value of cargo, much more than cost of the ship.

But of course, there were only 19 British BBs worldwide and thousands of Liberty ships, so you have to factor in strategic target value. Just talking BBs here, not CVs or CAs.

Here's an excerpt from a good read:

http://www.navy.mil/navydata/cno/n87...campaigns.html

Note that the $$ value of allied military shipping destroyed by Uboats was about 66% of merchant shipping/cargo NOT INCLUDING cost of major capital ships sunk.

APPENDIX 1: CALCULATION OF BATTLE OF THE ATLANTIC COSTS
Allies:

A. Merchant Ships:
1. Cost of merchant ships lost to sub attack: 14,687,231 tons lost at $420 a ton.
2. It is assumed that 50% of destroyed ships had cargoes and I have estimated the value of each cargo as equivalent to the price of the ship.
3. American Maritime Commission constructed 5,777 ships of 39,920,000 tons during the war that cost $14.2 billion. It is estimated that only 2/3 were used in the Atlantic (this accords well with 61% reported in Leighton's Global Logistics 1940-43 (p.662) which was prior to the increase in lift necessary to handle Overlord).
4. The English and Canadians produced 11.9 million tons during the war. It is assumed their cost of production was as low as in the U.S.
5. The English started the war with 17,430,000 tons. The Americans started with 8.5 million tons (again only assumed 2/3 used in Atlantic). Additionally the Allies seized 3 million tons of shipping from nations occupied by the Axis.
6. It is assumed that 33% of the total merchant fleet was lost due to inefficiency of convoying. That is 11.36 million tons at $420/ton.
7. Repair costs from U-boat attacks were not included.
8. Total: $14.65 billion.

B. Warships:
1. The Americans had 140 destroyers stationed in the Atlantic. Each cost approximately $10 million. Additionally, they had 56 frigates assigned to the Coast Guard. I've estimated their cost as similar to a new frigate ($2.3 million).
2. During the war, the U.S. produced 520 destroyer escorts (DDE) and 96 frigates (FF) for convoy protection. A DDE cost $5.5 million and a FF cost $2.3 million apiece.
3. The Allies built 61 escort carriers that participated in the campaign at a cost of $12 million a piece.
4. The English and Canadians built or seized 169 DDEs. I've estimated their costs as equivalent to a Hunt class DDE ($6.4 million). They also built 156 frigates, 63 sloops (estimated to cost $4 million), 306 Corvettes, 27 other ASW vessels, and 15 armed merchant cruisers (all estimated at $3 million).
5. The English employed about 302 fleet destroyers during the war.
I've estimated that only 50% of their missions were related to ASW and that they cost the equivalent of an U.S. destroyer (a probable underestimation).
6. The cost of coastal defense craft and minesweepers used for ASW missions was not estimated.
7. The cost of major warships sank by submarines was not used in the estimate. [N.B. - see commens above re: BB cost of manufacture]
8. Total: $10.15 billion.

01-20-11, 01:40 PM	#3
danexpat Mate Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Wherever you hear the grinding of a DD hull on a U-boat Posts: 60 Downloads: 8 Uploads: 0	Total warfare 1939-vintage British BBs cost about 12,000,000 pounds sterling to manufacture, or $48,000,000 1939 USD, ~ $750 million 2010 USD. Liberty ships cost about $1.6 million 1941 USD/400,000 pds sterling to manufacture, plus value of cargo, much more than cost of the ship. But of course, there were only 19 British BBs worldwide and thousands of Liberty ships, so you have to factor in strategic target value. Just talking BBs here, not CVs or CAs. Here's an excerpt from a good read: http://www.navy.mil/navydata/cno/n87...campaigns.html Note that the $$ value of allied military shipping destroyed by Uboats was about 66% of merchant shipping/cargo NOT INCLUDING cost of major capital ships sunk. APPENDIX 1: CALCULATION OF BATTLE OF THE ATLANTIC COSTS Allies: A. Merchant Ships: 1. Cost of merchant ships lost to sub attack: 14,687,231 tons lost at $420 a ton. 2. It is assumed that 50% of destroyed ships had cargoes and I have estimated the value of each cargo as equivalent to the price of the ship. 3. American Maritime Commission constructed 5,777 ships of 39,920,000 tons during the war that cost $14.2 billion. It is estimated that only 2/3 were used in the Atlantic (this accords well with 61% reported in Leighton's Global Logistics 1940-43 (p.662) which was prior to the increase in lift necessary to handle Overlord). 4. The English and Canadians produced 11.9 million tons during the war. It is assumed their cost of production was as low as in the U.S. 5. The English started the war with 17,430,000 tons. The Americans started with 8.5 million tons (again only assumed 2/3 used in Atlantic). Additionally the Allies seized 3 million tons of shipping from nations occupied by the Axis. 6. It is assumed that 33% of the total merchant fleet was lost due to inefficiency of convoying. That is 11.36 million tons at $420/ton. 7. Repair costs from U-boat attacks were not included. 8. Total: $14.65 billion. B. Warships: 1. The Americans had 140 destroyers stationed in the Atlantic. Each cost approximately $10 million. Additionally, they had 56 frigates assigned to the Coast Guard. I've estimated their cost as similar to a new frigate ($2.3 million). 2. During the war, the U.S. produced 520 destroyer escorts (DDE) and 96 frigates (FF) for convoy protection. A DDE cost $5.5 million and a FF cost $2.3 million apiece. 3. The Allies built 61 escort carriers that participated in the campaign at a cost of $12 million a piece. 4. The English and Canadians built or seized 169 DDEs. I've estimated their costs as equivalent to a Hunt class DDE ($6.4 million). They also built 156 frigates, 63 sloops (estimated to cost $4 million), 306 Corvettes, 27 other ASW vessels, and 15 armed merchant cruisers (all estimated at $3 million). 5. The English employed about 302 fleet destroyers during the war. I've estimated that only 50% of their missions were related to ASW and that they cost the equivalent of an U.S. destroyer (a probable underestimation). 6. The cost of coastal defense craft and minesweepers used for ASW missions was not estimated. 7. The cost of major warships sank by submarines was not used in the estimate. [N.B. - see commens above re: BB cost of manufacture] 8. Total: $10.15 billion.