THE WHITE HOUSE WASHINGTON MEMORANDUM April 28, 1942 TO: THE PRESIDENT FROM: MR. LUBIN SUBJECT: MERCHANT SHIPPING GAINS AND LOSSES Week Ending April 19, 1942 Tankers 1. During the week ending April 19, United States and British controlled tanker losses continued at an exceedingly high rate. Total U.S. and U.K. losses were 150,000 DW tons. 2. New construction of tankers in the U.S., and the U.K., and Canada for the month aggregated 28,000 tons. 3. Taking the first three weeks of April as a whole, 38 tankers of 441,000 tons were lost. 4. During the first three weeks of April, only five new tankers of 73,000 tons were put into operation. 5. From January 1 to April 19, 1942, total U.S. and U.K. Tanker tonnage lost was 1,363,000 tons. During the same period 295,000 tons of new construction were put into commission, leaving a net decrease in available tonnage of 1,068,000 tons. This is about 10 per cent of the total tanker tonnage available to the United States and Great Britain on January 1. Cargo Vessels 6. Losses of cargo vessels under American and British control during the week ending April 19 were 175,000 tons. 7. This loss was partially offset by new U.S., U.K., and Canadian construction during the week when 128,800 DW tons were put into commission. |