Report No. 231                              900- Navy 
     Japan                                          902- Policy
     October 11, 1939                        100- Basic
 
          Japanese Capital Shipbuilding Program
 
                   The following information in regard to Japanese capital 
shipbuilding program is believed to be reliable. It was obtained in 
conversations extending over a period of several months with various 
Japanese naval officers, and from other sources, principally other 
naval attaches. While certain details of this information may be in 
error it is considered that the margin of error is small. It is 
hoped that additional information on this subject can be obtained in
the near future.
 
                 The Third and Fourth Replenishment Programs, covering the 
periods 1939-41 and 1939-44 respectively, provide for a total of 
Y1:757,980,000 for the construction of vessels. To these amounts 
have been added funds estimated to exceed Y500,000,000 originally 
intended for the China Incident but which have not been used for that 
purpose. Approximately half of this total, that is roughly Y1,200,000,000 
is being used to construct capital ships.
 
                 It was the original intention of the Japanese Navy to 
build only four capital ships of 40,000 tons mounting twelve 16-inch 
guns, and funds to begin the construction of these vessels were
provided in the Third Replenishment Program. All four ships were laid 
down early in 1937, to be completed in 1940-41. It is understood, 
however, that due to various delays these vessels will not be ready 
until the summer of 1941. Later, under the Fourth Replenishment 
Program the total capital ship construction was increased to eight 
vessels. These four additional vessels are of approximately 43,000 
tons and also mount twelve 16-inch guns.
 
                 The four ships building under the Third Program have the 
following characteristics:
 
                Tonnage:         40,000 (Approximately)
                Armament:      Twelve 16-inch in four triple turrets
                Speed:             28 knots (approximately)
 
                          These vessels are under construction at the following
         yards:
                          1 at Yokosuka
                          2 at Kure
                          1 at Sasebo
All of the above vessels have been launched and are to be completed 
in 1941.
 
                          The four capital ships building under the Fourth Program
         have the following characteristics:
                Tonnage:       43,000 (approximately)
                Armament:    Twelve 16-inch in four triple turrets
                Speed:           30 knots (approximately)
 
All four of these vessels have been laid down during the summer of
1939 at the following yards:
                          1at Yokosuka
                          2 at Kure
                          I at Sasebo
         It is expected to complete these vessels in 1943-44.
 
                          It will be noted that according to this information all
         of the above capital ships are being built in navy yards. Reports
 
Report No. 231-39