Launching Liberty : the epic race to build the ships that took America to war / Doug Most.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Most, Doug, Author.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Liberty ships--History.

Liberty ships.

World War, 1939-1945--Transportation--United States.

World War, 1939-1945.

Merchant marine--United States--History--20th century.

Merchant marine.

Shipbuilding industry--United States--History--20th century.

Shipbuilding industry.

Shipbuilding industry--United States--History.

Kaiser, Henry J., 1882-1967.

Kaiser, Henry J.

Genre:

Informational works.

Physical Description:

xxiv, 439 pages, 16 unnumbered pages of plates : illustrations ; 24 cm

Edition:

First Simon & Schuster hardcover edition.

Other Title:

Epic race to build the ships that took America to war

Place of Publication:

New York, NY : Simon & Schuster, 2025.

Summary:

"Out of nothing but the government's behest, a few bold men conjured a giant ship-building industry in 1940 and launched the ships that took America to war and to victory"-- Provided by publisher.

Contents:

Wonderboat

A shipbuilding glossary

Author's note

Part I: The plan. Zigzagging the Atlantic ; "Secret: merchant shipbuilding mission to USA" ; The legend of Jerry Land ; 17,000 miles, three weeks ; Torpedoed

Part II: Partners. Henry the builder ; Hoover ; A history lesson ; Henry the shipbuilder ; A clambake seals the deal ; Arsenal of democracy

Part III: Designs and decisions. "Ugly ducklings" ; A boy's dreams ; Engines and guns ; Selecting sites ; Liberty

Part IV: Ships and shipyards. Upside down forests ; The firsts ; Liberty fleet day ; Launching and loading ; Neutral no more ; "A war of transportation" ; Nerves of steel

Part V: Building a workforce. "Avalanche of humanity" ; Revolutionizing the workplace ; The map speech ; Strikes, safety, and sexism ; Building the builders ; Speed kings ; Wendy the Welder ; Gus

Part VI: Fast, faster, fastest. Lessons from Motor City ; Darkness, disgrace, defeat ; Perfecting prefab ; Pistol-packin' mamas ; A Liberty carries a legacy ; Stunt ships ; A Liberty's victory

Part VII: "There she goes". Setting the table ; Hull no. 440 ; "Nuts to seven days" ; Aboard the Peary

Epilogue: From Liberty to Victory.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references (pages 403-421) and index.

ISBN:

9781668017784

1668017784

9781668017791

1668017792

OCLC:

1460927875

Publisher Number:

90102393554