The U.S. Navy doubled the size of its fleet in just one year after the Japanese attack at Pearl Harbor in 1941. It also quadrupled its fleet before the end the war. Similar results were seen in the merchant marine. In 1943, three merchant ships were being built per day by the U.S. shipyards. Before the war ended, they built nearly 3,300 ships. The fact that shipbuilding was one of the most advanced industries in the world at the time, makes it an impressive display of America’s economic leadership.
Now, we find that America’s shattered manufacturing sector has a difficult time arming Ukraine. It can only do this with copious imports from various trade partners including China.
