https://peertube.dngr.us/videos/watch/9714e40a-b0e8-47e1-8cd4-bf28d92b8881 "Shipways" is a 1945 film presented by the Bethlehem Steel Company – Shipbuilding Division. The film chronicles the transformation of the Bethlehem Steel Company’s shipyards into a powerhouse of American wartime production during World War II. It highlights the evolution of shipbuilding from ancient traditions to modern engineering and follows the dramatic acceleration of construction, launching, and outfitting processes for warships and cargo vessels. Key milestones include the launching of cruisers, destroyer escorts, Liberty ships, and aircraft carriers like the Lexington and Wasp, often built in record time. The narrative emphasizes the massive national mobilization required—training thousands of unskilled workers, expanding facilities, and coordinating with over 30,000 businesses across the country. As war demands intensified, Bethlehem broke records and achieved the seemingly impossible, contributing over 500 ships within two years. The film concludes with a message of unity, pride, and the enduring strength of American industry in the face of global conflict. 0:00 –Main titles. The film begins with a historical overview of shipbuilding, transitioning from primitive dugouts to modern warships, and introduces Bethlehem Steel's role in this evolution. 1:31 – The USS Topeka is launched at the Quincy yard, exemplifying the wartime acceleration of ship production. 3:47 – Bethlehem’s long-standing legacy in shipbuilding is highlighted, tracing its roots back to the builders of historic clippers. 5:11 – A century of progress in shipbuilding is demonstrated by the shift from sail to steel-hulled vessels and the scale of Bethlehem’s industrial workforce. 6:07 – Charles M. Schwab’s consolidation of shipyards under Bethlehem Steel marked a major national and corporate milestone in American industry. 7:08 – Notable shipyards including those in Quincy, Sparrows Point, and San Francisco are introduced for their contributions to both commercial and military vessels. 8:19 – Shipbuilding begins with design; initial sketches evolve into precise plans on the drawing board. 9:00 – At the mold loft, full-sized hull outlines are laid out, and templates are created to guide steel shaping. 10:21 – The fabrication process begins, and parts like bulkheads and inner sections are pre-assembled for efficiency. 11:40 – The keel is laid at the building ways, marking the traditional "birth" of a ship. 12:20 – Assembled sections arrive by train, and cranes position them; the scale of shipbuilding requires heavy machinery and accurate planning. 17:07 – After launching, ships move to outfitting piers; over 30,000 enterprises contribute to ship production, representing national unity. 18:05 – Specialized workers from all trades—welders, pipefitters, electricians, etc.—prepare ships for active service. 19:07 – Drydocking operations and maintenance 20:02 – Bethlehem’s conversion of peacetime vessels into warships 21:22 – A.B. Homer of Bethlehem Shipbuilding announces a massive wartime production goal: 73 warships and 100 cargo ships, built faster than ever. 22:32 – New shipbuilding facilities like Fairfield are built to meet wartime needs; manpower doubles in the first year. 23:40 – Thousands of untrained civilians are recruited 25:00 – With war declared, Bethlehem launches ships at record speeds from multiple yards—Quincy, San Francisco, Staten Island, and Fairfield. 27:13 – The destroyer escort (DE) is introduced to combat German U-boats. Bethlehem builds a new yard in Hingham for this specialized ship. 28:30 – The Hingham yard achieves record speed: one DE launched just 4.5 days after keel-laying, and delivered in only 25 days. 29:00 – Commissioning ceremonies transfer DEs to the U.S. and British navies 30:30 – Bethlehem starts mass production of landing ships (LSTs and LCIs) to support amphibious assaults 31:40 – Troop transports and carriers are launched from Alameda and Quincy yards 32:03 – The loss of the carrier Lexington, built at Quincy, is deeply felt—but a new USS Lexington is quickly built to replace her. 33:13 – USS Wasp is replaced with a new, larger version launched in record time. 34:53 – The aircraft carrier USS Hancock is launched just five months later 35:40 – In two years after Pearl Harbor, Bethlehem delivers 542 ships—including battleships, aircraft carriers, destroyers, and 310 cargo/tanker vessels. 36:13 – Bethlehem President E.G. Grace broadcasts to the nation that the company has met its goal of building a ship a day, with extras to spare. 37:01 – U.S. ship production becomes a decisive factor in turning the tide of war. 38:31 – The film concludes with a patriotic message: the “impossible” was made pos This film is part of the Periscope Film LLC archive, one of the largest historic military, transportation, and aviation stock footage collections in the USA. Entirely film backed, this material is available for licensing in 24p HD, 2k and 4k. For more information visit http://www.PeriscopeFilm.com Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VzuF1EtpWEs Mirrored from Periscope Film (https://www.youtube.com/@PeriscopeFilm) Sat, 13 Jun 2026 12:55:58 GMT https://validator.w3.org/feed/docs/rss2.html PeerTube - https://peertube.dngr.us https://peertube.dngr.us/lazy-static/avatars/41a6fee9-7f57-42d0-a5fc-5db4f1af2e31.png https://peertube.dngr.us/videos/watch/9714e40a-b0e8-47e1-8cd4-bf28d92b8881 All rights reserved, unless otherwise specified in the terms specified at https://peertube.dngr.us/about and potential licenses granted by each content's rightholder.