"Union shipbuilding rates?" Topic

Is there a study out there that details the rate at which ships were built in the Union Navy? Some kind of table that breaks down new production by month?

I'm trying to 'guess-timate' how rapidly the Union Navy grew from its 'at start' strengh of a handful of ships to the massive late war behemoth it became. Obviously, the fleet grew slowly in 1861 and into '62, but at some point in '62 does the quantity of commissioned ships suddenly rise?

Thanks!

There is a table of commissioning dates in the back of Canney Volume 1.

The 90 day gunboats started commissioning in late 61 and through 62 there was a steady stream of them and the early double-enders. Towards the beginning of 62 the first of the war sloops start commissioning, and they show up in dribbles into 63 with the largest ships coming in early 63. The rest of that year is pretty dry, though the Kansas class start commissioning toward the end. The Sassacus class starts showing up in January 64 (though Sassacus herself was Oct. 63). After mid-late 64 things slow up quite a bit.

I'd say the growth starts in late 61, there is a big spike over all of 62, then it slows down drastically. It picks up again a tad in 64, and it peters out rapidly after that.

This does not include merchant ships taken up, nor tinclads, etc.

Well, the longshoremen make around $125 USD an hour. Oh, wait… sorry…

Any number of books show the dates for the build time of all ACW ships. Start, launch and commission dates.

Dan