Wartime Production Overdrive

image via The Atlantic

During periods of war, nations tend to kick their production capabilities up about a million notches in order to continuously resupply their troops. In World War II, with many ships being misplaced near the bottom of the ocean, and aircraft making less than pleasant landings . . .

image via Youtube

“The forecast calls for some minor turbulence, with an eighty percent chance of fiery death.”

 . . . the United States and the United Kingdom had to push their wartime productions into insanity, which led to some incredible feats.

The United States, unlike her allies, had the small obstacle of having to get their troops over some oceans. The solution was Liberty Ships. They were large cargo ships, with each one capable of carrying 550 soldiers. Using Liberty Ships, everything was initially going swimmingly for the troops. Literally, since the US was losing them at a rate of four for every one they built.

image via Ahoy

“Liberty Ships? More like Liberty Coffins.”

In order to solve the issue, the US resolved to decrease the production time. And decrease they did.

Production went from 230 days down to an incredible average of two weeks. Note, that is the average. The record for the fastest build belongs to the SS Robert Peary, which was assembled in a mind-blowing four and a half days.

image via National Park Service

Extreme Makeover: Ship Edition.

Using prefabricated parts (as with all Liberty Ships), and a ludicrously detailed build schedule, the ship was built in four days, fifteen hours, and twenty-six minutes. A record that will likely never be beaten. And the US wasn't the only one establishing records in production. The United Kingdom wanted to show Germany that their production wasn't being hurt from their raids.

image via Wikipedia

“'Tis but a flesh wound!”

They demonstrated their production prowess by constructing a Vickers Wellington bomber in twenty-four hours. While that might not sound as impressive, it's important to note that unlike the SS Robert Peary, no pre-fabricated parts were used this time around.

The crews came in on a weekend and constructed the aircraft in their free time. The clock started from the first bolt to when the aircraft first took flight, which was twenty-four hours and forty-eight minutes.

image via Wikipedia

"Told ya' duct tape works the same as bolts."