NAVAL VESSEL PROGRAMS AND LEGISLATION
The following early authorizations provided tonnage for some of the programs below:
| Name
| Auth.
| Auth. Date
| Auth. Law
|
| 1916 Naval Preparedness Act |
Auth. 16(1) |
29 Aug 16 |
PL 241-64-1 |
| 1924 |
Auth. 24(1) |
18 Dec 24 |
PL 297-68-2 |
| 1929 |
Auth. 29(1) |
13 Feb 29 |
PL 726-70-2 |
| Nationa1 Industrial Recovery Act (NIRA) |
Auth. 33(1) |
16 Jun 33 |
PL 67-73-1 |
The following program was funded by five acts: FY 1931-1934 and NIRA:
| Prog.
| Name
| Auth.
|
| 1 |
FY 1931-1934 and NIRA |
Various Auth. |
The following program was funded on 15 Mar 34 by Appropriation 35(1), FY 1935, PL 122-73:
| Prog.
| Name
| Auth.
|
| lAx |
FY 1935 |
Auth. 29(1) |
The following program was funded on 19 Jun 34 by Appropriation 35(2), Emergency FY 1935, PL 412-73:
| Prog.
| Name
| Auth.
| Auth. Date
| Auth. Law
|
| lAa |
Vinson-Trammell Act |
Auth. 34(1) |
27 Mar 34 |
PL 135-73-2 |
The following programs were funded on 24 Jun 35 by Appropriation 36(1), FY 1936, PL 163-74:
| Prog.
| Name
| Auth.
|
| 2x |
FY 1936 |
Auth. 29(1) |
| 2a |
FY 1936 |
Auth. 34(1) |
The following program was funded on 3 Jun 36 by Appropriation 37(1), FY 1937, PL 636-74:
| Prog.
| Name
| Auth.
|
| 3 |
FY 1937 |
Auth. 34(1) |
The following program was funded on 27 Apr 37 by Appropriation 38(1), FY 1938, PL 54-75:
| Prog.
| Name
| Auth.
|
| 4a |
FY 1938 |
Auth. 34(1) |
The following program was funded on 25 Aug 37 by Appropriation 38(2), FY 1938: 3rd Deficiency, PL 354-75:
| Prog.
| Name
| Auth.
| Auth. Date
| Auth. Law
|
| 4x |
Six Auxiliaries |
Auth. 37(1) |
30 Jul 37 |
PL 226-75-1 |
The following programs were funded on 26 Apr 38 by Appropriation 39(1), FY 1939, PL 493-75:
| Prog.
| Name
| Auth.
|
| 5a |
FY 1939 |
Auth. 34(1) |
| 5x |
FY 1939 |
Auth. 37(1) |
The following programs were funded on 25 Jun 38 by Appropriation 39(2), FY 1939: 2nd Deficiency, PL 723-75:
| Prog.
| Name
| Auth.
| Auth. Date
| Auth. Law
|
| 5aa |
- |
Auth. 34(1) |
- |
- |
| 5b |
20% Expansion |
Auth. 38(1) |
17 May 38 |
PL 528-75-3 |
| 6 |
Experimental Program |
Auth. 38(1) |
" |
" |
The following program was funded on 25 May 39 by Appropriation 40(1), FY 1940, PL 90-76:
| Prog.
| Name
| Auth.
|
| 7 |
FY 1940 |
Auth. 38(1) |
The appropriation for the following program was not identified:
| Prog.
| Name
| Auth.
| Auth. Date
| Auth. Law
|
| 8 |
Modernize CV 2-3 |
Law |
15 Jun 38 |
PL 618-75-3 |
The following program was funded on 9 Aug 39 by Appropriation 40(2), FY 1940: 3rd Deficiency, PL 361-76:
| Prog.
| Name
| Auth.
| Auth. Date
| Auth. Law
|
| 8A |
Two Motor Vessels |
Auth. 40(1) |
25 Jul 39 |
PL 212-76-1 |
FISCAL YEAR 1941 PROGRAMS
The following programs were funded on 11 Jun 40 by Appropriation 41(1), FY 1941-I, PL 588-76:
| Prog.
| Name
| Auth.
|
| 9a |
FY 1941 |
Auth. 34(1) |
| 9b |
FY 1941 |
Auth: 38(1) |
The appropriations for the following programs were not identified:
| Prog.
| Name
| Auth.
| Auth. Date
| Auth. Law
|
| 10 |
Modernize SS 167-68, SM 1 |
Law |
20 Apr 39 |
PL 37-76-1 |
| 11 |
Modernize BB 43-46, 48 |
Law |
25 Jul 39 |
PL 212-76-1 |
| 12 |
Modernize BB 33-35 |
Law |
14 Jun 40 |
PL 629-76-3 |
The following programs, except for Program 14 (not identified) were funded on 26 Jun 40 by Appropriation 41(3),
FY 1941-III (1st Suppl.), PL 667-76-3:
| Prog.
| Name
| Auth.
| Auth. Date
| Auth. Law
|
| 13x |
- |
Auth. 16(1) |
- |
- |
| 13a |
- |
Auth. 34(1) |
- |
- |
| 13b |
- |
Auth. 38(1) |
- |
- |
| 13c |
11% Expansion |
Auth. 41(1) |
14 Jun 40 |
PL 629-76-3 |
| 14 |
"Anti-Aircraft Defense" |
Law |
26 Jun 40 |
PL 667-76-3 |
| 15 |
130 Small Vessels-NEF |
Auth. 41(4) |
26 Jun 40 |
PL 667-76-3 |
| 16 |
159 District Craft |
Auth. 41(3) |
26 Jun 40 |
PL 667-76-3 |
| 17 |
7 Auxiliaries-ANV |
Auth. 41(2) |
26 Jun 40 |
PL 667-76-3 |
The following programs were funded on 9 Sep 40 by Appropriation 41(4), FY 1941-IV (2nd suppl.), PL 781-76-3:
| Prog.
| Name
| Auth.
| Auth. Date
| Auth. Law
|
| 18a |
- |
Auth. 34(1) |
- |
- |
| 18b |
- |
Auth. 38(1) |
- |
- |
| 18c |
- |
Auth. 41(1) |
- |
- |
| 18d |
70% Expansion |
Auth. 41(5) |
19 Jul 40 |
PL 757-76-3 |
| 19 |
24 Auxiliaries-ANV |
Auth. 41(6) |
9 Sep 40 |
PL 781-76-3 |
The following program was funded on 17 Mar 41 by Appropriation 41(6), FY 1941-VI (4th Suppl.), PL 13-77:
| Prog.
| Name
| Auth.
| Auth. Date
| Auth. Law
|
| 20 |
400 Small Craft (Patrol & District) |
Auth. 41(7) |
31 Jan 41 |
PL 4-77-1 |
The following program was funded by Lend Lease appropriations
| Prog.
| Name
| Auth.
| Auth. Date
| Auth. Law
|
| LL |
Defense Aid (Lend-Lease) |
Auth. LL |
27 Mar 41 |
PL 23-77-1 |
The following program was funded on 5 Apr 41 by Appropriation 41(7), FY 1941-VII (4th Suppl.), PL 29-77-1:
| Prog.
| Name
| Auth.
| Auth. Date
| Auth. Law
|
| 21 |
12 Auxiliaries-ANV |
Auth. 41(8) |
5 Apr 41 |
PL 29-77-1 |
The following program was funded retroactively using an old appropriation:
| Prog.
| Name
| Auth.
| Appr.
|
| 22 |
72 Patrol Craft |
Auth. 41(5) |
Appr. 41(6) |
Note: Some or all Naval Vessel Registers give 41(4) as the appropriation for Program 22.
FISCAL YEAR 1942 PROGRAMS
The following programs were funded retroactively using old appropriations:
| Prog.
| Name
| Auth.
| Appr.
|
| 23 |
7 DD, 5 SS |
Auth. 34(1) |
Appr. 42(6) |
| 24 |
32 DD |
Auth. 41(5) |
Appr. 41(4) |
Note: Some or all Naval Vessel Registers give 42(6) as the appropriation for Program 24.
The following program was funded on 3 Jul 41 by Appropriation 42(2), FY 1942-II, PL 150-77:
| Prog.
| Name
| Auth.
| Auth. Date
| Auth. Law
|
| 25 |
550,000t Auxiliaries |
Auth. 42(1) |
24 May 41 |
PL 72-77-1 |
The following programs were funded on 17 Dec 41 by Appropriation 42(5), FY 1942-V, PL 353-77-1:
| Prog.
| Name
| Auth.
| Auth. Date
| Auth. Law
|
| 26 |
400 Light Draft Vessels |
Auth. 42(2) |
21 Nov 41 |
PL 323-77-1 |
| 27 |
400 Light Draft Vessels |
Auth. 42(3) |
17 Dec 41 |
PL 353-77-1 |
The following programs were funded on 7 Feb 42 by Appropriation 42(6), FY 1942-VI, PL 441-77:
| Prog.
| Name
| Auth.
| Auth. Date
| Auth. Law
|
| 28 |
800,000t Auxiliaries |
Auth. 42(4) |
17 Dec 41 |
PL 353-77-1 |
| 29 |
150,000t Combatants (5% Expansion) |
Auth. 42(5) |
23 Dec 41 |
PL 369-77-1 |
| 1799 |
1799 Vessels Emergency Construction |
Auth. 42(6) |
6 Feb 42 |
PL 440-77-2 |
The following program was funded on 23 Jun 42 by Appropriation 42(8), FY 1942-VIII, PL 626-77:
| Prog.
| Name
| Auth.
| Auth. Date
| Auth. Law
|
| 30 |
200,000t Combatants |
Auth. 42(7) |
13 May 42 |
PL 551-77-2 |
FISCAL YEAR 1943 PROGRAMS
The following programs were funded on 26 Oct 42 by Appropriation 43(3), FY 1943-III, PL 763-77:
| Prog.
| Name
| Auth.
| Auth. Date
| Auth. Law
|
| 31 |
1,900,000t Combatants |
Auth. 43(2) |
9 Jul 42 |
PL 666-77-2 |
| 32 |
800 Patrol and Mine |
Auth. 43(2) |
" |
" |
| 33 |
200 Small Vessels (Coastal Defense) |
Auth. 43(2) |
" |
" |
The following programs were probably funded on 26 Oct 42 by Appropriation 43(2), FY 1943-II, PL 763-77:
| Prog.
| Name
| Auth.
| Auth. Date
| Auth. Law
|
| 34 |
1,200,000t Auxiliaries |
Auth. 43(1) |
9 Jul 42 |
PL 665-77-2 |
Note: The NVR says appropriation 43(2) was PL 626, 77th Congress, of 23 June 1942 in lieu of the 26 October 1942
act given above.
FISCAL YEAR 1944 PROGRAMS
The following programs were funded retroactively using old appropriations:
| Prog.
| Name
| Auth.
| Appr.
|
| 35 |
Plan "A" |
Auth. 34(1) |
Appr. 42(6) |
| 36 |
Plan "A" |
Auth. 42(7) |
Appr. 42(8) |
| 37 |
Plan "A" |
Auth. 41(5) |
Appr. 41(4) |
| 38 |
Plan "A" |
Auth. 43(2) |
Appr. 43(3) |
| 39 |
Plan "A" |
Auth. 41(5) |
Appr. 44(1) |
| 40 |
Plan "A" |
Auth. 38(1) |
Appr. 44(1) |
Note: Some or all Naval Vessel Registers give 44(1) as the appropriation for Programs 35-40.
The following programs were funded on 26 Jun 43 by Appropriation 44(1), FY 1944-I, PL 92-78:
| Prog.
| Name
| Auth.
| Auth. Date
| Auth. Law
|
| 41 |
1,000,000t Auxiliaries |
Auth. 43(4) |
17 Jun 43 |
PL 76-78-1 |
| 42 |
l,000,000t District and Landing |
Auth. 43(3) |
26 May 43 |
PL 61-78-1 |
The following program number was not used:
| Prog.
| Name
|
| 43 |
(Unused tonnage) |
The following programs were funded on 23 Dec 43 by Appropriation 44(2), FY 1944-II, PL 216-78:
| Prog.
| Name
| Auth.
| Auth. Date
| Auth. Law
|
| 44 |
1,000,000t District and Landing |
Auth. 44(1) |
17 Dec 43 |
PL 204-78-1 |
| 45 |
2,500,000t Auxiliaries |
Auth. 44(2) |
17 Dec 43 |
PL 204-78-1 |
The following program was funded on 28 Jun 44 by Appropriation 44(3), FY 1944-III, PL 375-78:
| Prog.
| Name
| Auth.
| Auth. Date
| Auth. Law
|
| 46 |
l,000,000t District and Landing |
Auth. 44(3) |
31 May 44 |
PL 322-78-2 |
FISCAL YEAR 1945
All but one of the following planned programs were cancelled before appropriations were arranged. Program 47
was funded retroactively using an old appropriation as indicated below.
| Prog.
| Name
| Auth.
| Appr.
|
| -- |
Combatants |
Auth. 34(1) |
Appr. -- |
| -- |
Combatants |
Auth. 38(1) |
Appr. -- |
| -- |
Combatants |
Auth. 41(1) |
Appr. -- |
| -- |
Combatants |
Auth. 41(5) |
Appr. -- |
| -- |
Combatants |
Auth. 42(5) |
Appr. -- |
| -- |
Combatants |
Auth. 42(7) |
Appr. -- |
| 47 |
Combatants |
Auth. 43(2) |
Appr. 43(3) |
MISC. PROGRAM
| Prog.
| Name
|
| BSM |
Ships acquired with funds appropriated for Maintenance, Bureau of Ships since 1 July 1939. (Officially "MBS") |
NOTES
Program numbers were used by navy accountants to indicate the combination of an authorization and an appropriation. (The numbers and capital letters are official; while the small letters were added for this list in order to complete the system.) Programs could use either authorizations passed especially for the purpose, or could use tonnage left over from previous authorizations: programs 18d and 19 are examples of the former and l8a thru l8c of the latter.
Exceptions: Programs 22-24, 35-40 and 47 used both tonnage and funds available under earlier acts and had no appropriations of their own. Programs 8, 10, 11, 12 and 14 involved no new construction, and their appropriations are unknown.
Nomenclature: Semi-official short titles of acts are given. All appropriations after 1940 were entitled "Naval Appropriations Act FY 19--" except 44(2): "lst Supplemental Naval Defense Appropriation Act FY 1944," and 44(3): "2nd Deficiency Appropriation Act FY 1944."
Laws are shown in the format PL-C-S: Public Law, Congress, and Session.
Copyright © Stephen S. Roberts 2005-2015.