The USSR prior to World War II implemented several five-year plans developing massive industrial production capabilities. This required a steady raw material input producing final military and industrial grade good. Lend-Lease Categories Raw Materials Copper – In an unusual twist the Soviet Union was providing copper along many other raw materials to Germany per the … [Read more...] about USSR Production versus Lend-Lease Support
Industrial Capability
Soviet Engineering and Metalworking Labor Productivity, 41-45
Labor productivity for Soviet engineering and metalworking increased both as a factor of increased hours worked per laborer and increased productivity per hours worked. The net effect was an almost tripling of value added per worker. This compounding effect was also reflected in other labor categories as well, partially accounting for the Soviet Union’s greater productivity … [Read more...] about Soviet Engineering and Metalworking Labor Productivity, 41-45
German vs. USSR Volume of Industrial Production, 1940
Industrial production needs such as raw material, power, and tooling prior to Germany’s invasion of the USSR shows German advantages in the iron categories but at a disadvantage everywhere else. These measures partially represent Germany’s and Soviet Union’s industrial capacity to wage war. Industrial Production These numbers alone don’t tell … [Read more...] about German vs. USSR Volume of Industrial Production, 1940
Direct Man-Hours per US Airframe Pound Accepted
The learning curve at each manufacturer is evident as the man-hours to produce as measured by weight steadily decreases. However, no direct comparisons between manufacturers can be made from the figures shown. Even in the case of the B-24, where two firms produced the same items, differences in expenditures on tooling and previous production experience preclude valid … [Read more...] about Direct Man-Hours per US Airframe Pound Accepted
US Propeller Production by Manufacturer Jul 40-Aug 45
US and Canadian industry stepped forward to support the aircraft propeller production war effort. Several were aircraft manufacturing veterans while other manufacturers were newcomers. These manufacturers provided their industrial capacity to meet the Allied aviation needs. The United States Army procured 708,268 automatically controllable pitch aircraft propellers from 1940 … [Read more...] about US Propeller Production by Manufacturer Jul 40-Aug 45
US Aircraft Propeller Production: 1940-45
The United States Army procured 713,717 aircraft propellers from 1940 through 1945 propellers. The graph below only includes complex pitch controllable blades which were difficult to manufacture. It excludes those seen on puddle jumpers or manufactured from expensive steel or fixed-pitch blades fitted to some trainers. These complex propellers were part of the equation driving … [Read more...] about US Aircraft Propeller Production: 1940-45
US Aircraft Pounds Produced 1940-45
US aircraft manufacturing shifted into overdrive. Production rates skyrocketed with 1944 seeing 39.3 times as much hardware by weight produced than in 1940. In 1940 the aircraft industry employed approximately 180,000 workers and this number would reach its 2,100,000 peak in late 1943. An eleven-fold gain in employees versus a 39-fold increase in production measured by … [Read more...] about US Aircraft Pounds Produced 1940-45
North American B-25 Engineering Hours 1940-44
Many in the automobile industry believed that aircraft engineering design could be frozen which would allow greater production rates. They learned that this was not possible. The aircraft industry design and manufacturing were undergoing great upheavals. From the end of World War I with canvas covered wings made from wood aircraft were now aluminum framed and covered. With … [Read more...] about North American B-25 Engineering Hours 1940-44
Comparison of US Aircraft and Automobile Industries
Prewar comparison shows that the US automobile industry dwarfed the US aircraft industry on almost every score except for number of manufacturing facilities. However, during the war United States industry would produce $18.9 billion worth of aircraft versus $5.3 billion worth of combat and motor vehicles. This 3.6 to 1 ratio reflected the changing emphasis of warfare … [Read more...] about Comparison of US Aircraft and Automobile Industries
US Military Civilian Aircraft Market 1926-36
The great depression had a massive impact on both the United States military and civilian aircraft markets. In 1928, the last full calendar without any great depression impacts, 3,582 civil aircraft were sold valued at $17,194,000. During the same year 1,219 military aircraft were sold valued at $19,066,000. With the onset of the great depression both the military and civil … [Read more...] about US Military Civilian Aircraft Market 1926-36