Launching Liberty: the epic race to build the ships that took America to war

Wonderboat

A shipbuilding glossary

Author's note

Part I: The plan. Zigzagging the Atlantic ; "Secret: merchant shipbuilding mission to USA" ; The legend of Jerry Land ; 17,000 miles, three weeks ; Torpedoed

Part II: Partners. Henry the builder ; Hoover ; A history lesson ; Henry the shipbuilder ; A clambake seals the deal ; Arsenal of democracy

Part III: Designs and decisions. "Ugly ducklings" ; A boy's dreams ; Engines and guns ; Selecting sites ; Liberty

Part IV: Ships and shipyards. Upside down forests ; The firsts ; Liberty fleet day ; Launching and loading ; Neutral no more ; "A war of transportation" ; Nerves of steel

Part V: Building a workforce. "Avalanche of humanity" ; Revolutionizing the workplace ; The map speech ; Strikes, safety, and sexism ; Building the builders ; Speed kings ; Wendy the Welder ; Gus

Part VI: Fast, faster, fastest. Lessons from Motor City ; Darkness, disgrace, defeat ; Perfecting prefab ; Pistol-packin' mamas ; A Liberty carries a legacy ; Stunt ships ; A Liberty's victory

Part VII: "There she goes". Setting the table ; Hull no. 440 ; "Nuts to seven days" ; Aboard the Peary

Epilogue: From Liberty to Victory.