Faster Than Subs

The Maritime Administration last week ordered 25 freighters fast enough to outrun submerged submarines. The new "Manners" will be bigger than World War II's Victory ships (560 ft., 12,500 tons v. 455 ft. and 10,850 tons), faster (20 knots v. 15 knots), and will carry sub-spotting helicopters. The freighters will be built by four companies,* within two years. Total cost: $200 million.

*Newport News (Va.) Shipbuilding & Dry Dock Co.; Ingalls Shipbuilding Corp., Pascagoula, Miss.; Bethlehem Steel Corp.'s yards at Sparrows Point, Md. and Quincy, Mass.; and Sun Oil Co.'s Sun Shipbuilding & Dry Dock Co., Chester, Pa.

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