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Before he took over Naval Ordnance in February 1941, Admiral Blandy spent several years specializing in anti-aircraft defense for warships, is now rated the Navy's outstanding expert on the subject. His last command at sea was the battleship Utah, which was converted into a mobile target and floating laboratory for testing anti-aircraft guns. "To learn about anti-aircraft fire," remarks Admiral Blandy, "there is nothing like being on both ends of the target."
Last week, while Burt Wheeler quoted the Navy to the effect that there was no armament available for merchant ships, Admiral Blandy was quietly preparing to supply them. The equipment available ranges from 5-in. guns down through 1.1-in. pom-poms and 20-mm. Oerlikons. Fitting out ships a few at a time, the Navy expects to have over 1,000 armed within four or five months. Armament will depend on the size of the ship: the largest will mount 5-in. guns fore & aft, two 20-mm. guns amidships, 1.1s topside wherever possible; the smallest will mount a 3-incher and pompoms. All will carry depth charges.
Although no U.S. merchantmen, however wellarmed, bagged anything during the last war, their armament helped to keep subs at a distance. This time, with improved weapons, the Navy expects them to do better than that. Since a fully armed merchant marine would require 10,000 men to serve its guns (crews range in size from eight to 24), it is unlikely that Navy personnel will take over the whole job.
More probably, a great many noncommissioned reservists will be drafted as gunners, will be commanded by chief petty officers or cram-course officers from reserve schools.
Admiral Blandy's chief worry is about fire-control and optical instruments. High up on the Bureau of Ordnance's list of companies which rate a production E (for Excellence) is Bausch & Lomb. But, although it is working at top speed, it cannot supply all that the Ordnance Bureau needs. Says Admiral Blandy: "Consider that a single fire-control unit may weigh up to a ton, and that tolerances in that unit will scale down to .0005 of an inch, about half the thickness of a cigaret paper, and you'll see why we'd like a few more Bausch & Lombs."