ARMED FORCES: First Come

The Navy last week staked an early claim to a large chunk of the U.S. defense budget for the next decade. Secretary Dan Kimball announced that plans were being drawn to build not one, but ten, 60,000-ton aircraft carriers, each larger than any carrier now afloat.* To be built at the rate of one a year, the new super-carriers would be sister ships of the U.S.S. Forrestal, whose keel will be laid this summer. They would have 1,000-ft. flight decks, fully retractable islands to allow more landing space, and a cruising speed of well over 30 knots. Some later models, said Kimball, might even be powered by atomic turbines. Estimated cost for all ten (less aircraft to fly from them): $2,218,000,000.

* Next biggest: the U.S. 45,000-ton Midway class (three ships).