Looking for anyone who might know where to find potential sources for the costs of various ship classes by different nations through the war. I am looking specifically for production costs (as in, how much money it took), but would also be interested in resource allocation. Obviously would be most convenient coming from one source but would be happy to receive any suggestions. Thanks!
The NHHC is currently preparing the four volume "Administrative History of the Bureau of Ships in WWII." Some data you're looking for should be in there. Don't have a date on when it will be posted. If this is "urgent", PM me.
Note that you have to be careful if you want to compare costs. All of the WWII economies were "managed" to some extent and for instance the official exchange rate of the mark and the dollar was very misleading. Then there's the question of GFE. Often with planes and tanks for instance the price quoted will not include GFE (things like guns, radios, etc) on the other hand sometimes it will. Labor costs can also be an issue as some countries used slave or almost slave labor while others paid their workers well. Whether other costs are rapped into the cost paid can be an issue as well. For instance US tanks often included as part of their costs an amount to offset the construction of the facility they were built in. Not sure whether or not that apples to ships as well. Depending on what you are doing with the numbers the tendency of the USN to use armor quality steel throughout the ship while other nations used mild still may have some impact as well.
Norman Friedman's "An Illustrated Design History" series should cover the major US warship types. LaCroix & Wells "Japanese Cruisers of the Pacific War" has the costs for Japanese cruisers.