Artbrooks, in 1940 the US government did not believe that Britain would still exist as a nation by 1941. Making them wait while they "modernised" the vessels was a cynical ploy. Britain was losing the war against the U Boat . The whole might of the Luftwaffe was directed at our airfields (my parents were in the RAF at this time) and again we seemed to be losing. The whole of Europe had fallen. An invasion fleet was being formed in the Channel ports. Britain asked for help , and none there came.
By 1941 the crises had passed but the cost to Britain was grievous. Our cities in ruins and thousands of sailors and airmen dead. Many thousand ordiary families wiped out in the Blitz.
Keith.