Essex class Aircraft carrier
The USS Ticonderoga with an angled-deck
Class Overview
Type:	Aircraft carrier
Name:	Essex
Number of ships:	15 ordered, 15 laid down, 10 commissioned as Essex ships 5 completed as Ticonderoga class ships
Preceded by:	Yorktown-class aircraft carrier
Succeeded by:	Midway-class aircraft carrier
General characteristics
Displacement:	27,200 tons / 36,380 tons full load
Length:	872 ft (250 m)
Beam:	93 ft (28.3 m)
Draught:	23 ft (7.0 m)
Propulsion:	Westinghouse geared turbines; 8 - Babcock & Wilcox boilers connected to four shafts
Speed:	33 knots (61 km/h)
Range:	15,000 nautical miles (28,000 km) at 15 knots (28 km/h)
Protection:	1.5 in (38 mm) hangar deck, 2.5 to 4 in (64 to 102 mm) belt
Complement:	340 officers and 2,900 enlisted
Armament:	12 × 5 in (127 mm) guns
Aircraft:	80–100

The United States Navy's Essex class aircraft carriers constituted the industrial age's largest class of heavy warships. Although thirty-two were originally ordered, six were cancelled before construction, and two were cancelled after construction had begun. They were the backbone of the Navy's combat strength in the years after World War II. Image File history File links USS_Ticonderoga. ... The Yorktown class aircraft carriers were built by the USA not long before World War II in a series of three. ... The Midway class aircraft carrier was one of the longest lived carrier designs in history. ... WWII era ship propulsion turbine A turbine is a rotary engine that extracts energy from a fluid flow. ... The Babcock & Wilcox Company is an American firm engaged in the design, engineering, manufacture, service and construction of power generation and pollution control systems and equipment for utilities and industries. ... A boiler is a closed vessel in which water or other fluid is heated under pressure. ... The United States Navy (also known as USN or the U.S. Navy) is the branch of the United States armed forces responsible for conducting naval operations. ... This article is becoming very long. ... This article is becoming very long. ...

The straight-deck USS Lake Champlain

The Aircraft Carrier USS Lake Champlain (CVS-39), Public domain photo from history. ... The Aircraft Carrier USS Lake Champlain (CVS-39), Public domain photo from history. ...

Overview

The preceding Yorktown class carriers formed the basis from which the Essex class was developed. Intended to carry a larger air group, and unencumbered by the naval limitations treaties then recently-obsolete, USS Essex (CV-9) was over sixty feet longer, nearly ten feet wider in beam and more than a third heavier. A longer, wider flight deck and a deck-edge elevator facilitated more efficient aviation operations, enhancing the ships' offensive and defensive air power. Machinery arrangement and armor protection was greatly improved from previous designs. These features, with the provision of more anti-aircraft guns, gave the ships much-enhanced survivability. In fact, none of the Essex class carriers were lost and two of them, Franklin (CV-13) and Bunker Hill (CV-17), came home under their own power even after being grievously damaged. The Yorktown class aircraft carriers were built by the USA not long before World War II in a series of three. ... The fourth USS Essex (CV-9) (also CVA-9 and CVS-9) was a United States Navy aircraft carrier, the lead ship of her class. ... The flight deck of an aircraft carrier is the surface from which its aircraft take off and land, essentially a miniature airfield at sea. ... The fifth USS Franklin (CV-13) (also CVA-13, CVS-13, and AVT-8), nicknamed Big Ben, was an Essex-class aircraft carrier of the United States Navy, notable as the hardest-hit carrier to survive World War II. The actual kamikaze attacks on the ship are depicted in the... USS Bunker Hill (CV-17) was an Essex-class aircraft carrier of the United States Navy, nicknamed Holiday Express for her many attacks launched around the end of the year. ...

US carriers had the same amount of deck armor that carried by their British counterparts. While debates raged, and continue to this day, regarding the effect of placement (flight deck level on British ships vs. hangar deck level on American ships), serious historians generally see the American arrangement to have been superior, until the larger size of the first supercarriers necessitated a deeper hull, and thus moving the strength deck to the flight deck. USS , a typical supercarrier, and HMS Illustrious, a light V/STOL aircraft carrier on a joint patrol. ...

Development

After the abrogation by Japan from disarmament treaties, the U.S. took a realistic look at its naval strength. With the Naval Expansion Act of Congress passed on May 17, 1938, an increase of 40,000 tons in aircraft carriers was authorized. This permitted the building of USS Hornet (CV-8) and USS Essex (CV-9) which was to become the lead ship of its class. May 17 is the 137th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (138th in leap years). ... 1938 (MCMXXXVIII) was a common year starting on Saturday (link will take you to calendar). ... The seventh USS Hornet (CV-8) of the United States Navy was an aircraft carrier of World War II, notable for launching the Doolittle Raid, as a participant in the Battle of Midway, and for action in the Solomons before being mortally wounded in the Battle of the Santa Cruz... The fourth USS Essex (CV-9) (also CVA-9 and CVS-9) was a United States Navy aircraft carrier, the lead ship of her class. ...

CV-9 was to be the prototype of the 27,000-ton (standard displacement) aircraft carrier, considerably larger than the Enterprise (CV-6) yet smaller than the Saratoga (CV-3) (a battlecruiser converted to a carrier). These were to become known as the Essex class carrier, although this classification was latter dropped in the 1950s. On September 9, 1940, eight more of these carriers were ordered and were to become the Hornet (CV-12), Franklin (CV-13), Ticonderoga (CV -14), Randolph (CV-15), Lexington (CV-16), Bunker Hill (CV-17), Wasp (CV-18) and Hancock (CV-19). The last two of the 13 originally programmed CV-9 class aircraft carriers, Bennington (CV-20) and Boxer (CV-21), were ordered on December 15, 1941. USS Enterprise (CV-6) was the sixth aircraft carrier of the United States Navy and the seventh US Navy ship of that name. ... The fifth USS Saratoga (CV-3) was the third aircraft carrier of the United States Navy. ... September 9 is the 252nd day of the year (253rd in leap years). ... 1940 (MCMXL) was a leap year starting on Monday (the link is to a full 1940 calendar). ... The eighth USS Hornet (CV/CVA/CVS-12) was originally named USS Kearsarge, but renamed in honor of the CV-8, which was lost in October of 1942. ... The fifth USS Franklin (CV-13) (also CVA-13, CVS-13, and AVT-8), nicknamed Big Ben, was an Essex-class aircraft carrier of the United States Navy, notable as the hardest-hit carrier to survive World War II. The actual kamikaze attacks on the ship are depicted in the... The fourth USS Ticonderoga (CV-14/CVA-14/CVS-14) of the United States Navy was an aircraft carrier. ... The second USS Randolph (CV-15) of the United States Navy was a Ticonderoga-class aircraft carrier. ... USS Lexington (CV/CVA/CVS/CVT-16), known as The Blue Ghost, was an Essex-class aircraft carrier, the fifth United States Naval ship named in honor of the Revolutionary War Battle of Lexington. ... USS Bunker Hill (CV-17) was an Essex-class aircraft carrier of the United States Navy, nicknamed Holiday Express for her many attacks launched around the end of the year. ... The ninth USS Wasp (CV-18) of the United States Navy was an Essex-class aircraft carrier. ... The fourth USS Hancock (CV-19) of the United States Navy was an Ticonderoga-class aircraft carrier. ... The second USS Bennington (CV-20) was an Essex-class aircraft carrier of the United States Navy. ... The fifth USS Boxer (CV-21) (also CVA-21, CVS-21, LPH-4) was a United States Navy Ticonderoga-class aircraft carrier. ... December 15 is the 349th day of the year (350th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... This article is about the year. ...

It should be noted that the Lexington, Wasp, Hornet and the Yorktown names were not their originally intended ones, but were used in line with the Navy’s intent to carry on the traditions of the fighting predecessors who were lost during combat in 1942. It should also be noted that of the original 13 ordered "Essex class" ships, several of them, the Ticonderoga (CV-14), Randolph (CV-15), Hancock (CV-19), and Boxer (CV-21) were modified during design and construction and became those of the directly-related Ticonderoga or "long hull" class carriers.

In drawing up the preliminary design for USS Essex (CV-9), particular attention was directed at the size of both her flight and hangar decks. Aircraft design had come a long way from the comparatively light planes used in carriers during the 1930s. Flight decks now required more takeoff space for the heavier fighters and bombers being developed. Most of the first-line carriers of the pre-war years were equipped with flush deck catapults, but owing to the speed and size of these ships very little catapulting was done—except for experimental purposes. Image File history File links Download high resolution version (3000x1450, 368 KB) This image is a work of a sailor or employee of the U.S. Navy, taken or made during the course of the persons official duties. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Replica catapult at Château des Baux, France Catapults are siege engines using an arm to hurl a projectile a great distance. ...

With the advent of war, airplane weights began to go up as armor and armament got heavier; crew size aboard the planes also increased. By the war’s end in 1945, catapult launchings would become more common under these circumstances with some carrier commanding officers reporting that as much as 40% of launchings were effected by the ships’ catapults.

The hangar area design came in for many design conferences between the naval bureaus. Not only were the supporting structures to the flight deck to carry the increased weight of the landing and parked aircraft, but they were to have sufficient strength to support the storing of spare fuselages and parts (50% of each plane type aboard) under the flight deck and still provide adequate working space for the men using the area below.

A startling innovation in the Essex (CV-9) was a port side deck edge elevator in addition to two inboard elevators. Earlier, experiments with a ramp arrangement between the hangar and flight decks, up which aircraft were hauled by crane proved too slow. The Naval Bureau of Ships and the Chief Engineer of A.B.C. Elevator Co., designed the engine for the side elevator. Essentially, it was a standard elevator, 60 by 34 ft (18 by 10 m) in platform surface, which traveled vertically on the port side of the ship. The design was a huge success which greatly improved flight deck operations over carriers prior to the Essex.

Since there was no large hole in the flight deck when the elevator is in the ‘down’ position, a critical factor if the elevator were to ever become inoperable during combat operations, the development of the side elevator was a significant improvement in flight operations. Its new position made it easier to continue normal operations on deck, irrespective of the position of the elevator. The elevator also increased the effective deck space when it was in the ‘up’ position by providing additional parking room outside the normal contours of the flight deck, and increased the effective area on the hangar deck by the absence of elevator pits. In addition its machinery was less complex than the two inboard elevators, requiring about 20% fewer man-hours of maintenance.

Ongoing improvements to the class were made, particularly with regards to the ventilation system, lighting systems and the trash burner design and implementation.

Nineteen more Essex class ships were ordered or scheduled, starting with ten of them on August 7, 1942. Though only two of the ships, the Bon Homme Richard (CV-31) and the Oriskany (CV-34) where laid down as Essex "short hull" keels. The remainder became the Ticonderoga or "long hull" class ships. August 7 is the 219th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (220th in leap years), with 146 days remaining. ... 1942 (MCMXLII) was a common year starting on Thursday (the link is to a full 1942 calendar). ... USS Randolph CV-15 The Ticonderoga class aircraft carriers were thirteen aircraft carriers of the United States Navy. ...

The USS Lexington (CV-16); originally to be laid down as the "Cabot" but was renamed "Lexington" during construction after the Lexington (CV-2) was lost in the Battle of the Coral Sea in May 1942, was commissioned on February 17, 1943, followed by USS Yorktown (CV-10); originally to be named the "Bon Homme Richard", but changed after the Yorktown (CV-5), was lost at the Battle of Midway on June 7, 1942, on April 15, the Bunker Hill (CV-17) on May 25, the Intrepid (CV-11) on August 16, the Wasp (CV-18); name changed from "Oriskany" after the Wasp (CV-7) was sunk in September 1942 in the South Pacific while escorting a troop convoy to Guadalcanal, on November 24, and the Hornet (CV 12); name changed from "Kearsarge" when the Hornet (CV-8) was lost in October 1942 in the Battle of Santa Cruz Islands, on November 29 that year. In 1944, Franklin (CV-13) was commissioned on January 31 and the Bennington (CV-20) on August 6. The fourth USS Lexington (CV-2), nicknamed the Gray Lady or Lady Lex, was the second aircraft carrier of the United States Navy. ... Combatants United States, Australia Japan Commanders Chester Nimitz Frank Jack Fletcher Shigeyoshi Inoue Takeo Takagi Aritomo Goto Strength 2 large carriers, 3 cruisers 2 large carriers, 1 small carrier, 4 cruisers Casualties 1 large carrier, 1 destroyer, 1 oil tanker, 543 personnel 1 small carrier, 1 destroyer, 1,074 personnel... The ceremonies involved in commissioning ships into a military force are based in traditions thousands of years old. ... February 17 is the 48th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1943 (MCMXLIII) was a common year starting on Friday (the link is to a full 1943 calendar). ... // Early Career The third USS Yorktown (CV-5) was lead ship of the Yorktown class aircraft carrier of World War II, sunk at the Battle of Midway. ... Combatants United States Empire of Japan Commanders Chester W. Nimitz, Frank J. Fletcher, Raymond A. Spruance Isoroku Yamamoto, Chuichi Nagumo, Tamon Yamaguchi† Strength Three carriers, ~50 support ships, 233 carrier aircraft, 127 land-based aircraft Four carriers, Seven battleships, ~150 support ships, 248 carrier aircraft, 16 floatplanes Casualties 1 carrier... June 7 is the 158th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (159th in leap years), with 207 days remaining. ... 1942 (MCMXLII) was a common year starting on Thursday (the link is to a full 1942 calendar). ... April 15 is the 105th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (106th in leap years). ... May 25 is the 145th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (146th in leap years). ... August 16 is the 228th day of the year (229th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar. ... The eighth USS Wasp (CV-7) was a United States Navy aircraft carrier. ... Guadalcanal, position (inset) and main towns Guadalcanal is a 2,510 square mile (6 500 km²) island in the Pacific Ocean and a province of the Solomon Islands. ... November 24 is the 328th day (329th on leap years) of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... The seventh USS Hornet (CV-8) of the United States Navy was an aircraft carrier of World War II, notable for launching the Doolittle Raid, as a participant in the Battle of Midway, and for action in the Solomons before being mortally wounded in the Battle of the Santa Cruz... Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands Conflict World War II, Pacific War Date October 25, 1942 – October 27, 1942 Place Santa Cruz Islands, United States Japan Commanders William Halsey, Jr. ... November 29 is the 333rd (in leap years the 334th) day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... January 31 is the 31st day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... August 6 is the 218th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (219th in leap years), with 147 days remaining. ...

In recap, after WW II erupted and until its successful conclusion by Allied forces, the U.S. Navy ordered 32 aircraft carriers of the Essex and the related Ticonderoga class, of which the keels of 26 were laid down, 24 actually being commissioned. In general, allies are people or groups that have joined an alliance and are working together to achieve some common purpose. ...

These carriers had better protecting armor than their predecessors, better facilities for handling ammunition, safer and greater fueling capacity, and more effective damage control equipment.

The tactical employment of U.S. carriers changed as the war progressed. In early operations, through 1942, the doctrine was to operate singly or in pairs, joining together for the offense and separating when on the defense—the theory being that a separation of carriers under attack not only provided a protective screen for each, but also dispersed the targets and divided the enemy’s attack. Combat experience in those early operations did not bear out the theory and new proposals for tactical deployment were the subject of much discussion. Military tactics (Greek: TaktikÄ“, the art of organizing an army) is the collective name for methods of engaging and defeating an enemy in battle. ...

As the new Essex and Independence class carriers became available, tactics changed. Experience taught the wisdom of combined strength. Under attack, the combined anti-aircraft fire of the task group carriers and their screen provided a more effective umbrella of protection against marauding enemy aircraft than was possible when the carriers separated. USS Independence CV-22 USS Princeton CV-23 USS Belleau Wood CV-24 USS Cowpens CV-25 USS Monterey CV-26 The Independence class light carriers were a result of President Franklin D. Roosevelts interest in Navy shipbuilding plans. ...

When two or more of these task groups supported each other, they constituted a fast carrier task force. Lessons learned from operating the carriers as a single group of six, as two groups of three, and three groups of two, provided the basis for many tactics which later characterized carrier task force operations. With the evolution of the fast carrier task force and its successful employment in future operations. The Fast Carrier Task Force, known at different times as Task Force 38 and Task Force 58, was the main striking force of the United States Navy in the latter half of the Pacific War. ...

Armaments

Ordnancemen working on bombs amid F6F-3 "Hellcat" fighters parked on the carrier's hangar deck, circa October-December 1943. Other crewmen are watching a movie in the background.

USS Yorktown (CV-10) Ordnancemen of the USS Yorktown (CV-10) working on bombs amid F6F-3 Hellcat fighters parked on the carriers hangar deck, circa October-December 1943. ... USS Yorktown (CV-10) Ordnancemen of the USS Yorktown (CV-10) working on bombs amid F6F-3 Hellcat fighters parked on the carriers hangar deck, circa October-December 1943. ...

"Sunday Punch"

The pride of the carrier known as the "Sunday Punch" was the offensive power of 36 fighters; 36 dive bombers and 18 torpedo planes. The F6F Hellcat would prove to be superior to the Japanese Zero. It was twice as powerful as the Zero and could therefore climb higher and fly faster. Due to the increase in power, the Hellcat could carry an enormous amount of firepower. The Hellcat boasted six .50 caliber (12.7 mm) machine guns with a rate of fire of over 1000 rounds per minute. The SB2C-1 Helldiver, was a dive-bomber with a capacity of 2650 pounds (1,200 kg) of ordnance or one torpedo. Designed solely as a torpedo plane, Avenger (TBF-1) was produced by Grumman Aircraft. Some Essex-class carriers, such as the USS Bunker Hill (CV-17), also included squadrons of F4U Corsairs in Fighter-Bomber squadrons (VBF's), the precursor to modern Fighter-Attack (VFA) squadrons. Grumman F6F-3 Hellcat in tri-color camouflage The Grumman F6F Hellcat started development as an improved F4F Wildcat, but turned into a completely new design sharing a family resemblance to the Wildcat but with no shared parts. ... Mitsubishi A6M5 Zero Model 52 The Mitsubishi A6M was a light-weight carrier-based fighter aircraft employed by the Imperial Japanese Navy from 1940 to 1945. ... The Curtiss SB2C Helldiver was an aircraft carrier-based dive bomber produced for the United States Navy during World War II. It replaced the Douglas SBD Dauntless in US Navy service, and was initially strongly disliked by aircrews because it was much bigger and heavier than the SBD, and had... The Grumman TBF Avenger (designated TBM for aircraft manufactured by General Motors) was an American torpedo bomber, developed initially for the United States Navy and Marine Corps and used by a large number of air forces around the world. ... The Grumman Aircraft Engineering Corporation, later Grumman Aerospace Corporation, was a leading producer of military and civilian aircraft of the 20th century. ...

Guns, Radar, & Radios

The defensive plan for the carriers was to use radio and radar in a combined effort to concentrate anti-aircraft fire. The ship boasted seventeen quad-barrel, 40 mm, anti-aircraft guns and 65 single, 20 mm, close-in defense guns. The main defensive weapons were the five-inch guns. With a range of ten miles and a rate of fire of fifteen rounds per minute these guns launched the deadly VT shells. The VT shells, known as proximity fuzed-shells, would detonate when they came within 70 feet (21 m) of an enemy aircraft. The Essex Class made use of advanced technological and communications equipment. The Mark 4 sweeping radar was installed but could not track incoming low-level intruders and was quickly replaced with the improved Mark 12 radar. The Position Plan Indicator (PPI) radar was used to keep track of ships and enabled a multi-carrier force to maintain a high-speed formation at night or in foul weather. The new navigational tool known as the Dead Reckoning Tracer was also implemented for navigation and tracking of surface ships. The Identification Friend-or-Foe (IFF) was used to identify hostile ships and aircraft, especially at night or in adverse weather. The four-channel very high frequency (VHF) radio permitted channel variation in an effort to prevent enemy interception of transmissions. A four-channel radio also allowed for simultaneous radio contact with other ships and planes in the taskforce. Look up Proximity fuze in Wiktionary, the free dictionary A proximity fuze (also called a VT fuze) is a fuze that is designed to detonate an explosive automatically when close enough to the target to destroy it. ...

The "long-hull" Essexes

USS Randolph CV-15

USS Hancock CV-19

USS Boxer CV-21

USS Leyte CV-32

Throughout the very large program to build Essex class aircraft carriers, modifications were constantly made. The number of 40 mm and 20 mm anti-aircraft machine guns was greatly increased, new and improved radars were added, the original hangar deck catapult installation was deleted, the ventilation system was massively revised, details of protection were altered and hundreds of other large and small changes were executed. In fact, to the skilled observer, no two ships of the class looked exactly the same. Image File history File links Download high resolution version (740x615, 121 KB) USS Randolph CV-15 Naval Historical Center から File links The following pages link to this file: Ticonderoga class aircraft carrier ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (740x615, 121 KB) USS Randolph CV-15 Naval Historical Center から File links The following pages link to this file: Ticonderoga class aircraft carrier ... Image File history File links USS_Hancock. ... Image File history File links USS_Hancock. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (740x610, 98 KB) USS Boxer CV-21 Naval Historical Center から File links The following pages link to this file: Ticonderoga class aircraft carrier ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (740x610, 98 KB) USS Boxer CV-21 Naval Historical Center から File links The following pages link to this file: Ticonderoga class aircraft carrier ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (740x605, 98 KB) USS Leyte CV-32 Naval Historical Center から File links The following pages link to this file: Ticonderoga class aircraft carrier ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (740x605, 98 KB) USS Leyte CV-32 Naval Historical Center から File links The following pages link to this file: Ticonderoga class aircraft carrier ...

Beginning in March 1943, one visually very significant change was authorized for ships then in the early stages of construction. This involved reshaping the bow into a rather elegant "clipper" form to provide deck space for two 40 mm quadruple gun mountings, thus greatly improving forward air defenses. Thirteen ships were completed to this "long-hull", or Ticonderoga, class. Four of these were finished in 1944, in time to join their shrot-hull Essex class sisters in Pacific combat operations. The rest went into commission between early 1945 and late 1946.

Post-war rebuilds

Their construction greatly accelerated, the Essexes and the first few Ticonderogas formed the backbone of the Navy's mobile air striking power during the climactic years of the Pacific War. With their larger contemporaries of the Midway class, these carriers sustained the Navy's air power through the rest of the 1940s, during the Korean War era and beyond. US landings in the Pacific, 1941–1945 The Pacific War was the part of World War II — and preceding conflicts — that occurred in the Pacific Ocean, its islands, and in East Asia, between July 8, 1937, and August 14, 1945. ... The Midway class aircraft carrier was one of the longest lived carrier designs in history. ... // Events and trends World War II was a truly global conflict with many facets: immense human suffering, fierce indoctrination, and the use of new, extremely devastating weapons such as the atomic bomb. ... Combatants United Nations: Republic of Korea Democratic People’s Republic of Korea People’s Republic of China Soviet Union Commanders Syngman Rhee Chung Il Kwon Douglas MacArthur Mark W. Clark Matthew Ridgway Kim Il-sung Choi Yong-kun Peng Dehuai Strength Note: All figures may vary according to source. ...

Five of the long-hulls were laid up in 1946-47, along with all of the Short-hulls. Eight stayed on active duty to form, with the three much larger Midways, the backbone of the post-war Navy's combat strength. Though the Truman administration's defense economies sent three of the active Ticonderogas into "mothballs" in 1949, these soon came back into commission after the Korean War began. Ultimately, all thirteen had active Cold War service. Harry S. Truman (May 8, 1884 – December 26, 1972) was the thirty-third President of the United States (1945–1953); as Vice President, he succeeded to the office upon the death of Franklin D. Roosevelt. ... Combatants United Nations: Republic of Korea Democratic People’s Republic of Korea People’s Republic of China Soviet Union Commanders Syngman Rhee Chung Il Kwon Douglas MacArthur Mark W. Clark Matthew Ridgway Kim Il-sung Choi Yong-kun Peng Dehuai Strength Note: All figures may vary according to source. ... The Cold War (Russian: Холодная Война Holodnaya Voina) was the protracted geopolitical, ideological, and economic struggle that emerged after World War II between a worldwide military alliance of capitalist states led by the United States and a rival alliance of communist states led by the Soviet Union. ...

Five of them were thoroughly rebuilt in the early 1950s under the SCB-27 program, and four of these were further modernized a few years later to the SCB-125 design. Another got a combined SCB-27 and SCB-125 redo, while yet another was given a modest reworking to test the revolutionary "angled deck" landing area. The 1950s was the decade spanning the years 1950 to 1959. ...

Even after the arrival of the Forrestal-type "super carriers", the Essex class and its sisters remained vital elements of naval strength. By the mid-1950s, fourteen of them of them had been modernized along the lines of Oriskany (CV-34), with all but one of those being further updated under the SCB-125 program to facilitate operation of high-performance fighters and heavy attack aircraft. The Forrestal-class aircraft carriers were a four-ship class designed and built for the United States Navy in the 1950s. ... The 1950s was the decade spanning the years 1950 to 1959. ...

Korean War and subsequent Cold War needs ensured that twenty-two of the twenty-four ships had extensive post-World War II service, all initially with attack air groups. As bigger carriers entered the fleet, seven of the Essex class and eleven Ticonderogas were reassigned to the anti-submarine warfare mission. Unmodernized ships began to leave active service in the late 1950s, but three had about a decade of additional duty as helicopter assault transports for the Marine Corps. The updated units remained active until age and the increasing fleet of supercarriers drove them from the high seas from the late 1960s into the middle 1970s. However, one of the very first of the type, Lexington (CV-16), ran on until 1991 as the Navy's training carrier. She then became a museum, a new role that also employs three of her siblings, Yorktown (CV-10), Intrepid (CV-11), and Hornet (CV-12). The Cold War (Russian: Холодная Война Holodnaya Voina) was the protracted geopolitical, ideological, and economic struggle that emerged after World War II between a worldwide military alliance of capitalist states led by the United States and a rival alliance of communist states led by the Soviet Union. ... Anti-submarine warfare is a term referring to warfare directed against submarines. ... This article is becoming very long. ... USS , a typical supercarrier, and HMS Illustrious, a light V/STOL aircraft carrier on a joint patrol. ... The 1960s decade refers to the years from 1960 to 1969, inclusive. ... The 1970s decade refers to the years from 1970 to 1979, inclusive. ... USS Lexington (CV/CVA/CVS/CVT-16), known as The Blue Ghost, was an Essex-class aircraft carrier, the fifth United States Naval ship named in honor of the Revolutionary War Battle of Lexington. ... USS Yorktown (CV/CVS-10) was an Essex-class aircraft carrier of the United States Navy, now a museum ship in South Carolina. ... See USS Intrepid for other ships of this name. ... The eighth USS Hornet (CV/CVA/CVS-12) was originally named USS Kearsarge, but renamed in honor of the CV-8, which was lost in October of 1942. ...

Of the six unmodernized Ticonderogas, three decommissioned in the late 1950s and early 1960s and were promptly reclassified as aircraft transports (AVT), reflecting their very limited ability to safely operate modern aircraft. The other three, converted to amphibious assault ships (LPH), were active until about 1970. The two least modernized units went into reserve in the mid-1960s, and the rest passed out of the active fleet between 1969 and 1976. All were scrapped, most in the 1970s, although Shangri La survived until the late 1980s. The 1960s decade refers to the years from 1960 to 1969, inclusive. ...

General characteristics

USS Essex(Dec 1942)

The USS Essex in heavy seas with a post-WW2 angled deck

• Displacement: 27,200 tons (standard)/36,380 tons (full load)
• Length: 872'
• Beam: 93'
• Draft: 23'
• Armament: 12 × 5 in (127 mm) / 38 caliber DP; 32 × 40 mm quads; 46 × 20 mm
• Speed: 33 knots (61 km/h)
• Power: 150,000 horsepower
• Drive: 4 screws; geared turbines
• Aircraft: 91

Image File history File links USS_Essex_(CV-9)_-_January_1960. ... Image File history File links USS_Essex_(CV-9)_-_January_1960. ... The word ton or tonne is derived from the Old English tunne, and ultimately from the Old French tonne, and referred originally to a large cask with a capacity of 252 wine gallons, which holds approximately 2100 pounds of water. ...

USS Coral Sea, as retired (1991)

• Displacement: 65,200 tons full load
• Length: 1003 feet (305.7 meters)
• Beam: 236 feet (72 meters) at flight deck
• Draft: 35 feet (10.7 meters)
• Armament: 3 Phalanx CIWS
• Speed: 33 knots (61 km/h)
• Power: 212,000 hp (158 MW)
• Drive: 4 screws; geared turbines
• Aircraft: 65

Block 0 CIWS The Phalanx CIWS (Close-in weapon system, pronounced see-whizz) is an anti-missile system that was designed and manufactured by the General Dynamics Corporation, Pomona Division. ...

USS Midway, as retired (1992)

• Displacement: 69,873 tons full load
• Length: 976 feet (297.5 meters)
• Beam: 263.5 feet (80.3 meters) at flight deck
• Draft: 35 feet (10.7 meters)
• Armament: 2 × 8-cell Sea Sparrow launchers, 2 x Mark 71 mod 0 Phalanx CIWS
• Speed: 33 knots (61 km/h)
• Power: 212,000 hp (158 MW)
• Drive: 4 screws; geared turbines
• Aircraft: 75

A RIM-7 Sea Sparrow being launched from the USS Essex (LHD-2). ... Block 0 CIWS The Phalanx CIWS (Close-in weapon system, pronounced see-whizz) is an anti-missile system that was designed and manufactured by the General Dynamics Corporation, Pomona Division. ...

The Essex class ships

The Oriskany (CV-34) was ordered and laid down as an Essex-class vessel, was completed in 1950 to the much modified SCB-27A design. The fourth USS Essex (CV-9) (also CVA-9 and CVS-9) was a United States Navy aircraft carrier, the lead ship of her class. ... USS Yorktown (CV/CVS-10) was an Essex-class aircraft carrier of the United States Navy, now a museum ship in South Carolina. ... See USS Intrepid for other ships of this name. ... The eighth USS Hornet (CV/CVA/CVS-12) was originally named USS Kearsarge, but renamed in honor of the CV-8, which was lost in October of 1942. ... The fifth USS Franklin (CV-13) (also CVA-13, CVS-13, and AVT-8), nicknamed Big Ben, was an Essex-class aircraft carrier of the United States Navy, notable as the hardest-hit carrier to survive World War II. The actual kamikaze attacks on the ship are depicted in the... The fourth USS Ticonderoga (CV-14/CVA-14/CVS-14) of the United States Navy was an aircraft carrier. ... The second USS Randolph (CV-15) of the United States Navy was a Ticonderoga-class aircraft carrier. ... USS Lexington (CV/CVA/CVS/CVT-16), known as The Blue Ghost, was an Essex-class aircraft carrier, the fifth United States Naval ship named in honor of the Revolutionary War Battle of Lexington. ... USS Bunker Hill (CV-17) was an Essex-class aircraft carrier of the United States Navy, nicknamed Holiday Express for her many attacks launched around the end of the year. ... The ninth USS Wasp (CV-18) of the United States Navy was an Essex-class aircraft carrier. ... The fourth USS Hancock (CV-19) of the United States Navy was an Ticonderoga-class aircraft carrier. ... The second USS Bennington (CV-20) was an Essex-class aircraft carrier of the United States Navy. ... The third USS Leyte (CV-32) (also CVA-32, CVS-32, AVT-10) was a United States Navy Ticonderoga-class aircraft carrier. ... The third USS Kearsarge (CV-33) (also CVA-33 and CVS-33) was a United States Navy Ticonderoga-class aircraft carrier. ... USS Bon Homme Richard (CV/A-31), the second United States Navy ship of that name, was named in honor of John Paul Jones famous frigate, which he had named the French language equivalent of Poor Richard, in honor of Benjamin Franklins almanac of that name. ... The third USS Leyte (CV-32) (also CVA-32, CVS-32, AVT-10) was a United States Navy Ticonderoga-class aircraft carrier. ... The third USS Kearsarge (CV-33) (also CVA-33 and CVS-33) was a United States Navy Ticonderoga-class aircraft carrier. ... USS Oriskany (CV/CVA-34) was an Essex-class aircraft carrier of the United States Navy, named for the Revolutionary War Battle of Oriskany. ... The second Antietam (CV-36) was laid down on 15 March 1943 by the Philadelphia Navy Yard; launched on 20 August 1944 sponsored by Mrs. ... The fifth USS Princeton (CV-37) (also CVA-37, CVS-37, LPH-5) was a United States Navy Ticonderoga-class aircraft carrier (later refit into a Boxer-class LPH). ... The USS Shangri-La (CV-38) (also CVA-38, CVS-38) was an Ticonderoga-class aircraft carrier. ... The second Lake Champlain (CV-39) was laid down in drydock by the Norfolk Navy Yard, Portsmouth Va. ... The first USS Tarawa (CV-40) (also CVA-40, CVS-40) was a United States Navy Ticonderoga-class aircraft carrier. ... Valley Forge (CV/CVA/CVS-45/LPH-8) a Ticonderoga-class aircraft carrier was the first ship of the United States Navy named for Valley Forge, the 1777–78 winter encampment of General George Washingtons Continental Army. ... Philippine Sea (CV-47) was laid down by the Bethlehem Steel Company, Quincy, Mass. ... USS Oriskany (CV/CVA-34) was an Essex-class aircraft carrier of the United States Navy, named for the Revolutionary War Battle of Oriskany. ...

Reprisal (CV-35), laid down in July 1944 at the New York Navy Yard and launched in 1945, was scrapped incomplete after tests; and Iwo Jima (CV-46) was laid down at Newport News Shipbuilding yards in January 1945 but cancelled in August 1945 and broken up on the shipways. The second USS Reprisal (CV-35) of the United States Navy would have been an Ticonderoga-class fleet carrier. ... The New York Naval Shipyard (NYNSY), also known as the Brooklyn Navy Yard, the New York Navy Yard and United States Navy Yard, New York, is located 1. ... Iwo Jima (CV-46), a Ticonderoga-class aircraft carrier, was under construction by Newport News Shipbuilding & Dry Dock Co. ... The newly constructed USS Birmingham is launched from the Newport News yards in 1942 Northrop Grumman Newport News (NGNN), formerly called Newport News Shipbuilding and Drydock Company (NNS&DD or simply NNS), is the largest privately owned shipyard in the United States and the only one that can build Nimitz...

Six Fiscal Year 1945 ships, none of which received names, were assigned to Bethlehem Steel Company (CV-50), New York Navy Yard (CVs 51 & 52), Philadelphia Navy Yard (CV-53) and Norfolk Navy Yard (CVs 54 and 55). Their construction was cancelled in March 1945. The Bethlehem Steel Corporation was the second largest steel producer in the United States, after US Steel but it is now part of the International Steel Group (ISG). ... The Philadelphia Naval Shipyard, formerly Navy Yard, was the first naval shipyard of the United States. ... Aerial View of the Norfolk Naval Shipyard The Norfolk Naval Shipyard, often called the Norfolk Navy Yard, is a U.S. Navy facility in Portsmouth, Virginia, for building, remodeling, and repairing the Navys ships. ...

Notes and references

• Faltum, Andrew (1996), The Essex Aircraft Carriers. The Nautical and Aviation Publishing Company of America ISBN 1-877853-26-7
• Donald, David, and Daniel J. March (2001), Carrier Aviation Air Power Directory. AIRtime Publishing ISBN 1-880588-43-9
• This article includes text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships.

The public domain comprises the body of all creative works and other knowledge—writing, artwork, music, science, inventions, and others—in which no person or organization has any proprietary interest. ... The Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships (DANFS for short) is the primary reference work for the basic facts about every ship ever used by the United States Navy. ...

See also

• Aircraft carrier classes:
  • Yorktown class
  • Midway class aircraft carrier
  • Forrestal class
• Ticonderoga class cruiser
• List of aircraft carriers of the United States Navy

The Yorktown class aircraft carriers were built by the USA not long before World War II in a series of three. ... The Midway class aircraft carrier was one of the longest lived carrier designs in history. ... The Forrestal-class aircraft carriers were a four-ship class designed and built for the United States Navy in the 1950s. ... Ticonderoga class cruisers warships use phased-array radar; the increased combat capability offered by the Aegis combat system and the AN/SPY-1 radar system justified the changing of the classification of Ticonderoga and Yorktown from DDG (guided missile destroyer) to CG (guided missile cruiser). ... This list of aircraft carriers of the United States Navy includes all types in the main hull numbering sequence, consisting of hull classification symbols CV, CVA, CVB, CVL, and CVN. All units after CVA-57 are supercarriers. ...