Although the 1944-45 edition of Jane’s Combat Ships estimated the strength of the postwar 1946 US Navy to be 18 combat, 27-class aircraft. vehicles, and the 79 vehicles following the vehicles, the events are slightly different. The two-engine aircraft in 1946 were not in service when the war ended. It is equally worth noting here that such projections, errors, omissions, and publications of expected things, which never took place, are not uncommon.
Information and maps are presented here and appear as appendices in three of my books about World War II, including Pearl Harbor Marvelous ( 0971056005), based on the best material available and the consent of such research. If any reader questions this listing, or finds any errors, don’t hesitate to contact me.
There was a prewar struggle between “the Gun Club” formidable commanders and advocates of naval air power. The pendulum swung in Hawaii on a Sunday in December 1941.
By the end of the war in September, 1945, less than four years later, the US had 121 flattops (including Fleet (CV), Light Fleet (CVL), and Armor Carriers (CVE)). Meanwhile, Japan added 15 passengers during the war but by the time the atom bomb had been dropped on Hiroshima. two remain. Only US Navy (CVB) carriers are listed here. Note: Class carriers are also commonly known simply as CV.
A trio of large-class aircraft carriers (CVB) of 45,000 tons and 986 feet in overall length were laid down in 1943 and 1944, but were not completed even before the end of the war. They included USS Medium (CVB-41), USS Franklin D. Roosevelt (CVB-42), and USS Coral Sea (CVB-43). The other three orders were abolished in 1945.
HoL No.
completed
Tons
Length
CV-1 USS Langley
1922
12,903
519;
CV-2 USS Lexington
1927
49,500
909.5;
CV-3 USS Saratoga
1927
49,500
909.5;
CV-4 USS Ranger
1934
14,500
769;
CV-5 USS Yorktown
1937
29,100
809.5;
CV-6 USS Enterprise
1938
29,100
809.5;
CV-7 USS Wasp
1940
18,500
741;
CV-8 USS Hornet
1941
29,100
809.5;
The following 17th Class aircraft entered service after the war in 1941.
CV-9 USS Essex
1942
33,800
899;
CV-10 USS Yorktown (2), 1943
33,800
899;
CV-11 USS Intrepid
1943
33,800
899;
CV-12 USS Hornet (2)
1943
33,800
899;
CV-13 USS Franklin
1944
33,800
899;
CV-14 USS Ticonderoga
1944
33,800
899;
CV-15 USS Randolph
1944
33,800
899;
CV-16 USS Lexington (2)
1943
33,800
899;
CV-17 USS Hill
1943
33,800
899;
CV-18 USS Wasp (2)
1943
33,800
899;
CV-19 USS Hancock
1944
33,800
899;
CV-20 USS Bennington
1944
33,800
899;
CV-21 USS Boxer
1945
33,800
899;
CV-31 USS Bon Homme Richard
1944, 33,800,899;
CV-36 USS Antietam
1945
33,800
899;
CV-38 USS Shangri-La
1944
33,800
899;
CV-39 USS Lake Champlain 1944 33,800
899;
These were the last seven passengers of the Essex fleet to be ordered after the surrender of Japan. The Essex fleet was initially called 36 carriers. Twelve others were abolished in March and August 1945.
CV-32
USS Leyte
CV-32 USS Leyte;
CV-33 USS Kearsarge;
CV-34 USS Oriskany;
CV-37 USS Princeton (2);
50-40 USS Tarawa;
CV-45 USS Valley Forge;
CV-47 USS Philippine Sea
Report:
- Copyright 1983; 1990; 2001 by Timothy B. Benford
