Essex-class Heavy Carriers

The Essex-class fleet carriers were the most numerous class of heavy attack carriers built by any nation, and formed the core of the Fast Carrier Task Groups which operated in the Pacific during World War II. Carrying one hundred aircraft, each carrier was capable of projecting considerable firepower over great distances. It was the Essex-class carrier which ultimately brought the war to the doorstep of the Japanese.

Although several Essex-class carriers were damaged in combat, some severely, none was ever lost to enemy action.

After the war, many of the ships were mothballed pending disposal, as there was thought to be no further use for them. Then came Korea, and the Essex-class carriers returned to service. With upgrades and refits, the carriers flew missions in support of the ground troops and behind enemy lines, proving again their versatility.

They continued to serve after Korea, forming the core of anti-submarine task groups during the Cold War, tracking potential enemy submarines. Several ships were converted to serve as Marine assault transports, carrying a Marine battleforce along with the helicopters to bring them ashore and the fighter aircraft to cover the landings and subsequent operations.

The Vietnam War was the final achievement of the venerable Essex-class ships. Flying missions from Yankee and Dixie Stations, they continued their tradition of being where they were needed when they were needed. However, advances in technology, both naval and aviation, doomed these veterans and, one by one, they were replaced by newer, bigger carriers. Eventually, they were relegated to support and training use only.

The last serving Essex-class carrier, USS Lexington, was decommissioned in 1991.

Five of the ships continue to perform useful work, however; Yorktown, Intrepid, Hornet and Lexington as museum ships, and Oriskany as an artificial reef off Pensacola, Florida.

Construction Data

Refits

Notes

Production of Essex-class carriers continued throughout the Second World War. Lessons learned in combat caused continuing changes to the design of the ships. As a result, no two Essex-class carriers are identical. The most visible differences are in the number and locations of the catapults, the weapons fit, the type and arrangement of radio and radar antennae, and the design of the command and control spaces in the island.

Ships in Class

CV-9 USS Essex CV-10 USS Yorktown CV-11 USS Intrepid CV-12 USS Hornet CV-13 USS Franklin CV-14 USS Ticonderoga * CV-15 USS Randolph * CV-16 USS Lexington

CV-17 USS Bunker Hill CV-18 USS Wasp CV-19 USS Hancock * CV-20 USS Bennington CV-21 USS Boxer * CV-31 USS Bon Homme Richard CV-32 USS Leyte * CV-33 USS Kearsarge *

CV-34 USS Oriskany CV-35 Reprisal * CV-36 USS Antietam * CV-37 USS Princeton * CV-38 USS Shangri-La * CV-39 USS Lake Champlain * CV-40 USS Tarawa * CV-45 USS Valley Forge *

CV-46 Iwo Jima * CV-47 USS Philippine Sea * CV-50 CV-51 CV-52 CV-53 CV-54 CV-55

Sources

Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships - U. S. Naval Historical Center - CV-9 USS Essex Essex class - U. S. Naval Historical Center Ticonderoga class - U. S. Naval Historical Center SCB-27 modernization of Essex/Ticonderoga class aircraft carriers - U. S. Naval Historical Center SCB-125 modernization of Essex/Ticonderoga class aircraft carriers - U. S. Naval Historical Center Essex class aircraft carrier SCB-27 SCB-125

The Essex Aircraft Carriers by Andrew Faltum

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