Aces High Bulletin Board

General Forums => Aircraft and Vehicles => Topic started by: Arlo on February 05, 2020, 02:30:07 PM

Title: Why No Essex-Class Aircraft Carriers Were Lost In World War II
Post by: Arlo on February 05, 2020, 02:30:07 PM

"Perhaps no vessel embodies the U.S. Navy’s embrace of the aircraft carrier as the centerpiece of its strategy as the Essex-class carrier. Between 1943 and 1950, twenty-four of the thirty-thousand-ton carriers were built at shipyards in Newport News, Philadelphia, Brooklyn, Norfolk and Braintree—some completed in as few as fourteen months. This makes the Essex the most extensively produced capital ship class in the twentieth century."

Actual full story about the Essex's resilience here: https://nationalinterest.org/blog/buzz/why-no-essex-class-aircraft-carriers-were-lost-world-war-ii-120391?fbclid=IwAR36Fe3ArwGkTdMW47LlOX1TxiXXXOksKctXT5QZzbDJju5j4ekMcfbnlmQ

by Sebastien Roblin - The National Interest

(https://nationalinterest.org/sites/default/files/styles/desktop__1260_/public/main_images/USS_Philippine_Sea_%28CVA-47%29_underway_at_sea_on_9_July_1955_%2880-G-K-18429%29_1.jpg?itok=tGengw2r)

Title: Re: Why No Essex-Class Aircraft Carriers Were Lost In World War II
Post by: Brooke on February 05, 2020, 11:13:23 PM

It was mighty close for the Bunker Hill.

There's an excellent book on that:  Danger's Hour, by Kennedy.

Title: Re: Why No Essex-Class Aircraft Carriers Were Lost In World War II
Post by: Devil 505 on February 06, 2020, 10:54:36 AM

Two of my Great-uncles helped build the Bunker Hill. One later served on her as well and was present for the kamikaze attack.

FYI, it was constructed in Fore River Shipyard in Quincy, Massachusetts - not Braintree (although the two towns are adjacent)

Title: Re: Why No Essex-Class Aircraft Carriers Were Lost In World War II
Post by: Brooke on February 06, 2020, 08:46:52 PM

Yikes. Being on the ship at that time was quite dangerous.

Devil, did you read that book?  It is awesome.