Author Topic: Why No Essex-Class Aircraft Carriers Were Lost In World War II  (Read 660 times)

Offline Arlo

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Why No Essex-Class Aircraft Carriers Were Lost In World War II
« 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




Offline Brooke

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Re: Why No Essex-Class Aircraft Carriers Were Lost In World War II
« Reply #1 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.

Offline Devil 505

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Re: Why No Essex-Class Aircraft Carriers Were Lost In World War II
« Reply #2 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)
Kommando Nowotny

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Offline Brooke

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Re: Why No Essex-Class Aircraft Carriers Were Lost In World War II
« Reply #3 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.