Essex-class/Related Articles

Essex-class: Ordered in 1940 and beginning delivery in 1943, originally twenty-four ship class was the backbone of U.S. WWII aircraft carrier operation, continuing in a secondary role well into the Cold War; planned later ships built to Ticonderoga (carrier)-class design; many went through postwar SCB-27 and SCB-125 conversion into Oriskany-class ^[e]

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Parent topics

• World War Two in the Pacific [r]: The part of World War II (1937-45) fought in Asia and the Pacific Ocean between Japan and the U.S., China, Britain, Australia, and other Allies. ^[e]
• United States Navy [r]: Branch of the U.S. armed forces] responsible for combat on, over, and under water. ^[e]
• Aircraft carrier [r]: A warship designed to launch and recover combat aircraft and aircraft that support military operations ^[e]

Subtopics

• USS Essex (CV-9) [r]: Built by the Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Company, commissioned in December 1942. ^[e]
• USS Yorktown (CV-10) [r]: Essex-class aircraft carrier in World War Two in the Pacific name changed from Bon Homme Richard in September 1942, commissioned in April 1943; decommissioned 1947, underwent SCB-27 and SCB-125 conversions into Oriskany-class and redesignated CVA-10; decommissioned 1970; now a memorial in Charleston, South Carolina ^[e]
• USS Intrepid (CV-11) [r]: Add brief definition or description
• USS Hornet (CV-12) [r]: Built as Essex-class carrier, name changed from Kearsarge in August 1943; commissioned November 1943; converted to Oriskany-class (SCB-27A) 1951-1953 ^[e]
• USS Franklin (CV-13) [r]: Essex-class aircraft carrier of the United States Navy, in service 1944, suffered greatest combat damage of any surviving carrier March 1945, returned to port; reclassified but never modernized and did not return to first-line service; struck from Navy List in 1964 ^[e]
• USS Lexington (CV-16) [r]: U.S. Navy aircraft carrier of the Essex-class; commissioned 1943 and served in numerous Pacific campaigns; remodeled 1955 with SCB-27C and also SCB-125; transferred to Atlantic Fleet; became full-time training ship for 30 years after Cuban Missile Crisis; now a private museum ship ^[e]
• USS Bunker Hill (CV-17) [r]: Add brief definition or description
• USS Wasp (CV-18) [r]: Essex-class U.S. Navy aircraft carrier; commissioned 1943 and fought in Battle of the Philippine Sea, assault on the Palaus, attacks on Okinawa, Formosa and the Philippines, and in the Battle of Leyte Gulf; modernized to angled deck in 1948-1951; recovery ship for five NASA space missions; scrapped 1972 ^[e]
• USS Bennington (CV-20) [r]: Originally commissioned to Essex-class aircraft carrier in August 1944; recommissioned as CVA-20 in November 1952; major explosion of her hydraulic carrier in 1954, prompting conversion to steam catapults ^[e]
• USS Bon Homme Richard (CV-31) [r]: Add brief definition or description

Other related topics

• Ticonderoga (carrier)-class [r]: Improved variant of the WWII Essex-class aircraft carriers, with a lengthened hull ^[e]
• SCB-27 [r]: Started shortly after WWII, set of designs for initial rebuilding of WWII Essex-class carriers to take larger aircraft, although not all needs for jets ^[e]
• SCB-125 [r]: Add brief definition or description
• Oriskany-class [r]: The second major upgrade of United States Navy Essex- and Ticonderoga-class aircraft carriers; rebuilding program also known as the SCB-27 modernization program; most ships redesignated CVA (attack carrier) vice CV ^[e]