You forgot the Langley (CV-1) which by the time war broke out was being
used mainly to ferry aircraft to overseas bases, and was in fact sunk on just
such a mission in Asia. Also, the CVE's (combustistible, vulnerable,
expendable, according to the crews) were built in large lots, converted, IIRC,
from merchant hulls. Btw, in two historical side notes, Dorie Miller, a black
sailor who won the Navy Cross at Pearl Harbor, was killed when his CVE was
sunk near Tarawa in 1943. Also, the CVE's of Taffy 3 were involved in probably
the greatest "David vs. Goliath" confrontation of the war when the Japanese
tried to bull through them at the Battle of Samar during the Leyte Gulf
operation in an attempt to reach the American landing and support craft in the
Philippines. Even though they and their escorting destroyers were hopelessly
outclassed by the weight of the Japanese fleet, they still managed to convince
the Japanese led by Kurita that he ought to withdraw, thereby squandering a
huge opportunity to blow the guts out of the American landings on Leyte.
Mark
> aebrain@austarmetro.com.au wrote:
> In 1941 the US had Lexington, Saratoga (both converted from
Plus 2
> small CVLs, Zuiho and Shoho of about 11,000 t each.
From: <mreindl@pacbell.net>
> You forgot the Langley (CV-1) which by the time war broke out was
Not forgotten, deliberately omitted, as were several Japanese aircraft
> The US had, what, 4 carriers in 1941? I remember from my World War II
In 1941 the US had Lexington, Saratoga (both converted from
partially-built
HUGE Battlecruisers after WW1), the more modern standard design Enterprise,
Yorktown and Hornet plus the smaller Wasp, and the older and smaller Ranger.
CV -2 Lexington 14Dec27 33,000
CV -3 Saratoga 16Nov27 33,000
CV -4 Ranger 4Jun34 14,500
CV -5 Yorktown 30Sep37 19,800
CV -6 Enterprise 12May38 19,800
CV -7 Wasp 25Apr40 14,700
CV -8 Hornet 20Oct41 20,000
The Japanese had 2 big carriers based on partially-completed HUGE
battlecruisers, Akagi and Kaga, with smaller standard ones, Hiryu and Soryu,
and 2 larger, rather more modern ones completing (Zuikaku, Shokaku). Plus 2
small CVLs, Zuiho and Shoho of about 11,000 t each.
Akagi, Kaga, Hiryu and Soryu got sunk in the battle of Midway - which
was a
catastrophe for the IJN. They lost the core of their fleet, 2/3 of their
effective capital ships.
But...and this is the big but... the USA produced 14 Essex-class
(greatly enlarged Enterprise design) in time for the war. Plus 9 of the
smaller Independence design, plus many more of the smaller still escort
carriers.
Essentially they built an entire 1941 Carrier Fleet in both 43 and 44... there
would have been more, except that a) many weren't completed before late
45/46
and b) after mid 43, it was obvious that no more were needed.
CV -9 Essex Dec 42 27,100
CV-10 Yorktown II 43 27,100
CV-11 Intrepid 43 27,100
CV-12 Hornet II 43 27,100
CV-16 Lexington II 43 27,100
CV-17 Bunker Hill 43 27,100
CV-18 Wasp II 43 27,100
CV-13 Franklin Jan 44 27,100
CV-14 Ticonderoga 44 27,100
CV-15 Randolph 44 27,100
CV-19 Hancock 44 27,100
CV-20 Bennington 44 27,100
CV -31 BonHommeRichard Nov 44 27,100
CV -38 Shangri-La 44 27,100
CVL-22 Independence Jan 43 11,000
CVL-23 Princeton 43 11,000
CVL-24 Belleau Wood 43 11,000
CVL-25 Cowpens 43 11,000
CVL-26 Monterey 43 11,000
CVL-27 Langley II 43 11,000
CVL-28 Cabot 43 11,000
CVL-29 Bataan Nov 43 11,000
CVL-30 San Jacinto Dec 43 11,000
CREDITS:
http://www.marshallnet.com/~manor/ww2/japcv.html
http://www.marshallnet.com/~manor/ww2/carriers.html
http://www.hazegray.org/navhist/carriers/