Site hosted by Angelfire.com: Build your free website today!

EssexClass Fast Carriers
USS 'Yorktown' (CV-10) in action - by Carl Evers

This class of large fast aircraft carrier was a development from the three ships of the pre-war Yorktown Class (see USS Enterprise).

The Essex Class were the mainstay of the Fast Carrier Force,  and by the end of 1943 constituted the main striking power of the Pacific Fleet. They were frequently subjected to extremely fierce air attack,  especially from the Leyte campaign onwards.   Many were damaged,  some (especially Franklin) very severely,  yet remarkably none were sunk.  This testifies to the great courage and tenacity of US ships' companies  -  and to the effectiveness of the US Navy's damage-control techniques  -  as well as to the  inherent strength of the Essex Class design.

They were considerably larger than the Yorktowns but retained the same high speed,  and they were given a very powerful and effective anti-aircraft armament (which was to prove itself essential, especially after the start of Kamikaze attacks on the US fleet in late 1944).

They each had three elevators for their aircraft  -  the class introduced the deck-edge elevator.

An astounding 32 ships of this class were planned and laid down.  Although only 24 of these were completed this was still a remarkable figure,  and no other class of large carrier has ever been built in comparable numbers.  17 Essexes were commissioned  -  15 of these saw action  -  before the end of the Pacific war.

The eight ships of this class participating in the Leyte operation were -

 Essex,  Intrepid,  Hornet,  Franklin,  Lexington,  Bunker Hill,  Wasp  and Hancock
 (Bunker Hill was detached October 23 1944 and did not take part in the Battle for Leyte Gulf)

Data

Standard displacement:  27,100 tons

Length overall:  872 feet (first group)  888 feet (second group)

Beam: 93 feet (hull)   147.5 feet (max beam)

Draught:  28.5 feet

Propulsion
Westinghouse geared turbines - 4 shafts
Shaft horse-power  - 150,000
Speed - 33 knots

Aircraft:  between 87 and 102 carried and operated

Typical gun armament (in 1944)
12 x 5-inch 38-cal. dual-purpose (4 x 2, 4 x 1)
68 x 40mm. AA in quadruple mounts
70 x 20mm. AA in single mounts

The 24 Ships of the 'Essex' Class

Essex Class Carriers - Photographs

The Epic of the Fast Carrier Force, 1944-45

USS Enterprise CV-6

Independence Class Light Carriers

The Battle of the Philippine Sea

 The Battle for Leyte Gulf


E-mail me at -

compass@dircon.co.uk




The 24 Completed Ships of the Essex Class
(listed by date of commissioning)
Name of Ship
Pennant Number
Date of Launch
Date Commissioned
Essex
CV-9
31 July 1942
31 December 1942
Lexington
CV-16
23 September 1942
17 February 1943
Yorktown
CV-10
21 January 1943
15 April 1943
Bunker Hill
CV-17
7 December 1942
24 May 1943
Intrepid
CV-11
26 April 1943
16 August 1943
Wasp
CV-18
17 August 1943
24 November 1943
Hornet
CV-12
30 August 1943
29 November 1943
Franklin
CV-13
 14 October 1943
31 January 1944
Hancock
CV-19
 24 January 1944
15 April 1944
Ticonderoga
CV-14
 7 February 1944
8 May 1944
Bennington
CV-20
16 February 1944
6 August 1944
Shangri-La
CV-38
24 February 1944
15 September 1944
Randolph
CV-15
 28 June 1944
9 October 1944
Bon Homme Richard
CV-31
 29 April 1944
26 November 1944
Antietam
CV-36
 20 August 1944
28 January 1945
Boxer
CV-21
 14 December 1944
16 April 1945
Lake Champlain
CV-39
 2 November 1944
3 June 1945
Princeton
CV-37
 8 July 1945
18 November 1945
Tarawa
CV-40
12 May 1945
8 December 1945
Kearsarge
CV-33
 5 May 1945
2 March 1946
Leyte
CV-32
 23 August 1945
11 April 1946
Philippine Sea
CV-47
 5 September 1945
11 May 1946
Valley Forge
CV-45
 18 November 1945
3 November 1946
Oriskany
CV-34
 13 October 1945
25 September 1950


Essex Class carriers - Photographs

The Epic of the Fast Carrier Force, 1944-45

USS Enterprise CV-6

Independence Class Light Carriers

The Battle of the Philippine Sea

 The Battle for Leyte Gulf Homepage


E-mail -
compass@dircon.co.uk


Return to Head of Page