More importantly, not a single one was lost to enemy action, even as several sustained crippling damage.

[To learn about Americas first supercarriers, readForrestal-Class Aircraft Carrier.]

Though its provisions remained in force formally until the end of 1936, these were not renewed.

uss shangri-la cv-38 essex class aircraft carrier history us navy

The USSShangri-La(CV-38) while underway in the Pacific. Her crew is on the flight deck in August 1946 for this photo. Note use of the letter Z on the flight deck instead of her hull number. Image: U.S. Navy

That initially called for the construction of 10Essex-class carriers along with 3,000 aircraft.

That was the December 7, 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor.

From the Japanese perspective, American carrier strength grew at an alarming rate.

uss essex korean war f2h-2 banshee jet fighters us navy flight aircraft carrier plane

USSEssexunderway during her first Korean War deployment, circa August 1951-March 1952. Two F2H-2 Banshees are flying by in the foreground. Image: U.S. Navy

Within the next year, she was joined by six sister carriers.

As noted, U.S. lawmakers voted to fund the construction of the new class of aircraft carriers.

The 1942 aircraft complement consisted of 36 fighters, 37 dive-bombers and 18 torpedo-bombers.

aircraft operations on the uss essex frf-3 hellcat fighter plane

AGrumman F6F-3 Hellcatis towed aft by a Jeep on the flight deck of USSEssex(CV-9) in February 1944. Note the details of the ship’s island and radar. Image: NARA

The ships could also carry 240,000 gallons (908,500 liters) of aviation fuel.

Both of those vessels are among the fourEssex-class preserved as museum ships.

Most Significant Class of U.S. TheEssex-class carriers survived not only bombs, torpedoes, and kamikaze attacks but also typhoons.

essex class carriers in mothball fleet

After World War II, the USSEssex(CV-9) and five otherEssex-class carriers entered the Puget Sound Navy Yard’s “mothball fleet.” All but one would later return to service. Image: NARA

As previously noted, not a singleEssex-class carrier was lost to the enemy.

That included the Mercury, Gemini and Apollo programs.

The carrier can be seen in such films asTora!

f9f panther jets covered in snow on uss essex cv-9 during korean war

A F9F Panther jet fighter is tied down on the USSEssexduring a snowstorm off the coast of Korea. Bombs are loaded on the plane’s wings in preparation for a resumption of air strikes. Image: U.S. Navy

Tora!,andThe Philadelphia Experiment.

The carrier is now a museum ship in Alameda, California.

USSLexingtonwas only decommissioned in 1991 and had an active service life that was longer than any otherEssex-class ship.

uss essex cvs-9 nato mediterranean cruise anti-submarine aircraft carrier

The USSEssexwas reclassified as an anti-submarine warfare aircraft carrier(CVS-9) in 1960. It is shown underway during a 1967 NATO Mediterranean cruise. Image: W.A. Jackman/U.S. Navy

As a result, theLexingtonis now the oldest remaining fleet carrier in the world.

She also earned 11 battle stars for major engagements in the Second World War.

USSLexingtonis now a museum ship in Corpus Christi, Texas.

uss essex camouflage aircraft carrier

This is a drawing prepared by the Bureau of Ships for a camouflage scheme intended forEssex-class aircraft carriers. Image: U.S. Navy

uss lexington launching from dry dock building cv-16 september 1942

On September 26, 1942, the USSLexington(CV-16) slides down the shipways during her launching at the Bethlehem Steel Company shipyard in Quincy, Massachusetts. Image: U.S. Navy

technical diagram of electronic masts radar antenna on uss essex

This photo has been marked to show the various electronic masts, antenna and radar arrays on the USSEssex.

uss essex cv-9 overloaded with aircraft mariana operation

The USSEssexat sea with an overload of aircraft on her flight deck in May 1944. She is carrying at least 36 TBF, 14 F6F and 70 SB2C planes ahead of the Marianas Operation. Image: NARA

pilot ready room uss essex cv-9 april 1945

VF-83 being briefed in ready room aboard USS Essex (CV-9) prior to an Okinawa raid in April 1945. Image: William G. Sanders/U.S. Navy

f6f-3 hellcats and sbd-4 dauntless dive bombers on desck of uss essex

F6F Hellcat fighters andSBD Dauntless dive bombersspotted on the flight deck of USSEssex(CV-9) in March 1943 Image: NARA

uss bunker hill kamikaze attack okinawa japan 1945 world war ii

Aircraft wreckage on the flight deck of USSBunker Hill(CV-17) following hits by two Kamikazes off of Okinawa on May 11, 1945. Image: U.S. Navy

uss intrepid cvs-11 attack carrier yankee station vietnam

Attack Carrier USSIntrepidis enroute to Yankee Station on October 17, 1968. Image: J.J. Brennan/U.S. Navy

uss essex hit by japanese kamikaze aircraft in 1944 world war 2 philippines

USSEssex(CV-9) is hit amidships by a Kamikaze off the Philippines on November 25, 1944. The photo was taken from the USSLangley(CVL-27). Image: U.S. Navy

fire aboard uss essex aircraft carrier plane banshee on fire sailors us navy

Flames billow up on the flight deck of the USSEssexafter a McDonnell F2H-2 Banshee crashed during Korean War combat operations on September 16, 1951. Image: U.S. Navy

recovery of gemini 3 capsule space mission rocket on uss intrepid us navy

NASA personnel and U.S. Navy sailors recover the Gemini 3 capsule on the USSIntrepid. It was the first manned mission in the Gemini project. Image: NARA

uss lexington cvs-16 carrier qualification 1963 us naval academy

USSLexington(CVS-16) underway on July 15 1963. On deck are 26 T-28 training planes. Naval Academy midshipmen were aboard to observe carrier qualifications. Image: U.S. Navy

uss shangri-la cva-38

The modernized USSShangri-La(CVA-38) underway with and A-3 Skywarrior andA-4 Skyhawk aircraftvisible on the deck. Image: U.S. Navy

uss bunker hill fire fighting kamikaze hits 1945 world war 2

Sailors aboard the USSBunker Hill(CV-17) fight a ship fire after being struck by kamikazes off the coast of Okinawa on May 11, 1945. Image: U.S. Navy

uss oriskany cva-34 essex class air craft carrier 1967

The last Essex-class carrier completed, the USSOriskany(CVA-34), was commissioned in 1950. It served as a template for modernizing otherEssex-class ships. Image: F.L. Blain/U.S. Navy

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