Aircraft carrier of US Navy

Imagine the Empire State Building of New York, lying on the side, crossing the ocean with 30 nodes, with a large wave of white stem preceding its radio tower. That will give you an little idea of what an aircraft carrier of 100 represents; 000 tons of the American navy. (Patrick Robinson, Nimitz Class )

Small history

Since the Years 1970, only the US Navy, the marine American, has an important fleet of Porte-avions. The eleven units currently in service thus make it possible the the United States to ensure their supremacy on the seas and oceans of the sphere. They can indeed deploy everywhere in the world two to three aircraft carriers permanently, allowing its naval Aéronautique to quickly intervene on any objective.

The aircraft carriers never sail only, they are always accompanied by a whole flotilla made up of ten various buildings (Croiseur S Aegis, Destroyer S, frigates, Sous-marins and supply ships) ensuring defense and the support aircraft carrier. This whole of ships constitute the group of air and sea combat ( GCA , in English CVBG ( Carrier Vessel Battle Group ), able to intervene quickly in any hot spot of the world.

With each major crisis, GCA were called with the rescue. The arrival in the zone of crisis of an aircraft carrier and its group in general makes it possible to impress the belligerent potential. Since Franklin D. Roosevelt, all the US presidents have at least once during their mandate put the fateful question: “Where are the aircraft carriers”?

And yet the USA were not always favorable to the aircraft carriers and had until the beginning of the Second world war only a few units. The attacks Japanese on Pearl Harbor on December 7th, 1941 showed the strategic importance of this ship that the Complexe militaro-industrialist of the United States of America was put to produce some in great number. Not less twenty-six heavy units (CV, CVB and CVL) and nearly three times more small escort carriers (CVE) were completed during the duration of the conflict, of which some, based on the technique of construction of the “Liberty Ships”, were assembled in a few weeks only.

Two other wars showed the essential side of the aircraft carriers: the War of Korea and the War of Vietnam. Impossibility of having adequate airfields imposed on the hunters and American Hélicoptère S (some CVE were converted into Porte-hélicoptères) to take off of ships located off the Korean coasts then Vietnameses, thus making it possible to carry out air raids in hostile territory, without to expose this “air base” to the fire of the enemy.

After the withdrawal of the US troops of the Vietnam, maintains it in active service of such a number of aircraft carriers did not justify itself more, and several were put except service in the years 1970. Some of them were placed like NISMF - Naval Inactive Ship Maintenance Facility (inactive Ship with maintained naval maintenance) and can, in the event of major conflict, being quickly given in service.

The end of the Cold war, following the collapse of the the USSR, drastiquement reduced the American budget of defense, but did not influence the number of buildings maintained in service. Currently, the budget situation due to the War against terrorism, to the war of Afghanistan and the war of Iraq risk to dissolve manpower of the fleet to only 10 operational units in 2012.

However, the Pentagon dream already in the future, and the projects of aircraft carrier of the future advance good progress. The next generation of embarked hunters should not comprise any more of pilot on their board…

The designations NATO

A Porte-avions is seen allotted code CV (meaning carrier vessel ) which can be accompanied by an additional letter for the category to which it belongs.

CV : aircraft carrier
CVA: assault carrier
CVB: aircraft carrier of battle (become CVA in 1952)
CVE: escort carrier (1)
CVL: light aircraft carrier
CVN: nuclear aircraft carrier
CVX: aircraft carrier new generation
IX: various, not classified buildings (aircraft carrier of drive, p.ex.)

List aircraft carriers of US Navy

Small anecdotes

Following the raid on Tokyo operated by B-25 Mitchell under the orders of the Lieutenant-colonel “Jimmy” Doolittle, one required of the president Roosevelt from where the planes had left. For strategic reasons, it could not answer that they had in fact separated of US Hornet (CV-8) and, referring the novel of the lost Horizons (1933), declared that the bombers had started from a called secret base Shangri it. This secret base existed forever, but the aircraft carrier CV-38 was baptized thus in the honor of this anecdote.

When several ships were ready, many older aircraft carriers had been run and the others had taken part in many battles, also judged one good to rename these newcomers before their startup.

the CV-10 Bonhomme Richard became the Yorktown in 1942;
the CV-12 Kearsage became the Hornet in 1942;
the CV-16 Cabot became the Lexington in 1942;
the CV-18 Oriskany became the Wasp in 1942;
the CV-32 Crown Point became the Leyte in 1944;
the CV-37 Valley Forge became the Princeton in 1946;
the CV-47 Wright became the Filipino Sea in 1944;
the CV-14 Hancock and CV-19 Ticonderoga exchanged their names in 1944.

Seul of the naval officers having been pilot has the right to direct an aircraft carrier.

the name of was never allotted, whereas it by was twice decided for the CVL-27 ( Langley ) and CV-32 ( Leyte ).

In French, the name of the CV-35 Reprisal means “reprisals”, similar name announces the color… The CVL-30 also bore the name of Reprisal during one year, before it becomes San Jacinto in 1944.

the CV-3 Saratoga and CVL-22 Independence were withdrawn from the lists of Navy several weeks after having been cast at the time a Nuclear test with the Atoll of Bikini (Opération Crossroads)

Various classes of aircraft carrier

Just like for the surface vessels and the submarines, the classes of aircraft carrier take again the name of the first building (or only) of the class.

Heavy aircraft carriers (CV and CVB)

the class Langley

Only one representative. This class includes/understands the prototype of the American aircraft carriers, the only one which one can consider to be first generation of aircraft carrier.
Le American congress refusing the budget for new ships, the building sites of the marine with Norfolk (Virginia) transformed into aircraft carrier the former coalman Jupiter (AC-3). Nickname of the Langley : “covered truck”! The launched war, the Langley , slow and of weak of capacity, were relegated like simple conveyer of planes.

1 ship brought into service in 1922
Length: 180 meters overall
Displacement: 11 500 tons with vacuum
max. Speed: 15 nodes
Crew: 631 men
Capacity: 55 planes

the class Lexington

Two ships resulting from the conversion of two Cruiser S into construction, whose initial names ( Lexington CC-1 and Saratoga CC-3) were kept. Built respectively by in Quincy (Massachusetts)]] and in Camden (New Jersey)]], called Lex and Sara .

2 ships brought into service in 1927
Length: 270 meters overall
Displacement: 36 000 tons with vacuum (48 000 in 1940, then 50 000 1942)
max. Speed: 35 nodes
Crew: 2 122 men
Capacity: 91 planes

the class To arrange

To arrange, first American aircraft carrier not rising from a transformation, was the single one representing its class. Built by, it was not a success and its defects were only too obvious. The classes Lexington and Saratoga belong to the second generation of aircraft carrier.

1 ship brought into service in 1934
Length: 235 meters overall
Displacement: 14 500 tons with vacuum
max. Speed: 29 nodes
Crew: 2 148 men
Capacity: 86 planes

the class Yorktown

Ordered before the war, the four buildings of the Yorktown class are already aircraft carriers of the third generation. But with 75% of losses during the second world war, this class was still far from being perfect. Three were built by, only the CV-7 Wasp , of reduced size, was built by the Bethlehem Steel Corp.

4 ships brought into service between 1937 and 1941
Length: 226-251 overall meters
Displacement: 19 800 tons with vacuum ( Wasp : 14 ' 700 T.)
max. Speed: 33 nodes ( Wasp : 29 nodes)
Crew: 2 217 men ( Wasp : 1 ' 800)
Capacity: 90 planes (unknown for the Wasp , but undoubtedly lower)

the class Essex and subclass Ticonderoga

Undoubtedly the class most successful of all. No aircraft carrier of the class Essex was lost at the time of military operations! Three manufacturers shared the realization of the series: , and. The CV-35 Reprisal , launched in 1945 was reinforced unfinished afterwards unfruitful tests. The CV-46 Iwo Jima , put in building site, was countermanded in August 1945 and demolished. Six others Essex , CV-50 with 55, were also countermanded at the end of the war without to be started. In years 60-70, Except for the Franklin and of the Bunker Hill , too damaged by the war, the Essex were modernized and accepted an oblique bridge, thus making it possible the jets to land.

24 ships brought into service between 1942 and 1946
Length: 250-271 overall meters
Displacement: 34 880 tons with vacuum
max. Speed: 33 nodes
Crew: 3 240 men
Capacity: 80-100 planes

the class Midway

On the six ordered ships, only three were completed at the end of the war, the others countermanded. Their bridge was armoured, a remarkable innovation. In the Sixties, two were modernized (CVB-41 and 43) and were equipped, in particular, of an oblique bridge. It should be noted that one used for the first time the denomination CVB (aircraft carrier of battle). in construction ensured, except for the CVB-42 ().

3 ships brought into service between 1945 and 1947
Length: 295 meters overall (CVB-43: 306 Mr. after modernization)
Displacement: 45 000 tons with vacuum (65 ' 280-65' 900 T. after modernization)
max. Speed: 33 nodes
Crew: 4 773 men
Capacity: to 145 planes (65-75 after modernization)

Light aircraft carriers (CVL)

the class Independence

Following the transformation by of the light cruiser Amsterdam (CL-59) in the light aircraft carrier CVL-22 Independence , eight other cruisers ( Tallahassee , New Hawen , Huntington , Dayton , Fargo , Wilmington , Buffalo and Newark ) became the CVL-23 with 30.

9 ships brought into service between 1943 and 1947
Length: 190 meters overall
Displacement: 11 000 tons with vacuum
max. Speed: 32 nodes
Crew: 1 569 men
Capacity: 34 planes

the class Saipan

In 1943, navy received the authorization to build two light aircraft carriers moreover. The general design rose from the class Independence , but hull and machinery were taken again heavy cruisers of the type Baltimore (CA-68). The type of planes which can operate on the class Saipan was restricted, and these ships could be launched only after the end of the war. Built by with.

2 ships brought into service in 1946 and 1947
Length: 202 meters overall
Displacement: 19 000 tons in full load
max. Speed: 33 nodes
Crew: 1 677 men
Capacity: 48 planes

Escort carrier (CVE)

For reasons of place, the various classes of escort carrier (CVE) and their specificities are not taken again on this page. A specific article was creates.

Super aircraft carrier (CVA)

the class United States

The congress approved in 1948 the project of an aircraft carrier of 60 000 tons. The building was not to have small island, but, just like the old British aircraft carriers Argus and Japanese Hosho , a footbridge of command hydraulically retractable. This monster was put in building site on April 18th, 1949 at Newport News. Ten days later the US Air Force announced the acquisition of thirty-nine giant bombers B-36, following what US Navy stopped the construction of the United States .

no ship brought into service
Length: 322 meters overall
Displacement: approx. 68 000 tons with vacuum
max. Speed: 33 nodes
Crew: 4 958 men
Capacity: 54 planes, mainly of the bombers

''' the class '' Forrestal '''''

Finally in July 1952 one put in building site two super aircraft carriers. the class '' Forrestal '' marked the realization of a Net step ahead in the area of the technology of the aircraft carriers. Following the tests on the Antietam , the oblique bridge (of an angle of 10°) made its appearance, making it possible the jets to land and change the number of catapult from 2 to 4. Initially envisaged to bridge strong current, a small island was finally added. The construction of two others Forrestal was launched during the two following years. Manufacturers: (CVA-59 and 61) and (CVA-60 and 62).

It should be noted that while choosing to build super aircraft carrier, the US Navy gives up being able to make them forward by the Panama Canal.

4 ships brought into service between 1955 and 1959
Length: 312 meters overall
Displacement: 60 000 tons with vacuum
max. Speed: 34 nodes (63 km/h)
Crew: 5 178 men
Capacity: 70-90 planes and helicopters

the class Kitty Hawk

The three ships of the class Kitty Hawk constitute a class Forrestal improved. Each one will be built by a different building site: (CVA-63), (CVA-64) and Newport News Shipbuilding (CVA-66), and each one thus has somewhat different characteristics.

3 ships brought into service in 1961 (CVA-63 and 64) and 1965 (CVA-66)
Length: 319-327 overall meters
Displacement: 60 000-62 000 tons with vacuum
max. Speed: 35 nodes (65 km/h)
Crew: 5 380 men
Capacity: 75-85 planes and helicopters

the class Kennedy

At the origin, the John F. Kennedy was to belong to the class Kitty Hawk , but the number of improvements was such as one decided to allot a new class to him. One can say that it is about a version improved of the version improved of the class Forrestal . Built by the Newport News Shipbuilding, it is launched on May 27th, 1967.

1 ship brought into service in 1968
Length: 321 meters overall
Displacement: 60 000-62 000 tons with vacuum
max. Speed: 30+ nodes (56+ km/h)
Crew: 5 597 men and women
Capacity: 80 planes and helicopters

Aircraft carrier with nuclear propulsion (CVN)

the class Undertaken

In February 1958 was put in building site at Newport News the first aircraft carrier Nucléaire, classified in beginning CVAN-58. With its startup, it was the largest warship which had ever been built. But it had a defect, and of size: its cost! 451 million US dollars, and if it less often needs to be sent to the Radoub, it (on) is equipped with eight Nuclear reactors A2W and requires moreover a crew much more and more specialized than for a class Essex . The shock was so large that one decided to build the two following aircraft carriers (CVA-66 and 67) on the model Kitty Hawk .

1 ship brought into service in 1961
Length: 342 meters overall
Displacement: 85 350 tons with vacuum
max. Speed: 30+ nodes (56+ km/h)
Crew: 5 680 men and women
Capacity: 85 planes and helicopters

the class Nimitz The class Nimitz is the result of all these years of searchs of studies, experiment and practice since 1920 and the Langley . But that it was difficult: it taken seven long years to build the Nimitz (that is to say three years more than for the big brother Undertaken ) and inflation made assemble the cost of the ship to two billion dollars. All built on the Shipyard Newport News Shipbuilding, these buildings rang the knell with the last Essex , one half-century after their design. Compared to the Undertaken , the Nimitz have only two Nuclear reactors of the type Westinghouse A4W.

9 ships brought into service since 1975
1 ship in building site
Length: 333 meters overall
Displacement: 101 000 tons with vacuum
max. Speed: 30+ nodes (56+ km/h)
Crew: 5 680 men and women
Capacity: 85-90 planes and helicopters

Aircraft carrier of drive (IX)

aircraft carriers of the Big lakes These two ships were in the beginning the steamers Seeandbee and Greater Buffalo . They were transformed into 1942 and 1943 to become aircraft carriers intended for the drive of the pilots, without requiring the immobilization of an “operational” aircraft carrier, much more useful elsewhere. Being useful only for the Appontage and takeoff of the apparatuses, they were deprived of hangar, which gave them a very low silhouette on water. These two buildings sailed well with the shelter of the conflict on the Lake Michigan, which made the two only fresh water aircraft carriers of them in the world!

2 ships brought into service in 1942 (Wolverine) and 1943 (Sand)
Length: 152 resp. 163 meters overall
Displacement: 7 200 resp. 6 584 tons with vacuum
max. Speed: 28 nodes (52 km/h)

See also: Aircraft carrier of fresh water of US Navy

Current aircraft carriers

Currently, eleven buildings are in service, of which only one to conventional propulsion and ten with nuclear Propulsion. For reasons of place, a specific article was creates.

The aircraft carrier of the future: the class

The next generation of super American aircraft carriers will result from the program Gerald R. Ford before CVN-21 of US Navy (aircraft carrier of the 21e century), program initially indicated CVNX. The new denomination should not however be confused with the aircraft carrier CV-21 Boxer of the class Essex .

The design of the buildings of the class CVN-21 will incorporate many new characteristics, including/understanding inter alia a Nuclear reactor of new generation (engine A1B), furtive devices in order to reduce the profile Radar, electromagnetic catapults, 160 exit daily for the aviation embarked for the CVN-21, etc the American navy hopes to reduce the cost of the future aircraft carriers by using a state-of-the-art technology and a pushed automation, thus relieving the fears emitted by the American congress.

The CVN-21 réemploie basic design of the hull of the preceding class Nimitz , but the similarities stop there.

The first hull of the class CVN-21 will be the aircraft carrier CVN-78, whose Christian name should be Gerald R. Ford following the Amendement 4211 deposited by the president of the commission of the armed forces of the American Sénat.

The beginning of the construction of the first CVN-21 is planned for 2007, and completion for 2015 and its career should continue until 2064.

It is estimated that the final cost will reach the 13 billion US dollars. However, is included 5 billion for research and the development, the following aircraft carriers will thus cost “only” 8 billion.

Two other ships are already programmed.

Aircraft carriers converted into museums

While clicking on the name of the aircraft carrier, you will be redirected on the bond of the site Internet of these ship-museums (in English).

Yorktown CV-10 with Charleston, South Carolina.
Intrepid CV-11 with New York, State of New York.
Hornet CV-12 with Alameda, California.
Lexington CV-16 with Corpus Christi, Texas.
Midway CV-41 with San Diego, California.

See too

Internal bonds

United States Navy
Navy

Aeronautical naval
Task force | air and sea Group

External bonds

the official site of US Navy, page of the aircraft carriers
nonofficial Site of US Navy
Ships off the U.S. Navy, 1940-1945 Aircraft Carriers
French Site on the aircraft carriers
Files Navysource
FAS Military Analysis Network

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