Yorktown embodies the US alpha-strike doctrine

The US Navy preferred large air groups because its doctrine sought to put the strongest possible first punch into the air, whether attacking or defending. A 40,000-ton amphibious assault ship such as the America class is too large to illustrate a preference for small carriers; the objection here concerns small air groups. Escort carriers answered the wartime need to spread aviation across more areas, even though large air groups remained the preference. Yorktown and Enterprise refined the lessons of Lexington, Saratoga, Ranger, and the interwar Fleet Problems into treaty carriers suited to that doctrine. Their more enclosed structure answered Ranger's torsional weakness, while lower gun positions and a hangar-deck catapult supported aviation without repeating Lexington's topweight. Exercises connected the intended doctrine to the arrangements needed to operate it.