Would all 24 Essex-class carriers still be built?

If Japan's carrier force had been destroyed early in the Indian Ocean, would the United States still build all 24 Essex-class carriers?

Probably not; some would be built, but capacity would likely shift to other ships, possibly including more fire-support battleships.

The historical Essex program planned 32 ships and completed 24. Some Essex-class carriers would still be built after an early defeat of the Japanese carrier force, but completing the same total is judged unlikely. Building fewer carriers would leave resources and shipbuilding space available for other vessels. More battleships are one possibility because their fire-support role would become more valuable in the altered war.