Naval Historywith Dr. Alex

Q&A · 1:13:20-1:14:01

Larger jets forced carrier hangar rebuilds

Existing British and American carriers needed more than an angled deck because jet size also challenged the height and arrangement of their wartime hangars.

Aircraft CarriersAngled Flight DecksCarrier DesignEssex Class Aircraft CarriersHangarsJet Age
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Question

Did increasing aircraft size and limited hangar height affect British carriers and American Essex-class carriers?

Short answer

Yes. Both navies undertook major reconstructions because jet operations required rebuilt hangars and aviation spaces as well as angled flight decks.

Notes

Wartime carrier hangars did constrain the move to larger postwar aircraft. The Royal Navy's reconstruction of HMS Victorious and the US Navy's extensive carrier modernisations therefore addressed internal aviation spaces as well as the flight deck. An angled landing area solved only part of the operating problem. Adopting jets could demand a near-total carrier rebuild instead of a simple topside alteration.