Escort carriers accounted for 122 of the 155 carriers the United States built during the war, making them the dominant type by number. That industrial scale allowed the fleet to cover convoys, form hunter groups, ferry aircraft, train aircrews, and support amphibious operations at the same time. Designs progressed from Long Island and Avenger conversions through the Sangamon, Bogue, and Casablanca classes. By the Commencement Bay class, added capability had moved the type far enough from a cheap conversion that the boundary with a small fleet carrier became difficult to draw.
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Mass production makes escort carriers the dominant US type
The United States built 122 escort carriers among 155 wartime carriers, ranging from simple conversions to the increasingly capable Commencement Bay class.
Aircraft FerryingArcher Class Escort CarriersAttacker Class Escort CarriersAvenger Class Escort CarriersBogue Class Escort CarriersCasablanca Class Escort CarriersCivilian-to-Military Ship ConversionsCommencement Bay Class Escort CarriersEscort CarriersHunter Killer GroupsIndustrial MobilisationLong Island Class Escort CarriersMass ProductionNaval TrainingRuler Class Escort CarriersSangamon Class Escort CarriersShipbuildingUS NavyWorld War II