Naval Historywith Dr. Alex

Q&A · 1:31:43-1:32:04

How a post-war Essex would move toward Midway

An Essex-class carrier completed after 1945 would be pulled toward the larger Midway model that already represented the US Navy's preferred direction.

Aircraft CarriersEssex Class Aircraft CarriersMidway Class Aircraft CarriersNaval AviationUS Navy
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Question

What changes would be made to Essex-class carriers built after 1945?

Short answer

They would probably be altered toward the Midway concept, because that larger class already represented the Navy's post-war preference.

Notes

The Midway class provides the design direction suggested for any Essex-class carriers built after 1945. By that point, the United States was already building Midways and wanted to move toward that type. Continued Essex construction would therefore involve making the design more Midway-like. The answer does not specify individual alterations, dimensions, or an aircraft complement.