Naval Historywith Dr. Alex

Q&A · 7:35:31-7:36:05

Ranger was a weak basis for an amphibious assault ship

Ranger's light, compromised hull would make the conversion costly, while a sturdier Wasp-type carrier offered a better foundation.

Aircraft CarriersAmphibious ShipsNaval ArchitectureShip ConversionUS Navy
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Question

Would a hull like USS Ranger make a good amphibious assault ship?

Short answer

No. Its stability and construction posed problems, and a more robust carrier hull such as Wasp would be a better starting point.

Notes

An amphibious assault conversion needs a stable and strongly built hull with room for aviation, troops, boats, stores, and command facilities. Ranger's light construction and design compromises made it a poor foundation for that combination. The conversion would spend heavily to correct limitations already built into the ship. A sturdier carrier such as Wasp offered a better starting point for the same exercise.