The United States already possessed a strong core fleet and four useful carriers in Lexington, Saratoga, Yorktown, and Enterprise, with Ranger a less satisfactory middle case. The proposed January 1939 order covers four more Yorktown-type ships, named in the counterfactual as Hornet, Wasp, Essex, and Bon Homme Richard, with starts staggered through the year. Hornet's actual September 1939 start and October 1941 commissioning provide the contemporary industrial benchmark for the estimate. Earlier starts could therefore place several additional mature-design carriers into service across 1941 without depending on knowledge of Pearl Harbor. The plan uses a proven design immediately instead of waiting for the later Essex class.
Notable Point · 34:26-37:53
Ordering more Yorktown-class carriers in early 1939
Four early Yorktown-type orders could place additional carriers in service during 1941 without relying on wartime hindsight.