How many aircraft carriers did us have in WW2?

How Many Aircraft Carriers Did the US Have in WW2?

The United States Navy played a crucial role in World War II, and its aircraft carriers were a key component of its fleet. The US Navy had a significant number of aircraft carriers during the war, which played a vital role in many battles and operations. In this article, we will explore the number of aircraft carriers the US had during World War II.

The Early Years of the War

When the United States entered World War II in December 1941, it had a total of 10 aircraft carriers in its fleet. These carriers were:

• USS Lexington (CV-2)
• USS Saratoga (CV-3)
• USS Ranger (CV-4)
• USS Yorktown (CV-5)
• USS Enterprise (CV-6)
• USS Wasp (CV-7)
• USS Hornet (CV-8)
• USS Essex (CV-9)
• USS Langley (CVL-1)
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• USS Long Island (CVE-1)

The Mid-War Years

As the war progressed, the US Navy built more aircraft carriers to replace those that were lost or damaged. By 1943, the US had 25 aircraft carriers in its fleet, including:

• The Midway-class carriers (CV-41, CV-42, CV-43, and CV-44)
• The Essex-class carriers (CV-9, CV-10, CV-11, and CV-12)
• The Independence-class carriers (CVL-22, CVL-23, CVL-24, and CVL-25)
• The Bogue-class escort carriers (CVE-9, CVE-10, CVE-11, and CVE-12)

The Late War Years

By the end of the war, the US Navy had 26 aircraft carriers in its fleet. The additional carriers included:

• The Ticonderoga-class carriers (CV-14, CV-15, CV-16, and CV-17)
• The Intrepid-class carriers (CV-11 and CV-12)
• The Hancock-class carriers (CV-19 and CV-20)

Aircraft Carrier Deployment

The US aircraft carriers were deployed in various theaters of operation during World War II, including:

• The Pacific Theater: Many US aircraft carriers were based in the Pacific, where they played a key role in battles such as Midway, Guadalcanal, and the Philippines.
• The Atlantic Theater: US aircraft carriers were also based in the Atlantic, where they participated in convoy escort duties and battles against German U-boats.
• The Mediterranean Theater: US aircraft carriers played a key role in battles in the Mediterranean, including the invasion of North Africa and the Allied campaign in Italy.

Aircraft Carrier Losses

Unfortunately, the US aircraft carriers did not escape the war unscathed. A total of 15 US aircraft carriers were lost during World War II, including:

• USS Lexington (CV-2) sunk at the Battle of the Coral Sea
• USS Yorktown (CV-5) sunk at the Battle of Midway
• USS Wasp (CV-7) sunk at the Battle of Cape Esperance
• USS Hornet (CV-8) sunk at the Battle of Santa Cruz
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• USS Essex (CV-9) damaged and later repaired
• USS Langley (CVL-1) sunk as a target ship
• USS Long Island (CVE-1) sunk as a target ship

Conclusion

In conclusion, the United States had a total of 26 aircraft carriers during World War II. These carriers played a vital role in many battles and operations, and their deployment in various theaters of operation helped to secure Allied victories. While the US aircraft carriers did not escape the war unscathed, they were a crucial component of the US Navy’s fleet and played a significant role in the outcome of the war.

Table: US Aircraft Carriers in WW2

Table: US Aircraft Carrier Classes in WW2

Table: US Aircraft Carrier Losses in WW2

I hope this article provides a comprehensive answer to the question of how many aircraft carriers the US had in WW2.