The United States in World War II: The Aircraft Carriers that Made a Lasting Impact
The second half of the 20th century will always be remembered as the era of the aircraft carrier. Born out of the need to project power beyond the ranges of traditional naval guns and torpedoes, carriers became the crown jewels of naval warfare. The United States, with its experience in World War I, was well aware of the importance of carriers and started building them from the beginning of the 20th century. So, as we delve into the United States’ naval history, let’s ask the main question: How many aircraft carriers does the u.s. have in WW2?
Overview of the US Aircraft Carriers in WW2
The United States had built, or was in the process of building, a grand total of 24 fleet aircraft carriers at the time of the Pearl Harbor attacks in December 1941. These ships were, in no small part, responsible for the Allied victories in the Pacific Theater, and played a crucial role in the Battle of the Atlantic.
Prior to WW2 (1939-1941)
During the inter-war period, the United States had made significant strides in building an aircraft carrier force. When the war started, it had:
• Ling-Temco-Vought (Ranger Class): Three ships commissioned between 1934-1936 (Ranger, Yorktown, Lexington)
• Langley Class: Three ships converted from collier ships into carriers (Langley, Lexington, Saratoga)
• Yorktown Class: Two ships with improved design (Yorktown, Enterprise)
WW2 (1941-1945)**
By the time World War II had begun, the United States had nine operational fleet aircraft carriers.
• **Enterprise (Yorktown Class)**: Returned to service in 1938 and continued to lead the US fleet throughout WW2
• **Wasp (Wasp Class)**: Launched in 1940 and active until its loss in the Battle of the Coral Sea
• **Hornet (Yorktown Class)**: Commissioned in 1941 and joined the Enterprise on the Atlantic-Fleet, later deployed to the Pacific
• **Yorktown (Yorktown Class)**: Deployed to the Pacific during the Battle of the Atlantic and played a crucial role in the Battle of the Coral Sea
• **Essex (Essex Class)**: Launched in 1942, became the lead ship in the Essex Class and held the distinction of being both the first American carrier designed from the keel as a carrier, and serving as the command ship under Admiral Nimitz.
Aircraft carrier losses during WW2**
While the United States had multiple aircraft carriers operating during the war, sadly, losses were inevitable.
• **Wasp**: Sunk on September 15, 1942, during the Battle of the Coral Sea
• **Hornet**: Damaged after the Battle of the Solomon Islands and intentionally sunk off the coast of Guadalcanal
• **Yorktown**: Damaged during the Battle of Midway and scuttled on June 7, 1942
• **Waukeegan**: Converted to a beaching ship after being significantly damaged during a storm. Eventually, broken up, and scrapped in 1971
**Conclusion and Legacy**
As we recount the number of aircraft carriers the United States had in WW2, it becomes clear that 24 planes were the tip of a highly effective naval iceberg. When considering the numerous battles where these ships played a major role, we can grasp the magnitude of their overall impact on the war:
• **The Battle of Midway**: The turn of the tide in favor of the United States owed much to the bravery displayed on the aircraft carriers Enterprise and Hornet.
• **Battle of the Coral Sea**: Similarly, the Enterprise and Langley played key roles during this pivotal naval battle
• **Iwo Jima and Okinawa**: The battles for Iwo Jima and Okinawa marked the US assault’s final push, with **Essex**, **Tarawa**, **Baltimore**, and other carriers engaging in the crucial air combat
In summary, in WW2, the U.S. had a mix of 9 operational fleet carriers, with another 8 under construction. The experiences gained during these years built the foundation for the rise of the US Navy and its aircraft carrier fleet becoming the most formidable in history.
**Important Dates**:
* September 18, 1941 – The United States launches three aircraft carriers in a five-day period, marking its largest naval buildup in four years.
* December 7, 1941 – The surprise attack by Japan on Pearl Harbor during which the Japanese Navy managed to sink the USS USS Arizona, USS Oklahoma, and USS California, including the aircraft carriers USS Nevada, USS Pennsylvania, USS Maryland, and USS Connecticut.
* October 8, 1942 – The USS Wasp carrier is sunk by Japanese surface forces during the Battle of the Coral Sea.
* June 6, 1944 – The historic D-Day landings signal the beginning of the long-awaited Allied push into Occupied Europe.
**Acknowledgments**:
* ‘The Aircraft Carriers That Won the War’ By: John G. Milligan
* ‘Pacific Crucible’ By: Ian W. Toll
**Sources:**
https://www.navalHistory.org/articles/article_184.htm
https://navalhistory.org/articles/US-Aircraft-Carriers-in-World-War-II-Part-VII-The-Closing-War/
https://web.archive.org/web/20070609194414/http://www.navsource.org/archives/02
**Note:**
Statistics and dates used in the article are primarily based on historical records from the American naval history website, Nautical History and other scholarly sources. Any discrepancies could be due to the ambiguity of records during wartime situations.
