Stille, Mark Essex-Class Aircraft Carriers 1941-91

A history of the enduring Essex-class ships, the US Navy's finest and most numerous fleet carrier during World War II, which were modernized repeatedly and served with distinction.
The Essex class was the USN's war-winning ship class of the Pacific War. Of the 24 ships completed, 14 saw action, making the Essex class the largest class of fleet aircraft carriers ever built. These ships had a fine balance of striking power, protection, and speed and were modernized during and after the war. There were five distinct programs carried out, adding not only angled flight decks for jet operations, but repeated upgrades to sensors, weapons, and equipment.
Essex-class carriers were used in a number of roles and provided the vast majority of US Navy air power in the Korean War, and a sizeable proportion of air power in the Vietnam conflict. However, as the "super carriers" began to enter service in the early 1960s, the Essex class was relegated to secondary roles - a single Essex carrier served until 1991 as the US Navy's training carrier. This book provides an in-depth portrait of this important and enduring class of ship, and looks at its development and modifications while considering the many and varied actions it took part in.

These ships were characterised by a good balance of striking power, protection and speed and were modernised during and after the war. Five different refit programmes were carried out, not only installing angled flight decks for the use of jet aircraft, but also repeatedly upgrading sensors, weapons and equipment.
The Essex-class aircraft carriers were used in a variety of roles, providing the bulk of the U.S. Navy's air forces in the Korean War and a significant portion of the naval air forces in the Vietnam conflict. However, when the "supercarriers" entered service in the early 1960s, the "Essex" class was relegated to a secondary role - a single "Essex" carrier served as a U.S. Navy training ship until 1991. This book provides a detailed portrait of this important and long-lived class of ship, highlighting its development and modifications, taking into account the numerous and varied missions in which it was involved.