USS Essex (CV-9) underway during May 1943, as photographed from a blimp from squadron ZP-14. Among the aircraft parked on her flight deck are 24 SBD scout bombers (parked aft), about 11 F6F fighters (parked in after part of the midships area) and about 18 TBF/TBM torpedo planes (parked amidships). Official U.S. Navy Photograph # 80-G-68097

• 1st of 24 "fast carriers" that were the idea of Admiral Sims in 1925
• authorized 1938, begun April '41, launched July 31 and commissioned Dec. 31, 1942
• 35 knots, 27,100 tons, 100 planes, 2700 crew and 300 airmen
• AA defense = 17 quad-barrel 40 mm
• plus 65 single 20 mm guns for close-in defense
• 4 mounts of 5" gun with proximity fuse (within 70 ft.)
• range 10 miles, 15 rounds per minute

• PPI (Position plan Indicator) radar kept track of ships
• Mark 4 radar to track aircraft (but not low-flying planes until 1944 Mark 12)
• IFF (Identif. Friend or Foe) for incoming planes
• VHF radio - 4 channel - to prevent enemy from listening in

• 3 squadrons: 36 fighters; 36 dive bombers; 18 torpedo planes

loading torpedo on Grumman Avenger aboard an aircraft carrier in the South Pacific, January 1943 (NWDNS-80-G-41869) from NAIL

USS Essex based TBMs and SB2Cs dropping bombs on Hokadate, Japan, July, 1945 (NWDNS-80-G-490232) from NAIL

"Pilots pleased over their victory during the Marshall Islands attack, grin across the tail of an F6F Hellcat on board the USS Lexington, after shooting down 17 out of 20 Japanese planes heading for Tarawa." Comdr. Edward Steichen, 1943/11, from Patch/NA

Grumman F6F "Hellcat" fighters prepare to take off from deck of 61k USS Ticonderoga (CV 14) for strikes against targets in Manila Bay. The two leading planes are F6F-5N night fighters, with wing-mounted radar. Photograph is dated 9 January 1945, but may have been taken during the 5-6 November 1944 attacks. Official U.S. Navy Photograph # 80-G-305244

• based on captured Zero from Aleutians
• developed in 3 months - 2000 HP engine
• 22800 ceiling (2000 feet higher than Zero)
• six 50-caliber guns (Zero had 4 20m)
• 1000 rounds per minute - armor piercing

• outdive and outclimb Zero
• self-sealing gas tanks
• radar added later

Vought-Sikorsky VS300 helicopter used in Battle of Atlantic, ILN 1943/03/27 - big

the first Navy helicopter HNS-1 used by Coast Guard for air-sea rescue

new sub Puffer launched, built at Manitowoc WI, ILN 1943/01/09

• subs in Lifeguard League to rescue pilots

USS Iowa full broadside of nine 16"/50 and six 5"/38 guns during a target exercise near Vieques Island, Puerto Rico, 1 July 1984. Note concussion effects on the water surface, and 16-inch gun barrels in varying degrees of recoil. Note Harpoon Missile launchers installed between her stacks and Helo landing pad on her stern. Official U.S. Navy Photograph # DN-ST-85-05379

Scene on the flight deck of USS Essex (CV-9), looking aft from the carrier's island during her shakedown cruise, 20 March 1943. Planes parked on deck are F6F-3 fighters (in foreground, with wings folded) and SBD-4 scout bombers. Official U.S. Navy Photograph # 80-G-K-698

Four aircraft carriers docked at the Alameda Naval Air Station Station's piers, circa mid-September 1945. The ships are (from front to back): USS Saratoga (CV-3), USS Enterprise (CV-6), USS Hornet (CV-12) and USS San Jacinto (CVL-30). Note PBY amphibians parked at the far left. Official U.S. Navy Photograph # 80-G-701512. Note that four, out of five, classes of fast Aircraft Carriers that fought in the Pacific (only the one-ship class Wasp is missing) are represented in this photograph.

USS Franklin (CV-13) in the Elizabeth River, off Norfolk, Virginia, 21 February 1944. Official U.S. Navy Photograph # 80-G-224596

Planes on deck of USS Yorktown (CV-10) include F6F "Hellcat" fighters and SB2C "Helldiver" scout-bombers. Official U.S. Navy Photograph # 80-G-K-14379

USS Randolph (CV-15) alongside a repair ship at Ulithi Atoll, Caroline Islands, 13 March 1945, showing damage to her after flight deck resulting from a "Kamikaze" hit on 11 March. Photographed from a USS Miami (CL-89) floatplane. Official U.S. Navy Photograph # 80-G-344531

From the deck of the USS Lexington (CV-16), a F6F-3 "Hellcat" of Fighting Squadron Sixteen (VF-16) gets the take-off flag from Lieutenant John M. Clark, during operations in the Gilberts and Marshalls, 23 November 1943. VF-16 pilots shot down seventeen Japanese aircraft on that day. Official U.S. Navy Photograph # 80-G-44605

Battle of the Philippine Sea, June 1944. An F6F-3 "Hellcat" fighter lands aboard USS Lexington (CV-16) during the "Marianas Turkey Shoot" phase of the battle, 19 June 1944. Note manned 40mm guns in the foreground, and 20mm guns along the starboard side of the flight deck. Official U.S. Navy Photograph # 80-G-236955

USS Wasp (CV-18) at sea in the western Pacific, 6 August 1945. Official U.S. Navy Photograph #: 80-G-261904

Task Force 38, of the U.S. Third Fleet, maneuvering off the coast of Japan, 17 August 1945, two days after Japan agreed to surrender. Taken by a USS Shangri-La (CV-38) photographer. The aircraft carrier in lower right is USS Wasp (CV-18). Also present in the formation are five other Essex-class carriers, four light carriers, at least three battleships, plus several cruisers and destroyers. Official U.S. Navy Photograph #: 80-G-278815

Island of the USS Hancock (CV-19) looms in background as crewmen move rockets to planes, while preparing for strikes on Formosa, 12 October 1944. Official U.S. Navy Photograph # 80-G-281338

Vought F4U-4 "Corsair" (Bureau No. 81712), of Fighter Squadron 791 (VF-791) makes vapor rings with its propeller as it takes off from USS Boxer (CV-21) for a Korean War air strike. Photo is dated 6 July 1951. Note small bombs under the plane's wings and flight deck distance markings. The "Corsair" is just passing the 500-foot point. Official U.S. Navy Photograph # 80-G-431289

new USS Yorktown CV-10

new USS Hornet CV-12 1st with camouflage

Hornet 1st with radar

USS Randolph CV-15

"Murderers' Row" Third Fleet aircraft carriers at anchor in Ulithi Atoll, 8 December 1944, during a break from operations in the Philippines area. The carriers are (from front to back): USS Wasp (CV-18), USS Yorktown (CV-10), USS Hornet (CV-12), USS Hancock (CV-19) and USS Ticonderoga (CV-14). Wasp, Yorktown and Ticonderoga are all painted in camouflage Measure 33, Design 10a. Photographed from a USS Ticonderoga plane. Official U.S. Navy Photograph #: 80-G-294131

Links:

• WWII Carrier list
• USS Essex same name for 1992 assault ship
• Hamilton McWhorter - First F6F Hellcat Ace
• Carriers from United States Navy Ships includes USS Essex (CV-9)
• USS Yorktown (CV-10) from Patriots Point
• USS Intrepid (CV-11) from NPS
• Fletcher-class destroyers
• NavSource Naval History Photo Archives
• Submarine Technology Through the Years from CNO (Chief of Naval Operations Submarine Warfare Division)
• The Proximity Fuse from Invention & Technology, Spring 2001
• The Fighting Lady 1944 film