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USS Enterprise CV-6

USS Enterprise

Design of the Yorktown Class

At the outbreak of the Pacific War in December 1941 the United States had seven fleet aircraft carriers. Two of these - the famous Lexington and Saratoga - at 33,000 tons were, for their day, very large ships, which had originally been laid down as battlecruisers. Although they were undoubtedly the best carriers in the world when they were first completed, and could each operate 100 aircraft, they were very unwieldy, and considered in the US Navy to achieve their impressive aircraft capacity only on an uneconomically large displacement.

By contrast the Ranger, the first purpose-built American carrier, had a displacement of only 14,500 tons. This was to prove too small for optimum performance, and her design was, in other respects as well, not a success.

The next two carriers, Yorktown and Enterprise, were a great improvement both on the Lexingtons and the Ranger. Almost one-and-a-half times the Ranger in displacement, they were several knots faster and far more seaworthy. At thesame time they could carry as many as 100 aircraft on a displacement less than two-thirds that of the Lexingtons, and were much more manoeuverable than Lexington and Saratoga, having a small turning-circle which was to benefit them all (and Enterprise inparticular) in many engagements.

Treaty restrictions meant that the next carrier, Wasp, a ship which had a short but distinguished career (most notably in herwork in ferrying vital Spitfire fighter aircraft for the defence of the island of Malta in April 1942), was restricted to a displacement of 14,700 tons - almost exactly that of Ranger. Wasp was a scaled-down Yorktown and her design was, despite this relativelysmall size, far more successful than Ranger's.

The next carrier to be built was a third and improved Yorktown Class ship - the Hornet.

Wartime modifications

In common with almost all United States' warships Enterprise had her electronic equipment and her anti-aircraft armament greatly augmented and improved between 1941 and 1945. Her original 1.1-inch light AA guns were replaced by quadruple 40mm Bofors guns beginning in late 1942 - she and the battleship South Dakota were (at the Battle of Santa Cruz) the first American ships in the Pacific to go into action with this very effective weapon. 20mm AA guns in single mounts were added in large numbers from 1942 onwards. She was equipped with a CIC (Combat Information Centre) in 1943 - an invaluable development - and by 1945 had blind-fire radar control for her eight 5-inch and her 40mm AA guns.