Design and capability of aircraft carriers during World War II


Naval historians such as Evan Mawdsley, Richard Overy, and Craig Symonds concluded that World War II's decisive victories on land could not have been won without decisive victories at sea.[1][2][3] Naval battles to keep shipping lanes open for combatant's movement of troops, guns, ammunition, tanks, warships, aircraft, raw materials, and food largely determined the outcome of land battles. Without the Allied victory in keeping shipping lanes open during the Battle of the Atlantic, Britain could not have fed her people or withstood Axis offensives in Europe and North Africa.[4] Without Britain's survival and without Allied shipments of food and industrial equipment to the Soviet Union,[lower-alpha 1] her military and economic power would likely not have rebounded in time for Russian soldiers to prevail at Stalingrad and Kursk.[5][6][7][8][9]

Without victories at sea in the Pacific theater, the Allies could not have mounted amphibious assaults on or maintained land forces on Guadalcanal, New Guinea, Saipan, The Philippines, Iwo Jima, or Okinawa. Allied operations in the Atlantic and Pacific war theaters were interconnected because they frequently competed for scarce naval resources for everything from aircraft carriers to transports and landing craft.[10] Effective transport of troops and military supplies between the two war theaters required naval protection for shipping routes around the Cape of Good Hope, through the Suez canal, and through the Panama Canal. In both theaters, maritime dominance enabled combatants to use the sea for their own purposes and deprive its use by adversaries. As naval historian Admiral Herbert Richmond stated, "Sea power did not win the war itself: it enabled the war to be won".[11]

Aircraft carriers played a major role in winning decisive naval battles,[12] supporting key amphibious landings, and keeping critical merchant shipping lanes open for transporting military personnel and their equipment to land battle zones. This article is part of a series that covers World War II from the vantage point of aircraft carrier operations and is focused upon carrier design and capability.


Design considerations

Aircraft carrier design involved trade-offs between offensive striking power and defensive survivability. The more carrier tonnage allocated to guns and armor for protection, the less was available for carrying and launching aircraft, the warship's principal weapon. Combatant nations of World War II placed varying emphasis on these factors depending upon conditions in their principal operating theater, their preferred operating tactics, and their industrial capability. Experts continue to debate whether increasing carrier survivatility through increased anti-aircraft armament and armored flight decks was optimal during World War II since adding the weight to do so necessitated reductions in the number of carrier aircraft available to inflict damage upon the enemy. For example, would designing the USS Yorktown so that it was more likely to survive the punishment it took at the Battle of Midway have been desirable if its carrying a smaller air group resulted in fewer Japanese carriers being sunk?[13]

Initial constraints on design

Aircraft carrier design prior to the outbreak of World War II had been constrained by limitations of international agreements among the major navel powers which were intended to avoid an arms race over capital ships. The Washington Naval Treaty of 1922 limited carrier displacement for the five signers to 27,000 tons ( long tons of 2,240 lbs/ton), except that each could convert two existing battleship hulls to carriers having displacements up to 33,000 tons. Armament for carriers was limited to a maximum of ten guns with a maximum caliber of 8 inches. Aircraft carriers were defined as having displacements of at least 10,000 tons and used exclusively for launching and landing aircraft. The overall tonnage limit for carriers was 135,000 tons for Britain and America, 81,000 for Japan, and 60,000 tons for Italy and France.[14]

"Experimental" Designs

Only four aircraft carriers were in service or under construction at the time the Washington Naval Treaty was agreed to. These four were considered "experimental" and not included as part of the treaty's overall tonnage limitations. They were relatively small in size and carried a relatively small number of aircraft. These were HMS Argus (a converted liner), USS Langley (a converted collier), IJN Hōshō (laid down as a carrier), and HMS Hermes (laid down as a carrier).

Evolving design emphasis by each combatant

Japanese aircraft carriers

The Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) emphasized offensive capability consistent with their strategic vision of orchestrating and winning a single, decisive battle. Limited by treaties to having fewer capital ships than the US and UK, Japan's planning emphasized ways to degrade enemy fleets before they arrived at battle by extending the capability of IJN weapon systems. Aircraft as well as torpedoes had longer ranges than American or British counterparts.

The following table shows some key performance parameters for Japanese aircraft carriers. It also shows what it took to sink them. Carriers are listed in order of commissioning date within each carrier type (fleet, light, escort).

Key Performance Parameters for Japanese Aircraft Carriers

CommissionStandardLengthSpeedRangeOperationalReserve
DateClassDisplacement(ft)(knots)(nm)CrewAircraftAircraftSunk By
Fleet
1Akagi25-May-27Akagi36,500855318,2001,63066151 bomb
2Kaga30-Nov-29Kaga38,2008122810,0001,70872184 bombs
3Soryu29-Sep-37Soryu15,900746347,7501,1036383 bombs
4Hiryu05-Jul-39Soryu17,3007463410,3301,10357164 bombs
5Shokaku08-Aug-41Shokaku26,675845349,7001,66072124 torpedoes
6Zuikaku25-Sep-41Shokaku29,80084534--1,66072129 bombs+7 torp
7Junyo03-May-42Hiyo24,10071825.510,0001,224485--
8Hiyo31-Jul-42Hiyo26,94971825.510,0001,2244852 torpedoes
9Taiho07-Mar-44Taiho29,3008553310,0001,7517501 sub. torpedo
10Unryu06-Aug-44Unryu17,150742348,0001,5955762 sub. torpedoes
11Amagi10-Aug-44Unryu17,460742349,7001,595576many bombs
12Katsuragi15-Oct-44Unryu17,260742339,7001,595576--
13Shinano19-Nov-44Shinano64,8008732710,0002,4004704 sub. Torpedoes
Light
1Hosho27-Dec-22Hosho7,470551258,680550210--
2Ryujo09-May-33Ryujo12,7325902910,0009244804 bm+1 torp
3Zuiho27-Dec-40Zuiho11,262712289,236785300many bm +2 torp
4Shoho30-Nov-41Zuiho11,262674289,23678530013 bm+7 torp
5Ryuho28-Nov-42Ryuho13,360707268,000989300--
6Chitose01-Nov-43Chitose11,1906312911,0001,5003003 torpedoes
7Chiyoda21-Dec-43Chitose11,1906312911,8101,5003004 bombs + gunfire
Escort
1Taiyo15-Sep-41Taiyo17,830591218,5008502341 sub. torpedo
2Unyo31-May-42Taiyo17,830649218,5008503001 sub. torpedo
3Chuyo25-Nov-42Taiyo17,830591218,5008503002 sub. Torpedoes
4Shinyo15-Nov-43Shinyo17,500651228,0009482764 sub. Torpedoes
5Kaiyo23-Nov-43Kaiyo13,600546237,000587240bombs
RANGES
Fleet
Low15,900718267,7501,103480
High64,8008733410,0002,4007518
Light
Low7,470551258,000550210
High13,3607122911,8101,500480
Escort
Low13,600546217,000587230
High17,830651238,500948306

Notes:

  • This table includes only ships that operated between July 1937 and August 1945 and that had flight decks for both launching and recovering aircraft at sea.
  • "Commission Date" is the date the ship was first commissioned as an aircraft carrier.
  • "Standard Displacement" is the weight in tons of the ship with full load of stores and ammunition, but with no fuel, lubricating oil, or reserve feed water. (See Stille, p. 61)
  • "Range" is the maximum distance in nautical miles possible on a load of fuel when traveling at optimal speed, which is typically much less than maximum speed.
  • "Operational Aircraft" is the number that could be launched for attacks or Combat Air Patrol. It excludes spares and cargo aircraft. (See Parshall and Tully, p. 478)
  • Various specifications changed over time. Values shown here are typically for the 1942 to 1944 time frame.

Sources:

  • Parshall, Jonathan and Anthony Tully; Shattered Sword (2005)
  • Stille, Mark; The Imperial Japanese Navy (2013)
  • Imperial Japanese Navy Page
  • Naval War In The Pacific, 1941-1945
  • World War II Database

American aircraft carriers

Americans perceived their principal operating theater would be the Pacific, where immense distances between refueling bases placed a premium on carrier speed and range. Threats were likely to come from other warships, either as enemy aircraft or ship's guns, rather than from land-based planes or batteries. Carrier-launched strikes would involve fewer aircraft and each would carry less of a payload, consisting of 250lb and 500lb bombs, compared to land-based aircraft. Also, war-games indicated the ability to strike first and decisively was important for success. Strong first strikes against enemy carriers were expected to reduce or eliminate their ability to counter attack, reducing the need for strong defensive measures. As a result of these considerations, Americans placed greater emphasis on aircraft striking power than upon survivability when attacked. Accordingly, carriers were designed to carry more aircraft and aircraft components at the expense of more anti-aircraft guns and flight deck armor. To further increase the number of aircraft carried, large numbers of them were kept on the flight deck in addition to those kept below in hangars. In the Pacific, storms that could toss or wash deck-park aircraft overboard were uncommon and could theoretically be navigated around. Finally, within a year of the beginning of the Pacific War, America's industrial capacity enabled them to rapidly make good their carrier losses, enabling them to take greater risks with their carriers to achieve greater success.[13]

(to be continued)

British aircraft carriers

The British also operated in the Pacific but, for most of the war, their principal areas of carrier operation were the coastal Atlantic, Mediterranean, and North Sea. In these areas, there were no enemy carriers. The threat was from land-based, potentially multi-engine, heavy bombers in potentially overwhelming numbers that could deliver heavy payloads consisting of 1,000lb bombs or more and be protected by equally large numbers of fighter aircraft. Unlike with relatively few and small enemy attacking aircraft in the Pacific, it was almost assured that some attacking aircraft would penetrate a fighter and anti-aircraft screen. Further, attacks from land bases could be sustained after airfield repairs, unlike in the Pacific where the launch platform could be sunk or sufficiently damaged to require an immediate return to dry-dock facilities. Accordingly emphasis was placed on surviving an attack such that a counter attack could be launched. Survivability was enhanced with more anti-aircraft guns and flight deck armor at the expense of larger aircraft groups onboard. Additional anti-aircraft armament also made carriers more self-sufficient for defense and less reliant upon other warships for screening. Finally, heavy weather was more common and less avoidable in the Atlantic theater than in the Pacific. and deck-parking to increase aircraft group size was less common.[13]

(to be continued)

All carriers

The table below (incomplete, work-in-progress) shows the specifications and capabilities for aircraft carriers as they evolved over time.


Carrier Name Date Comm. Carrier Class Std. Displ Full Displ Length w/l Length o/a Beam o/a Draft Speed (kn) Range (nmi) H. AA L. AA Belt Arm. Deck Arm. Air- craft Men
1HMS Argus191814,68016,0285656823203,600615-18495
2USS Langley1922Langley12,90014,1005426525163,500436631
3IJN Hōshō CVL19227,5909,6465525920258,680615512
4HMS Hermes CVL192311,02013,9006007023255,60093120566
5HMS Eagle192422,20066811527244,800144.51-1.525-30791
6HMS Furious1925Courageous22,90026,0007878825307,480162-3.8-336795
7IJN Akagi192737,10042,000855103293210,000121463.1661,630
8USS Saratoga1927Lexington37,00043,746888106303310,000205-7.8-2782,791
9USS Lexington1927Lexington37,00048,500888108333310,000205-7.8-2782,791
10FMN Béarn192722,50129,00059911631227,00014163.1135-40865
11HMS Courageous1928Courageous24,60027,4207357869128306,630162-3.8-3481,217
12IJN Kaga192938,81381233312810,000262261.5901,708
13HMS Glorious1930Courageous25,37027,8597357879128305,860162-3.8-1481,283
14IJN Ryujo CVL19337,9009,99059067182910,000122448600
15USS Ranger193414,81017,859730769109222910,00084021*862,461
16IJN Sōryū193716,20019,1007487025347,75061463+91,100
17USS Yorktown1937Yorktown20,10025,900825109263312,5008402.5-480-902,217
18USS Enterprise1938Yorktown19,80025,500770825110263312,5008402.5-4902,217
19HMS Ark Royal193822,00028,1607228009528307,60016644.5.8-3.550-601,580
20IJN Hiryū193917,60029,57074673263410,33012213.5-61-2.264+91,100
21USS Wasp1940Wasp14,90019,423688741109203012,0008303.51002,167
22HMS Illustrious1940Illustrious23,36971074096293010,70016484.53.036-571,299
23Formitable1940classstddeeplenwllenoabeamdraftspdrangehaalaabeltdeckplanesmen
24Zuiho CVL1940classstddeeplenwllenoabeamdraftspdrangehaalaabeltdeckplanesmen
25Victorious1941classstddeeplenwllenoabeamdraftspdrangehaalaabeltdeckplanesmen
26IJN Shōkaku1941Shōkaku26,08732,62084585349,7001632721,660
27Zuikaku1941classstddeeplenwllenoabeamdraftspdrangehaalaabeltdeckplanesmen
28Indomitable1941classstddeeplenwllenoabeamdraftspdrangehaalaabeltdeckplanesmen
29Hornet1941classstddeeplenwllenoabeamdraftspdrangehaalaabeltdeckplanesmen
30Shoho CVL1942classstddeeplenwllenoabeamdraftspdrangehaalaabeltdeckplanesmen
31Junyo1942classstddeeplenwllenoabeamdraftspdrangehaalaabeltdeckplanesmen
32Hiyo1942classstddeeplenwllenoabeamdraftspdrangehaalaabeltdeckplanesmen
33Ryuho CVL1942classstddeeplenwllenoabeamdraftspdrangehaalaabeltdeckplanesmen
34USS Essex1942Essex27,50036,9608721483320,00012783-41.5952,600
35Independence CVL1943classstddeeplenwllenoabeamdraftspdrangehaalaabeltdeckplanesmen
36Lexington (2nd)1943classstddeeplenwllenoabeamdraftspdrangehaalaabeltdeckplanesmen
37Princeton CVL1943classstddeeplenwllenoabeamdraftspdrangehaalaabeltdeckplanesmen
38Unicorn CVL1943classstddeeplenwllenoabeamdraftspdrangehaalaabeltdeckplanesmen
39Belleau Wood CVL1943classstddeeplenwllenoabeamdraftspdrangehaalaabeltdeckplanesmen
40Yorktown (2nd)1943classstddeeplenwllenoabeamdraftspdrangehaalaabeltdeckplanesmen
41Bunker Hill1943classstddeeplenwllenoabeamdraftspdrangehaalaabeltdeckplanesmen
42Cowpens CVL1943classstddeeplenwllenoabeamdraftspdrangehaalaabeltdeckplanesmen
43Montery CVL1943classstddeeplenwllenoabeamdraftspdrangehaalaabeltdeckplanesmen
44Cabot CVL1943classstddeeplenwllenoabeamdraftspdrangehaalaabeltdeckplanesmen
45Intrepid1943classstddeeplenwllenoabeamdraftspdrangehaalaabeltdeckplanesmen
46Langley (2nd) CVL1943classstddeeplenwllenoabeamdraftspdrangehaalaabeltdeckplanesmen
47Chiyoda CVL1943classstddeeplenwllenoabeamdraftspdrangehaalaabeltdeckplanesmen
48Bataan CVL1943classstddeeplenwllenoabeamdraftspdrangehaalaabeltdeckplanesmen
49Wasp (2nd)1943classstddeeplenwllenoabeamdraftspdrangehaalaabeltdeckplanesmen
50Hornet (2nd)1943classstddeeplenwllenoabeamdraftspdrangehaalaabeltdeckplanesmen
51San Jacinto CVL1943classstddeeplenwllenoabeamdraftspdrangehaalaabeltdeckplanesmen
52Indefatigable1943classstddeeplenwllenoabeamdraftspdrangehaalaabeltdeckplanesmen
53Chitose CVL1944classstddeeplenwllenoabeamdraftspdrangehaalaabeltdeckplanesmen
54Franklin1944classstddeeplenwllenoabeamdraftspdrangehaalaabeltdeckplanesmen
55Taiho1944classstddeeplenwllenoabeamdraftspdrangehaalaabeltdeckplanesmen
56Unryu1944classstddeeplenwllenoabeamdraftspdrangehaalaabeltdeckplanesmen
57Hancock1944classstddeeplenwllenoabeamdraftspdrangehaalaabeltdeckplanesmen
58Ticonderoga1944classstddeeplenwllenoabeamdraftspdrangehaalaabeltdeckplanesmen
59Bennington1944classstddeeplenwllenoabeamdraftspdrangehaalaabeltdeckplanesmen
60Amagi1944classstddeeplenwllenoabeamdraftspdrangehaalaabeltdeckplanesmen
61HMS Implacable1944Implacable32,63076796336,720161044.53.048-812,300
62Shangri-La1944classstddeeplenwllenoabeamdraftspdrangehaalaabeltdeckplanesmen
63Randolph1944classstddeeplenwllenoabeamdraftspdrangehaalaabeltdeckplanesmen
64Katsuragi1944classstddeeplenwllenoabeamdraftspdrangehaalaabeltdeckplanesmen
65Shinano1944classstddeeplenwllenoabeamdraftspdrangehaalaabeltdeckplanesmen
66Bon Homme Richard1944classstddeeplenwllenoabeamdraftspdrangehaalaabeltdeckplanesmen
67Colossus CVL1944classstddeeplenwllenoabeamdraftspdrangehaalaabeltdeckplanesmen
68Venerable CVL1945classstddeeplenwllenoabeamdraftspdrangehaalaabeltdeckplanesmen
69Antietam1945classstddeeplenwllenoabeamdraftspdrangehaalaabeltdeckplanesmen
70Vengence CVL1945classstddeeplenwllenoabeamdraftspdrangehaalaabeltdeckplanesmen
71Boxer1945classstddeeplenwllenoabeamdraftspdrangehaalaabeltdeckplanesmen
72Glory CVL1945classstddeeplenwllenoabeamdraftspdrangehaalaabeltdeckplanesmen
73Warrior CVL1945classstddeeplenwllenoabeamdraftspdrangehaalaabeltdeckplanesmen
74Lake Champlain1945classstddeeplenwllenoabeamdraftspdrangehaalaabeltdeckplanesmen
75Ocean CVL1945classstddeeplenwllenoabeamdraftspdrangehaalaabeltdeckplanesmen



SELECTED ESCORT CARRIERS

Long Island aircraft: 16 hangar + 46 flight deck Audacity: no hangar; aircraft stored on flight deck


Carrier Name Date Comm. Carrier Class Std. Displ Full Displ Length f/d Length o/a Beam o/a Draft Speed (kn) Range (nmi) H. AA L. AA Belt Arm. Deck Arm. Air- craft Men
1USSLong Island1941Long Island40449270251710,00062856
2HMS AudacityJun 194112,000467562815196+8480
3IJN TaiyōSep 1941Taiyō18,11620,3215917325218,50081427-30850
4HMS ArcherNov 1941classstddeeplenwllenoabeamdraftspdrangehaalaabeltdeckplanesmen
5HMS AvengerMar 1942classstddeeplenwllenoabeamdraftspdrangehaalaabeltdeckplanesmen
6USS ChargerMar 1942classstddeeplenwllenoabeamdraftspdrangehaalaabeltdeckplanesmen
7HMS Biter/DixmudeApr 1942classstddeeplenwllenoabeamdraftspdrangehaalaabeltdeckplanesmen
8IJN Un'yōMay 1942Taiyō18,11620,3215917325218830850
9USS Copaheejun1942BAVGstddeeplenwllenoabeamdraftspdrangehaalaabeltdeckplanesmen
10HMS DasherJul 1942classstddeeplenwllenoabeamdraftspdrangehaalaabeltdeckplanesmen
11USS NassauAug 1942Boguestddeeplenwllenoabeamdraftspdrangehaalaabeltdeckplanesmen
12USS SanteeAug 1942classstddeeplenwllenoabeamdraftspdrangehaalaabeltdeckplanesmen
13USS SangamonAug 1942Sangamon11,60024,665553114321822025830
14AltamahaSep 1942classstddeeplenwllenoabeamdraftspdrangehaalaabeltdeckplanesmen
15ChenangoSep 1942classstddeeplenwllenoabeamdraftspdrangehaalaabeltdeckplanesmen
16USS SuwanneeSep 1942classstddeeplenwllenoabeamdraftspdrangehaalaabeltdeckplanesmen
17USS BogueSep 1942Bogue9,8004961122618224890
18HMS ActivitySep 1942classstddeeplenwllenoabeamdraftspdrangehaalaabeltdeckplanesmen
19HMS AttackerSep 1942classstddeeplenwllenoabeamdraftspdrangehaalaabeltdeckplanesmen
20USS CardNov 1942classstddeeplenwllenoabeamdraftspdrangehaalaabeltdeckplanesmen
21IJN ChūyōNov 1942Taiyō18,1165917325218,5008830850
22HMS BattlerSep 1942classstddeeplenwllenoabeamdraftspdrangehaalaabeltdeckplanesmen
#USS Block IslandMar 1943classstddeeplenwllenoabeamdraftspdrangehaalaabeltdeckplanesmen
#HMS ChaserApr 1943classstddeeplenwllenoabeamdraftspdrangehaalaabeltdeckplanesmen
#USS StrikerApr 1943classstddeeplenwllenoabeamdraftspdrangehaalaabeltdeckplanesmen
#HMS PursuerJun 1943classstddeeplenwllenoabeamdraftspdrangehaalaabeltdeckplanesmen
#USS CasablancaJul 1943Casablanca7,90011,077490 w/l49865-108221910,24012027916
#HMS Pretoria CastleJul 194323,45059476291821
#USS Liscome BayAug 1943classstddeeplenwllenoabeamdraftspdrangehaalaabeltdeckplanesmen
#USS St. LoOct 1943classstddeeplenwllenoabeamdraftspdrangehaalaabeltdeckplanesmen
#IJN Shin'yōNov 194317,50020,58662126262283027+6942
#IJN KaiyōNov 194313,60016,4835467126237,00082424829
#HMS VindexDec 1943Nairana13,67152468211723215-20700
#HMS NairanaDec 1943Nairana14,28052969211723215-20728
#USS Gambier BayDec 1943classstddeeplenwllenoabeamdraftspdrangehaalaabeltdeckplanesmen
#Ommaney BayFeb 1944classstddeeplenwllenoabeamdraftspdrangehaalaabeltdeckplanesmen
#HMS CampaniaMar 1944classstddeeplenwllenoabeamdraftspdrangehaalaabeltdeckplanesmen
#USS Bismark SeaMay 1944classstddeeplenwllenoabeamdraftspdrangehaalaabeltdeckplanesmen
#USS Commencement BayNov 1944Commencement Bay11,1005577531spdrange236341,066
#namedateclassstddeeplenwllenoabeamdraftspdrangehaalaabeltdeckplanesmen

Footnotes

  1. Britain and America shipped war-sustaining goods to the Soviet Union via Arctic Ocean, Persian Gulf, and Pacific Ocean routes.


Citations

  1. Mawdsley, Evan (2019). The War For The Seas- A Maritime History of World War II. London: Yale University Press. p. 478. ISBN 978-0-300-19019-9.
  2. Overy, p. 61
  3. Symonds, p. 641
  4. Overy, Richard (1995). Why The Allies Won. New York, NY: W.W. Norton & Company. p. 18. ISBN 0-393-03925-0.
  5. Overy p. 19, 254, 321
  6. Mawdsley, p.478
  7. Baranov, Sergey (14 Mar 2018). "Lend-Lease: How American supplies aided the USSR in its darkest hour". Russia. Science & Tech. Retrieved 29 Aug 2019.
  8. Hill, Alexander (July 2008). "Did Russia Really Go It Alone- How Lend-Lease Helped The Soviets Defeat The Germans". History.net. Retrieved 28 Aug 2019.
  9. Toland, John (1965). The Last 100 Days. New York, NY & Toronto, Canada: Bantam Books. p. 102. ISBN 0-553-34208-8.
  10. Symonds, WWII at Sea, p. xi-xii
  11. Mawdsley, page=xxxix, 477
  12. Symonds, p. 268
  13. Pocklington, Alexander (aka "Drachinifel") (2 Jan 2019). "'Armoured' and 'Unarmoured' Carriers: Survivaility vs. Strike Power". Five Minute Guide To Warships WWI & WWII (more or less). Retrieved 31 Mar 2019.
  14. DiGiulian, Tony (29 Dec 2017). "Washington Naval Limitation Treaty of 1922". NavWeaps- Naval Weapons, Naval Technology and Naval Reunions. Retrieved 31 Mar 2019.
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