Essex-class aircraft carrier

The Essex class was the largest class of fleet aircraft carriers ever built for any nation, with 24 commissioned for the United States Navy out of 32 planned. The first three were authorized in June 1940, and Essex (CV-9) joined the fleet on the last day of 1942. Developed from the prewar Yorktown class with better underwater protection, the ships formed the core of the fast carrier task forces that won the war in the Pacific, and none was lost in action although several were badly damaged by kamikaze attacks. After 1945 many were rebuilt under the SCB-27 and later programmes with angled decks and hurricane bows so that they could operate jets, and they served into the Vietnam era. Lexington, the last in service, trained naval aviators until 1991. Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Company laid down Essex in April 1941, one of several yards that built the class.