U.S. WWII Carriers Ranked by Size: Enterprise Sets Benchmark for Future Supercarriers

"Out of all American World War 2 naval vessels, the USS Enterprise (CV-6) is by far the most decorated ship in the U.S. Navy. It was originally commissioned in 1938 as a Yorktown-class aircraft carrier, and it would go on to play a significant role in many battles throughout the Second World War. Ultimately its contributions would pave the way for an Allied victory in the Pacific Theater."

"The design of the Enterprise would inspire the production of a number of other aircraft carriers with a similar blueprint in mind. Her combination of speed, range, and air group capacity became the benchmark for the next generation of fleet carriers, the Essex-class. This design emphasized survivability, deck space, and efficient aircraft handling. Every major American carrier that followed carried a piece of her DNA."

USS Enterprise (CV-6) was commissioned in 1938 as a Yorktown-class aircraft carrier and played a significant role in numerous World War II battles, contributing to Allied victory in the Pacific. The Enterprise’s combination of speed, range, and air group capacity established a benchmark that directly influenced the Essex-class fleet carriers, which emphasized survivability, deck space, and efficient aircraft handling. Subsequent American carriers inherited design elements from Enterprise. A modern USS Enterprise is being produced as a Ford-class supercarrier. The largest U.S. World War II carriers can be ranked by displacement, with supplemental details including classification, commissioning dates, and aircraft capacity.

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