China Aviation Museum (Datangshan)

China Aviation Museum (Datangshan)
Xiaotangshan
Chang Ping County, Beijing
China

Oakland Aviation Museum

Oakland Aviation Museum
8252 Earhart Road
Building 621
North Field, Oakland Airport
Oakland, California 94614, USA

Stampe and Vertongen Museum

 

Stampe and Vertongen Museum
Luchthavenlei
Luchthaven Antwerpen-Deurne
Belgium

United States Class

CVA-58 USS United States

After the second World War, the new enemy of the US was the Soviet Union, and the age of the atomic weapons began.

The only way to deploy those weapons was to drop them from an aircraft, when such an aircraft had to launch from an aircraft carrier it would need an action-radius of 3700 km. to reach all targets. With a load of 5,1 tons and a large fuel-load the intended aircraft needs a takeoff speed of approximately 500 knots and a wingspan of more than 35 meters and a takeoff total weight of 45 tons.

No existing aircraft carrier could launch such an aircraft, and the navy would need a totally flat carrier, that meant no masts, electronics would have to be placed on escort ships.

At first it was tought hangers were not needed but the low and long hull would be to heavy so the decision was made to design an armored deck above the hanger, the deck would be a reinforcement for the hull.

On the ship 16 – 24 bombers would be placed along with some 50 fighters (McDonnell F2H Banshee).

The name of the first ship in the class would be “United States”

A few days after the Keel-Plate was layed in April 1949 the build was cancelled by the secretary of Defence after a succesfull lobby of the Air Force. 

Midway Class (3 ships)

 

CVB-41 USS Midway

Built by:	CVB-41 Midway: Newport News CVB-42 Franklin D. Roosevelt: New York Naval Yard CVB-43 Coral Sea: Newport News
Gone into service:	CVB-41 Midway: September 10th 1945 CVB-42 Franklin D. Roosevelt: October 27th 1945 CVB-43 Coral Sea: October 1st 1947
Water displacement:	47700 tons (standard)48250 tons (loaded)
Length:	274,5 m. (waterline)295,2 m. (total)
With:	34,5 m.
load water-line:	9,9 m.    (standard)10,6 m. (loaded)
Number of aircraft:	136
Flight deck:	281,8 x 34,5 m.
Arms:	18 x 127 mm and 84 x 40 mm (21x quadruple) cannons
Engine:	Steam turbines with cog wheel transferring, 12 x boilers and 4 x propellers
Power:	212000 hp.
Speed:	33 knots (61,13 km/h / 37,99 mph)
Max. Fuel stock:	10200 tons
Action radius:	33340 km. at 27,79 km/h / 20720,94 miles at 17,27 mph
Armoring:	193 mm (vertical port-side), 178 mm (vertical starboard-side) 89 mm (flight-deck), 50 mm (Hanger-deck), 44-50 mm (protection-deck)
Crew:	3550

Independence Class (9 ships)

CVL-22 USS Independence

 

Built by:	New York Shipbuilding, Camden
Gone into service:	Januari 1943 – December 1943
Water displacement:	11050 tons (standard)15170 tons (loaded)
Length:	183 m. (waterline)189,9 m. (total)
With:	21,8 m.
load water-line:	6,4 m.    (standard)7,5 m. (loaded)
Number of aircraft:	31
Flight deck:	168,4 x 22,3 m.
Arms:	24 x 40 mm (2 double, 8 quadrouple) and 16 x 20 mm (cannons)
Engine:	Steam turbines with cog wheel transferring, 4 x boilers and 4 x propellers
Power:	100000 hp.
Speed:	31,5 knots (58,32 km/h / 36,25 mph)
Max. Fuel stock:	2650 tons
Action radius:	23150 km. at 27,79 km/h / 14387.82 miles at 17,27 mph
Armoring:	83-127 mm (vertical side, except CVL-22 and CVL-23), 50 mm (deck)
Crew:	1500

Essex Class (24 ships)

 

USS Essex CV-9 

Built by:	Diverse shipbuilders
Gone into service:	December 1942 – May 1946
Water displacement:	28000 tons (standard)37050 tons (loaded)
Length:	250,1 m. (waterline)266 m. (total)
With:	28,4 m.
load water-line:	7 m.    (standard)8,4 m. (loaded)
Number of aircraft:	Approximately 90 – 100
Flight deck:	262,9 x 32,9 m.
Arms:	12 x 127 mm (4x double, 4 single), 32 x 40 mm (8x quadruple), and 46 x 20 mm guns
Engine:	Steam turbines with cog wheel transferring, 8 x boilers and 4 x propellers
Power:	150000 hp.
Speed:	33 knots (61.13 km/h /  37.99 mph)
Max. Fuel stock:	6450 tons
Action radius:	37040 km. at  27.79 km/h (23020 miles at 17.27 mph.)
Armoring:	64-100 mm (vertical side), 38 mm (Hanger-deck) 38 mm (Protection-deck)
Crew:	2630