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  Midway 1945

Ships

No	Name	Yard No	Builder	Laid down	Launched	Comm	Fate
CVB41, 10.1952- CVA41, 6.1975- CV41	Midway	439	Newport News	27.10.1943	20.3.1945	10.9.1945	stricken 3.1997, preserved
CVB42, 10.1952- CVA42, 6.1975- CV42	Franklin D. Roosevelt (ex-Coral Sea)		New York N Yd, Brooklyn	1.12.1943	29.4.1945	27.10.1945	stricken 10.1977
CVB43, 10.1952- CVA43, 6.1975- CV43	Coral Sea	440	Newport News	10.7.1944	2.4.1946	1.10.1947	stricken 4.1990

Technical data

Data variant	as commissioned	SCB-110, SCB-110A modernization	SCB-101.66 modernization
Displacement standard, t	47387	CVA41, 42: 44950 CVA43: 45100	47895
Displacement full, t	59901	CVA41, 42: 63500 CVA43: 62600	64714
Length, m	274.3 wl 295.0 oa	CVA41, 42: 274.3 wl 297.8 oa CVA43: 274.3 wl 298.1 oa	275.8 wl 297.8 oa
Breadth, m	34.4 wl 41.5 oa	CVA41, 42: 36.9 wl 64.0 oa CVA43: 36.9 wl 70.4 oa	36.9 wl 78.8 oa
Draught, m	10.5 full load	CVA41, 42: 10.5 full load CVA43: 10.6 full load	10.8 full load
No of shafts	4	4	4
Machinery	4 sets Westinghouse geared steam turbines, 12 Babcock & Wilcox boilers	4 sets Westinghouse geared steam turbines, 12 Babcock & Wilcox boilers	4 sets Westinghouse geared steam turbines, 12 Babcock & Wilcox boilers
Power, h. p.	212000	212000	212000
Max speed, kts	33	30.6	31.6
Fuel, t	oil 6003 - 10032	oil	oil
Endurance, nm(kts)	15000 (15)	CVA41, 42: 12500(20) CVA43: 9500(20)	12500(20)
Armour, mm	belt: 193 (port) / 178 (starboard), 51 upper belt from main to hangar deck, flight deck: 89, hangar deck: 51, main deck: 51, bulkheads: 160	belt: 37, flight deck: 89, hangar deck: 51, main deck: 51, bulkheads: 160	belt: 37, flight deck: 89, hangar deck: 51, main deck: 51, bulkheads: 160
Armament	CVB41, 42: 18 x 1 - 127/54 Mk 16, 21 x 4 - 40/56 Mk 1.2, 28 x 1 - 20/70 Mk 4, 137 aircraft (F4F Wildcat, F4U Corsair, F6F Hellcat, F7F Tigercat, FR Fireball, F8F Bearcat fighters, SB2C Helldiver dive bombers, TBF/TBM Avenger torpedo bombers, F4F-P Wildcat, F4U-P Corsair, F6F-P Hellcat, F8F-P Bearcat reconnaissance planes, HNS helicopters) CVB43: 14 x 1 - 127/54 Mk 39, 19 x 4 - 40/60 Mk 2, 137 aircraft (F4U Corsair, F6F Hellcat, F7F Tigercat, F8F Bearcat, FH Phantom fighters, SB2C Helldiver dive bombers, TBF/TBM Avenger torpedo bombers, AD Skyraider attackers, F4U-P Corsair, F6F-P Hellcat, F8F-P Bearcat reconnaissace planes, TBM-S Avenger ASW planes, TBM-W Avenger EW planes, AD-Q Skyraider ECM planes, TBM-R Avenger cargo planes, HNS helicopters)	CVA41: 10 x 1 - 127/54 Mk 39, 9 x 2 - 76/50 Mk 33, 80 aircraft (F2H Banshee, F9F Panther, F3D Skyknight, F9F Cougar, FJ Fury, F7U Cutlass, F3H Demon, F4D Skyray, F11F Tiger, F8U Crusader fighters, AD Skyraider, AJ Savage, A4D Skyhawk attackers, F2H-P Banshee, F9F-P Panther, AJ-P Banshee, F9F-P Cougar, F7U-P Cutlass, F3H Demon, F8U-P Crusader reconnaissance planes, AD-W Skyraider EW planes, AD-Q Skyraider ECM planes, S2F Tracker ASW planes,  HUK Husky, HUP, HO4S/HRS Chickasaw, HO5S, HSS Seabat/HUS Seahorse helicopters) CVA42: 10 x 1 - 127/54 Mk 39, 9 x 2 - 76/50 Mk 33, 80 aircraft (F2H Banshee, F9F Panther, F3D Skyknight, F9F Cougar, FJ Fury, F7U Cutlass, F3H Demon, F4D Skyray fighters, AD Skyraider, AJ Savage, A4D Skyhawk attackers, F2H-P Banshee, F9F-P Panther, AJ-P Banshee, F9F-P Cougar, F7U-P Cutlass, F3H Demon reconnaissance planes, AD-W Skyraider EW planes, AD-Q Skyraider ECM planes, S2F Tracker ASW planes,  HUK Husky, HUP, HO4S/HRS Chickasaw, HO5S, HSS Seabat/HUS Seahorse helicopters) CVA43: 6 x 1 - 127/54 Mk 39, 80 aircraft (F9F Cougar, FJ Fury, F3H Demon, F4D Skyray, F11F Tiger, F8U Crusader fighters, AD Skyraider, A4D Skyhawk attackers, F9F-P Cougar, F3H Demon, F8U-P Crusader reconnaissance planes, AD-W Skyraider, WF Tracer EW planes, AD-Q Skyraider, F3D-Q Skyknight ECM planes, S2F Tracker ASW planes, AJ-K Savage tankers,  HO4S/HRS Chickasaw, HO5S, HSS Seabat/HUS Seahorse helicopters)	3 x 1 - 127/54 Mk 39, 80 aircraft (F-8 Crusader, F-4 Phantom II fighters, A-4 Skyhawk, A-5 Vigilante, A-6 Intruder, A-7 Corsair II attackers, O-1 Bird Dog, RF-8 Crusader, RF-4 Phantom II, RA-5 Vigilante, OV-10 Bronco reconnaissance planes, EA-1 Skyraider, E-1 Tracer, E-2 Hawkeye EW planes, EA-1 Skyraider, EF-10 Skyknight, EA-3 Skywarrior, EKA-3 Skywarrior, EA-6 Intruder/Prowler ECM planes, S-2 Tracker ASW planes, KA-3 Skywarrior, KA-6 Intruder tankers, C-1 Trader, C-2 Greyhound cargo planes,  SH-34 Seabat, UH-34 Seahorse, CH-34 Choctaw, UH-13, HH-13, SH-3 Sea King, CH-3 Sea King, UH-2 Sea Sprite, HH-52 Seaguard, CH-46 Sea Knight, UH-46 Sea Knight, AH-1 Huey Cobra, AH-1 Sea Cobra, HH-1 Huey, UH-1 Huey, CH-53 Sea Stallion helicopters)
Electronic equipment	CVB41, 43: SK-2, SR-2, SX, 2x SG, 4x Mk 25 radars, TDY ECM suite CVB42: SR-2, SR-3, SX, 2x SG, 4x Mk 25 radars, TDY ECM suite	CVA41, 42: SPS-12, SPS-8, SPN-6, SPN-8, SPN-12 radars, SLR-2 ECM suite, NTDS CCS CVA43: SPS-12, SPS-8, SPN-6, SPN-10, SPN-12 radars, WLR-1, ULQ-6 ECM suites, NTDS CCS	SPS-10, SPS-30, SPS-43, SPS-58, SPN-6, SPN-10, SPN-12 radars, WLR-1, WLR-10, WLR-11 ECM suites, NTDS CCS
Complement	4104	4060	4060

Air group

Year	Fighters	dive bombers / attackers	recon, EW, ECM	ASW and auxiliary
1945 Midway	64 F4U-4, 4 F6F-5N	64 SB2C-5	4 F6F-5P	---
1952 Midway	42 F9F	42 AD-3	---	---
1973 Midway	24 F-4B	24 A-7B, 10 A-6A, 4 KA-6D	4 RF-8G, 4 E-2B, 4 EKA-3B	4 SH-3G, 4 HH-3A
1986 Coral Sea	---	48 F/A-18, 12 A-6E/KA-6D	4 EA-6B, 4 EA-3B, 4 E-2C	4 SH-3H
1991 Midway	---	36 F/A-18, 12 A-6E/KA-6D	8 EA-6B, 4 E-2C	3 C-2A, 4 SH-3H

Standard scale images

Graphics

Aircraft facilities

 (fd - 9,687 m², ha - 6,095 m² / 32,486 m³): Flight deck: 281.6 x 34.4 m. Hangar: 210.9 x 28.9 x 5.33 m. There were 2 elevators on center line (12t, 16.5 x 14m) and 1 deck-edge elevator (8.2t, 17.1 x 10.4m) . There were 2 H 4-1 catapults. Aircraft fuel stowage: 1 255 000 l.   

SCB-110 modernization (CVA41, 42)(fd - ? m², ha - 4,247 m² / 22,723 m³): Flight deck: 297.8x 58.5 m. Hangar: 210.9 x 28.9 x 5.33 m. There were 1 center line (33.6 t, 17.1 x 13.4 m) and 2 deck-edge elevators (33.6 t, 17.1 x 13.4 m). There were 2 C 11 catapults. Aircraft fuel stowage: 2 271 000 l of jet fuel and 1 346 100 l of petrol.

SCB-110A modernization (CVA43)(fd - ? m², ha - 4,247 m² / 22,723 m³): Flight deck: 298.1x 71.9 m. Hangar: 210.9 x 28.9 x 5.33 m. There were 3 deck-edge elevators (33.6 t, 17.1 x 13.4 m) on CA43. There were 3 C 11 catapults. Aircraft fuel stowage: 2 271 000+ l of jet fuel and 1 270 000+ l of petrol.

SCB-101.66 modernization (fd - ? m², ha - 4,247 m² / 22,723 m³): Flight deck: 296.3x 78.8 m. Hangar: 210.9 x 28.9 x 5.33 m. There were 3 deck-edge elevators (49.9 t, 19.2 x 15.8 m). There were 2 C 13 catapults. Aircraft fuel stowage: 4 489 500 l of jet fuel.

Project history

Very large aircraft carriers with armoured flight deck (first time in the USN). The great size of these ships was the result of attempt to provide an armoured flight deck in addition to an armoured hangar and main decks. It was required to provide protection against 203mm shells of Japanese heavy cruisers: in 1942, when these ships were designed, it was still considered that the aircraft carrier can to be a victim of cruisers attacking her at night or in a bad weather. Thus characteristic of designed ships required immune zone under the fire of 203mm/55 guns with heavy shells between 74 and 108 cables. Additionally they received underwater protection on battleship scale and machinery, compartmented as in Montana class battleships. Carriers received new 127/54mm guns.

At first 4 carriers were planned but President felt they would not be ready before war end and want to order additional escort carriers instead of them. At first only CVB41 and 42 were approved and CVB44 was cancelled on 11.1.1943. Two more carriers, CVB56 and 57 from abortive 1945 program, were cancelled 28.3.1945. In 1945 there was a general feeling that such huge ships were too expensive and very large air groups were too large for efficient operation. However, for a time after the war they were the only carriers large enough to operate jet aircraft and new AJ strategic bombers.

All three carriers were modernised under SCB-110 project (Coral Sea under SCB-110A): first two ships received two new C-11 steam catapults, "hurricane bows" and angled decks, artillery was considerably reduced, aft centreline elevator was replaced by aft starboard deck-edge, elevators and flight deck were strengthened. Coral Sea received a third C-11 in her waist. In 1960s the second wave of modernisations came. Midway, the first, was modernised by project SCB-101.66 and received new C-13 catapults, enlarged flight deck, fwd elevator removed being replaced by second starboard deck-edge unit, port deck-edge elevator was replaced by another port deck-edge elevator further aft, NTDS CCS was fitted. Franklin D. Roosevelt was given a far more austere refit ($46mln instead of $202mln), her fwd centreline elevator was replaced by starboard deck-edge unit fwd of island. Too huge cost of modernisation of Midway deterred the navy from similar works volume on this ship.

Blistering of Midway in 1986 very increased her GM, her roll period was reduced to 9sec and her motion was considered unacceptable. Projected for error correction refit was cancelled and carrier was retired unmodified.

Ship protection

Main 51mm deck was connected with upper edge of 156m-long 193-178mm armour belt. Thickness of main belt decreased to 76mm at lower edge. There was 5.2m deep underwater protection, consisted of 4 compartments. Thickness of main longitudinal bulkhead was 32mm. Belt was closed by 160mm transverse bulkheads. Thickness of bulkheads decreased to 25mm over main deck. Steering gear compartment had 193mm belt, 160mm bulkheads, 127mm roof and 63mm deck. CT had 165mm sides and 87mm roof. Communication tubes of CT were protected by 102mm armour.

Ship protection after SCB-110, SCB-110A modernization: Armour belt was removed. There was 6.45m deep underwater protection, consisted of 5 compartments. Thickness of main longitudinal bulkhead was 32mm. There were 160mm transverse bulkheads. Thickness of bulkheads decreased to 25mm over main deck. Steering gear compartment had 193mm belt, 160mm bulkheads, 127mm roof and 63mm deck. CT had 165mm sides and 87mm roof. Communication tubes of CT were protected by 102mm armour.

Modernizations

1.1946, Midway: 18 x 1 - 127/54 Mk 39, 21 x 4 - 40/60 Mk 2, 28 x 1 - 20/70 Mk 10, 2 catapults, 137 aircraft, SK-2, SR-2, SX, 2x SG, 4x Mk 25 radars, TDY ECM suite

1/1946, Franklin D. Roosevelt: 18 x 1 - 127/54 Mk 39, 21 x 4 - 40/60 Mk 2, 28 x 1 - 20/70 Mk 10, 2 catapults, 137 aircraft, SR-2, SR-3, SX, 2x SG, 4x Mk 25 radars, TDY ECM suite

late 1940s, Midway: - SK-2 radar; + SR-3 radar

1947 - 1948, Midway, Franklin D. Roosevelt: - 21 x 4 - 40/60, 28 x 1 - 20/70; + 20 x 2 - 76/50 Mk 33

1948, Coral Sea: - 19 x 4 - 40/60; + 16 x 2 - 76/50 Mk 33

early 1950s, all: - TDY ECM suite; + SPN-6, SPN-8, SPN-12 radars, SLR-2 ECM suite

(5/1954-4/1956), Franklin D. Roosevelt; (9/1955-9/1957), Midway; (4/1957-1/1960), Coral Sea: were reconstructed by SCB-110 design (Coral Sea: SCB-110A). They received angle deck, new catapults, "hurricane" bows and new elevators. New bulges were fitted. Data was as given in the table.

1962, Midway, Franklin D. Roosevelt: - 6 x 1 - 127/54, 9 x 2 - 76/50, SLR-2 ECM suite; + WLR-1, ULQ-6 ECM suites

1962, Coral Sea: - 3 x 1 - 127/54

(2/1966 - 1.1970), Midway: was newly modernized by design SCB-101.66. C 11 catapults were replaced by C 13. Flight deck area was increased. Fwd center line elevator was replaced by third deck-edge elevator). All elevators were identical.

early 1970s, Franklin D. Roosevelt: center line elevator was replaced by deck-edge one (33.6 t, 17.1 x 13.4 m).

1970s, Coral Sea: - ULQ-6 ECM suite; + WLR-10, WLR-11 ECM suites

late 1970s, Midway, Coral Sea: - 3 x 1 - 127/54

1979, Coral Sea: catapults were replaced by 3 C 13

1980, Midway: - SPS-10, SPS-30, SPS-43, SPS-58, SPN-6, SPN-10 radars; + LN-66, SPS-65, SPS-49, SPS-48C, 2x SPN-42, SPN-44, 2x Mk 115 radars, 4x Mk 36 SRBOC decoy RL, TFCC CCS

1982, Midway: + 2 x 8 Sea Sparrow SAM (16 RIM-7), 3 x 6 - 20/76 Mk 15 Phalanx, 4x Mk 95, 3x Mk 90 radars

1/1985, Coral Sea: - SPS-12, SPS-8 radars; + 3 x 6 - 20/76 Mk 15 Phalanx, LN-66, SPS-67, SPS-49, SPS-48C, SPN-41, 2x SPN-42, SPN-43A, 3x Mk 90 radars, 4x Mk 36 SRBOC decoy RL

11/1986, Midway: new bulges were fitted, breadth by wl increased to 39.9 m; - LN-66, SPS-65, SPS-49 radars, WLR-1, WLR-10, WLR-11 ECM suites; + SPS-64(v)9, SPD-67(v)1, SPS-49(v)5, SPN-41, SPN-43A radars, SLQ-29 ECM suite

Naval service

No significant events.