EVERY ONE of the 26 Essex's operated either in WWII or after except the 2
cancelled. Cursory study indicates that 18 commissioned during WWII, 11
served in Korea, almost all served during Vietnam, and the 26 were divided as
follows:
Two - cancelled in the last days of the war, never completed (#35
Reprisal & #46 Iwo Jima)
Two - Franklin (#13) & Bunker Hill (#17) were so badly damaged in battle
they never returned to service after limping home.
Three - served unmodernized at least into the 60's.
Sixteen - various degrees of modernization, some to anti-submarine
carriers, served into the 60's & 70's, with a couple lasting into the early
80's, several supporting space missions.
Three - converted to helicopter assault ships, served at least into the
60's.
Most had decommissioned by the mid 70's. A notable exception is the
Lexington (#16), which served until about '92 as a training carrier.
<< The Essex's were WW2 carriers even though some were launched after
hostilities ended. Some were taken for a joy ride and then mothballed. >>
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