The essex class is a retired class of aircraft carriers of the united states navy The essex class was a class of aircraft carriers of the united states navy that constituted the 20th century's most numerous class of capital ships The essex fleet aircraft carriers were the largest capital ship program ever designed
With 32 ordered, 14 in service during ww2, this was the backbone of the us navy, as well later in korea and vietnam. Aircraft carriers, as a class, had taken over the role of battleships as the backbone of a war fleet. The us navy responded to these developments by designing the essex, a new class of aircraft carriers that could accommodate more and bigger planes
She was the fourth us navy ship to bear the name. Not just in the us navy, but in the entire world