Aircraft Carriers (up to 1945) - USA: Illustrated History Books & Guides (1/2)

U.S. Aircraft Carriers - An Illustrated Design History

This account of U.S. carrier development, based on the internal files of the U.S. Navy, presents a complete evolutionary design history at a level of detail and accuracy never before approached. The author, a recognized authority on U.S. warships, uncovers the issues behind the emergence of today's carrier, explaining the reasons for the periodic but always aborted attempts to trim back its dimensions. As a result, "U.S. Aircraft Carriers" is relevant to both current and future plans for new carrier construction.

Norman Friedman points out many features of carrier design that have recurred over the years. For example, he shows how recent interest in the conversion of merchant hulls to limited-capability ASW carriers harks back to a major conversion program of the 1930s and to the escort-carrier program of World War II. Both programs are fully described here, as are those for the proposed VSTOL carrier, the sea-control ship, and the VSTOL support ship.

This book treats the reader to detailed information on every U.S. carrier class, from the gigantic warships of the Nimitz class to the "side-wheeler" training carriers that operated on the Great Lakes during World War II. Included in this comprehensive history are flight deck plans, outboard profiles, sketches of major design studies, and descriptions of several unique carrier proposals that never got beyond the designer's table but still had a major influence on contemporary design thinking.

Here, too, is Friedman's lucid explanation of the changing function of U.S. carriers, from their origin as auxiliaries to their present role as the main components of the battle force. The post-World War II controversy over the role of carrier operations is also covered. Extensive appendices provide additional data on the carriers and synopses of developments in the design of their catapults and arresting gear.
The talented draftsman A. D. Baker III has drawn carefully detailed scale profiles and plan views for each major class of carrier. Numerous photographs, many never before published, also complement the text.

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U.S. Aircraft Carriers 1939-45

This illustrated book presents the development and operations of U.S. aircraft carriers during World War II. It covers all major classes, from early pre-war designs and escort carriers built on destroyer hulls to large fleet carriers that were the forerunners of modern supercarriers.

The book describes key battles in the Pacific, as well as the lesser-known but vital role of carriers in the Atlantic. These ships helped destroy German U-boats, securing supply routes for the Allied invasion of Europe.

Each carrier is briefly profiled, with summaries of its service, final fate, and role in U.S. naval history. Text boxes explain technical details and historical context. The evolution of carrier design and the aircraft they launched against Japanese and German forces are also discussed.

The book concludes with a look at surviving carriers preserved as museums and the wreck of USS "Saratoga", sunk at Bikini Atoll.

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US Navy Aircraft Carriers 1922-45 - Pre-war Classes (Osprey)

The USS Langley, the first American aircraft carrier, entered service in 1922. Despite being converted into an aircraft tender, it was the first step in a new direction for the US Navy and naval warfare.

This book covers the design, development and operation of USN aircraft carriers built prior to World War II, including their aircraft and weaponry. It also explains their various successes and losses such as the first carrier vs carrier battle at Midway; the battle of the Coral Sea; the battle of the Philippine Sea; and the Operation Torch landings.

Contents: Introduction - Design and development of the IJN carrier - Classes of carrier - including individual names and their background, specific design and construction, wartime modifications, operational history, evaluation, principal armament, radar sytem, and aircraft - Bibliography - Color plate commentary - Index.

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US Navy Aircraft Carriers 1939-45 - WWII-built Ships (Osprey)

Aircraft carriers were the US Navy's principal weapon against Japan during the Pacific War. Development of the Essex class began in 1939, becoming the largest class of carrier ever to be built. Early in the Pacific War it became renowned for its 'Sunday Punch' of 36 fighter planes, 36 dive bombers, and 18 torpedo planes. Alongside the lighter Independence class, these carriers formed the formidable Fast Carrier Force in the Pacific.
Featuring artwork detailing the interior and exterior features of the ships, this book explores their design, development, and the action they saw in the Pacific, including the climactic battles of Philippine Sea, Leyte Gulf, and Okinawa.

Contents: Origins - Development - Chronology - The Essex Class - The Independence Class - Bibliography - Color Plate Commentary - Index.

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US Navy Escort Carriers 1942-45 (Osprey)

While not as famous as their larger and faster sister ships such as the Essex- and Yorktown-class carriers, escort carriers made an enormous contribution towards Allied victory both in the Pacific and Atlantic theatres.
Rather than relying on size or speed, it was their sheer numbers that made them so effective. Indeed, the Casablanca-class escort carrier was the most-produced aircraft carrier in history.

In partnership with the Royal Navy, they provided the backbone of Allied anti-submarine efforts in the Atlantic, finally and irrevocably turning the tide of the war against the U-boats in 1943.
In the Pacific, they provided the air cover for the series of landings which led to the doorstep of Japan by 1945. These robust ships faced submarine, air, and even surface threats from the Japanese, but proved able to contend with everything thrown their way.

Fully illustrated with contemporary photographs and unique specially commissioned artwork, this book shines a new light on these unjustly overlooked workhorses of the US Navy - ships that helped usher in the Allied victory over the Axis powers in the Atlantic and Pacific.

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USS Enterprise (CV-6) : The 'Big E' from the Doolittle Raid, Midway, and Santa Cruz to Guadalcanal and Leyte (Legends of Warfare)

Though it barely missed being caught and destroyed at Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, the US Navy's USS Enterprise (CV-6) aircraft carrier took part in every major action of the Pacific War, from the Doolittle Raid to the battles of Midway, Santa Cruz, and Guadalcanal to the Philippine Sea and Leyte.
Affectionately known as the "Big E," as well as as the "fightingest ship in the Navy," the Enterprise racked up one of the most impressive tallies of damage to the enemy of any Allied warship during WWII.

This book explores Enterprise's design and construction, wartime activities, and ultimate postwar decommissioning and scrapping through carefully researched photos, many of which have never before been published.
The clarity and large size of many of the photos, coupled with descriptive and informative captions, put the reader on the deck of this historic warship throughout its famed history.

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USS Hornet (CV-8) - From the Doolittle Raid and Midway to Santa Cruz (Legends of Warfare)

USS Hornet (CV-8), made famous through its launching of the 16 US Army B-25 Mitchell bombers flown by Jimmy Doolittle's raiders in the first US strike on Japan in May 1942, was the third and last Yorktown-class aircraft carrier completed. Serving the US Navy for just over one year, the warship had a brief yet heroic life.

This volume explores Hornet's construction, wartime activities (including the Battle of Midway), and ultimate sinking during the Battle of Santa Cruz in October 1942, through carefully researched photos, many of which have never before been published, which are reproduced in remarkable clarity.
This clarity and the large size of many of the photos, coupled with descriptive and informative captions, put the reader on the deck of this historic warship throughout its short history. Part of the Legends of Warfare series.

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USS Lexington (CV-2): From the 1920s to the Battle of Coral Sea in WWII (Legends of Warfare)

When commissioned on December 14, 1927, USS Lexington and her sister ship, USS Saratoga, were the world's largest aircraft carriers. The Lexington-class carriers, as the ships were known, were the results of an effort akin to making lemonade from lemons.
Both vessels were begun in 1920-21 as Lexington-class battle cruisers. Lexington, originally designated CC-1 (indicating battle cruiser), would have been a formidable warship armed with eight 16-inch guns in four turrets.

The Washington Naval Treaty of 1922 banned the constructions of such ships but permitted the conversion of such hulls into aircraft carriers.
Accordingly, the "Lady Lex," as she became known to her crew, was finished as a massive 888-foot-long aircraft carrier and retained the originally planned revolutionary turboelectric drive. From the outset, Lexington, initially carrying fabric-covered biplanes, was assigned to the Pacific Fleet. In the years leading up to WWII, both the ship and her aircraft were modernized.

This profusely illustrated book, an expanded and updated version of the author's earlier work, puts the reader on the deck of Lexington through her construction, evolution, and ultimate May 8, 1942, sinking at the Battle of Coral Sea and finishes with the discovery of her wreck on March 4, 2018.
Over 200 photos, numerous line drawings, and color renderings illustrate this new entry in the Legends of Warfare series.

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USS Saratoga (CV-3) : From the 1920s-30s and WWII Combat to Operation Crossroads (Legends of Warfare)

USS Saratoga and her sister ship, USS Lexington, held the title of the world's largest aircraft carriers until 1944. The keel of USS Saratoga (CC-3) was laid by New York Shipbuilding in Camden, New Jersey, on September 25, 1920, initially intended as a battle cruiser.
However, due to naval treaties, construction was halted in February 1922, and she was converted into an aircraft carrier, like her sister ship. Launched on April 7, 1925, she became the largest carrier afloat, featuring a revolutionary turboelectric drive allowing her to reach speeds of 33 knots in both forward and backward motion.

Despite facing multiple damages during World War II, Saratoga earned eight battle stars and continued to serve until the war's end. However, due to her age and previous damages, she was sunk as a target during the Bikini Atoll nuclear tests in 1946.
This detailed 144-page volume delves into the construction, operations, refits, and repairs of the ship through over 350 photos and illustrations, expanding on the author's previous work.

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USS Yorktown (CV-5) : From Design and Construction to the Battles of Coral Sea and Midway (Legends of Warfare)

USS Yorktown (CV-5) was the US Navys first battle-worthy, purpose-built aircraft carrier. Her crew, already accustomed to wartime conditions by maintaining Neutrality Patrols during 1941 in the Atlantic, quickly adapted to the Pacific Theater, having been dispatched there immediately after Pearl Harbor.
First at Coral Sea, then at Midway, Yorktowns flyers blunted the sword of Japanese aggression. The men flying from her decks were instrumental in turning the tide of WWII in the Pacific.

This volume explores Yorktowns construction, prewar and wartime activities through carefully researched photos, many of which have never before been published, which are reproduced in remarkable clarity.
This clarity, and the large size of many of the photos, coupled with descriptive and informative captions, puts the reader on the deck of this historic warship throughout her history.

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