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USS United States (CVA-58)

1949 COLD WAR

USS American History (CVA-58)

The U.S. Navy's modern carrier fleet owes much to the combat experience its officers, sailors, and pilots gained during World War II (1939-1945). Many aircraft carriers were deployed to wrest control of the Pacific from Imperial Japan, and countless operations depended on the success and availability of U.S. carrier forces in the region.

In fact, even the success of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor in December 1941 depended on whether or not U.S. carrier forces were in port at the time (which was not the case).

At the end of World War II, the new enemy of the free world became the Soviet Union, ushering in a period of propaganda and power projection for the Empire, which remained the recognized global superpower until the late 1980s. By this time, conventional warfare had morphed into atomic and nuclear weapons, spurring the development of various delivery methods, eventually including advanced bombers, submarine-launched missiles, and ICBMs themselves.

U.S. war planners could use conventional bombers until more advanced modes of transportation emerged. The idea arose to combine the full range of features of a newer, more powerful "supercarrier" with the capabilities of a larger bomber type launched from its cockpit. Due to the larger size of the bomber the ship was intended to feature, it was decided to develop a carrier with a "flush deck", meaning it lacked the true island layout common to wartime designs (and modern designs).

This would allow the bomber with a large wingspan to gain unobstructed access to the deck.

Under the Navy Appropriations Act of 1949, five ships were planned for the new "America-class" and would succeed the Midway-class ships after World War II. The lead ship will be the aircraft carrier USS America (CVA-58).

In addition to cost ($189 million per unit in 1949), the proposed design raises several immediate problems: The lack of a dedicated island layout limits on-board communications and sensors, which are typically affixed to high poles. In addition, the conventional dynamic characteristics of warships will require smoke funnels that do not affect flush deck design methods. Add to that the simple fact that there are no hangar elevators or under-deck hangar space for larger bombers.

Therefore, they must remain permanently on deck regardless of external conditions - they will be tossed around in bad weather and exposed to the corrosive effects of the waves. It will keep a fleet of fighter jets below the flight deck as escort for bombers.

The plan envisages carrying as many as 18 bombers and 54 fighter jets, which equates to the air power of more than 70 fixed-wing aircraft.

Despite these limitations, construction of the USS America continued until the keel was laid at the Newport News Dry Dock and Shipyard on April 18, 1949. Just five days later, when then-Secretary of Defense Louis Johnson called off construction, all hopes of a US Navy "bomber carrier" were dashed -- leaving nuclear delivery entirely in the hands of the US Air Force.

When completed, the American class has a full-load displacement of 83,200 tons, a length of 1,090 feet, a beam of 190 feet, and a draft of 37 feet. Power comes from 8 Foster Wheeler boilers driving 4 stern shafts with 280,000 hp, powering 4 Westinghouse steam turbines. The maximum speed under ideal conditions is 33 knots. The entire aircrew consists of 3,019 personnel and an additional 2,480 people who make up the air wing.

Standard armament (for local defense) includes 8 x 5" (127 mm) /54 caliber guns, 16 x 76 mm /70 caliber guns in 8 twin turrets, and 20 x 20 mm Oerlikon guns.