The Best: During World War II, the United States Navy commissioned 24 Essex-class aircraft carriers, making it the most numerous class of capital warships of the 20th century.These carriers were a ...

Summary and Key Points: The Essex-class aircraft carriers, with 24 built and 17 seeing combat in WWII, played a crucial role in U.S. naval dominance from the mid-20th century through the Vietnam War.

The first five Essex-class carriers were laid down by New York Shipbuilding of Camden, New Jersey, in 1941.The versatility, longevity—and relative simplicity—of the Essex-class led to it being ...

Commissioned in 1943, the Intrepid was one of 24 Essex-class aircraft carriers built during World War II. Known as "the Fighting I" for its extensive combat history, the ship participated in ...