First American aircraft carrier, USS Langley. 1928.

[Lakota]

The first American aircraft carrier. Converted from a coal cargo ship. USS Langley. 1928.

The only American Carrier where the superstructure was tucked beneath the flight deck rather than above and to one side. The Langley's flight deck was indeed used for take off and landings as many of those aviators transferred to CV2, The USS Lexington, America's second carrier, with flight deck experience...BUT Actually, there was one other. The first "Jeep" Carrier, the USS Long Island (ACV-1/CVE-1), that entered service in 1941. Its bridge was also under the flight deck.

[mrvette]

I suppose the engineers were cautious about flying in the open ocean areas, in that the decks were open/flat so nothing to avoid upon landing.....BUT obviously it made any assistance from anyone on the carrier, VERY limited as not seeing direct eye contact/visual with the aircraft.....

Much less with the typical ocean liner/carrier in rougher seas, tons of fun to land a plane on THAT.....

interesting development, first I ever heard of any flat top carrier....

[Norm]

A lot of trial and error back then, but eventually the USN became the greatest fleet in the world.

[6spdC6]

Originally Posted by Norm

A lot of trial and error back then, but eventually the USN became the greatest fleet in the world.

Hell yeah! Just one of our carriers has more aircraft/firepower than many countries. The best part we have more than just one carrier!

[Onebadcad]

The commitment of those who built the ships for Our Navy during WW2 will never be equalled.
For instance, the Essex Class Yorktown was built in 14 months, Intrepid in 16 months, Hornet in 16 months.

A Ford-Class takes at least 8 years, then double that due to errors and replacing systems.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_aircraft_carriers_of_the_United_States_Navy

[Onebadcad]

Originally Posted by 6spdC6

Hell yeah! Just one of our carriers has more aircraft/firepower than many countries. The best part we have more than just one carrier!

The problem with a $14+B carrier is that you can sink it by firing 100 $1M. maybe $2M, missiles at it.

I have always said if anyone sinks one of our carriers, it would start WW3, which would be the end of this world.

[6spdC6]

Originally Posted by Onebadcad

The problem with a $14+B carrier is that you can sink it by firing 100 $1M. maybe $2M, missiles at it.

I have always said if anyone sinks one of our carriers, it would start WW3, which would be the end of this world.

Your right, but our battle groups have a lot of protective hardware on board to make sure that does not happen. I have a feeling there is more sophisticated weaponry in those battle groups and other places that no one talks about!

[Onebadcad]

Originally Posted by 6spdC6

Your right, but our battle groups have a lot of protective hardware on board to make sure that does not happen. I have a feeling there is more sophisticated weaponry in those battle groups and other places that no one talks about!

I hope you are right!!

No sure how any battle group can stop a simultaneous launch of 100+ missiles though.
IMO, carriers are dinosaurs, today's missiles limit distance from land, and fighter jets are very limited on range.

Our defense monies should have a greater allowance for drones, satellites and cyber warfare, AND we should try to eliminate boots on the ground.
Since WW2 we have sacrificed way too many of our heroes for other countries, while getting very little in return.

[Chemtrails99]

Originally Posted by Lakota

The first American aircraft carrier. Converted from a coal cargo ship. USS Langley. 1928.

The only American Carrier where the superstructure was tucked beneath the flight deck rather than above and to one side. The Langley's flight deck was indeed used for take off and landings as many of those aviators transferred to CV2, The USS Lexington, America's second carrier, with flight deck experience...BUT Actually, there was one other. The first "Jeep" Carrier, the USS Long Island (ACV-1/CVE-1), that entered service in 1941. Its bridge was also under the flight deck.

There's a reason for nothingon the flight deck. Lamgley built and flew powered models about a decade before the Wrights. He built a mannee version he choose to launch off a floating barge. But a pole sticking up hit the airframe and caused it to come apart, ending his flight program. A decade later Glen Curtiss restored and did a few upgrades to the wrecjage in an attempt to upset the Wright's patent on fleying machines. The machine flew and functioned as originally expected. Early advocates of aviation knew Langley and named an airfield and this vssel after him as a result.

The legal battles between the Wrights and Curtiss became so bad that the government forced them together as "Curtiss-Wright" to function during WW2......