CUS Andrew Jackson (CV-1936)
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The Jackson class followed the pair of Jeffersons which were the CUA's first purpose built aircraft carriers. The learning curve for all nations building aircraft carriers was steep. The CUA Navy was no different, with more and better features and improvements being made from class to class and even ship to ship with earlier vessels being retroactively fitted with with new weapons and features. New arrester gear came in while these ships were building and two of the four were fitted with these at their first scheduled refit.
This class marked the end of the single 4" AA gun which was replaced with the twin 4.5" mounted on a deck edge sponson fore and aft. The overall dimensions of the Jacksons was slightly larger than the Jeffersons which allowed an increase in aircraft capacity carried. The propulsion unit was enlarged for an increase of speed by 2 knots. Better armour protection was fitted round the vitals. The class were ordered as single units with about ten months between each order. The last had just been started as the first was completed.
| Displacement | 32,750 tons std 38,200 tons full load |
| Length | 822 ft |
| Breadth | 98 ft (hull) |
| Draught | 27 ft |
| Machinery | 4 shaft steam turbines 140,000shp |
| Speed | 32 knots |
| Range | 14,000 miles at 15 knots |
| Armour | 4" side armour, 1.5" deck armour, 1" FD |
| Armament | 8 x 4.5" (4x2) 48 x 1.1" AA (12x4) 30 x 20mm (30x1) |
| Aircraft | 95 |
| Torpedoes | nil |
| Complement | 2420 |
| Notes | CUS Andrew Jackson |
Dauntless during take-off, while aircraft are prepared in the hangar below. 20mm and 1.1" AA guns ready for battle.
