CUS Theodore Roosevelt (CV-1944+)

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Like other late war aircraft carriers, the Roosevelt type were huge. First CUA Navy ships past the 1000 foot mark they were bigger in dimensions than the Montana class battleships and were almost as big by displacement too. With a huge ship comes a huge air wing as well. With over a hundred aircraft being able to be fitted in the hangar area this was made possible, by the use for the first time, of three deck edge elevators and no centerline elevators at all. This helped keep the flight deck free for operations rather than having to wait for aircraft to be got out of the road by elevator before the next event could take place.

The defensive armament for the first time on a CUA carrier comprised the 4.5" and 3" fully automatic weapons in twin mountings. The accuracy and knockdown capability of these weapons when coupled with the latest radar outfits was nothing short of phenomenal for the time. The propulsion system was also of huge capacity to drive the ships to 32 knots. The slight speed advantage over the escorting battleships was required to allow the carriers to maneuver within the escort box for flight operations. The original order was for ten of these ships but the order was trimmed to eight, then six as the end of the war came closer. The final two units were eventually completed just months post-war.

Note the lack of centerline lifts showing at the rear of the ship. The F4U Corsair is being launched on a search mission with the twin extra drop tanks in the wing roots.

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