CSS Kentucky (CVB-1945)

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Started as the 4th Alabama class ship, unfortunately even with the highest priority the ship would not have been finished by wars end. To improve its priority and on hearing that the Japanese were converting some of their battleships to hybrid Battlecarriers the Bureau of Design whipped through a new plan for both the uncompleted Alabama's and Veracruz's (see Phillipines). Two designs were tried out one keeping the central superstructure citadel with angled deck out either side and the other with an angled deck only to one side. The Kentucky kept its central superstructure and with a double hangar supporting the flight deck. The biggest drawback was that only one elevator was fitted for both hangars. Getting the aircraft up to the flight deck could be a long process, a deck park of 3 'ready' aircraft was eventually kept on deck at all times. The flight deck being angled to both sides allowed landings to be made on one side while the other side held the catapult for launching aircraft.

Having a battleship hull to work meant that the double hangars could both be 17-18 feet high which allowed the ships to handle large helicopters which became its main purpose from the late 1950's when the retirement of the piston engined aircraft took away the types the Kentucky could handle. Its short take off and landing decks were no good for jets. Jets were eventually trialled and a ski jump fitted when the Harrier (AV-7) jump-jets became available in the late 70's.

The slow uplifting of aircraft was fixed when the ship was fitted with 2 deck edge lifts in the 1950's.

The ship retained its propulsion system with all gases being vented through the forward stack. Breadth was significantly altered by the bulges projecting out from the side of the ship to take the flight deck angles out each side. Side and deck armour remained the same. No armour was fitted to the flight deck or hangar sides. All of the munitions for the aircraft and the extra fuel types were housed behind the original armour and took the place of the aft 16" and 5" magazines and aircraft hangar that were below main deck level.

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