This World War II Aircraft Carrier Was Packed With Firepower

When the United States entered World War II, the Navy became one of the most important forces in the Allied war effort. Aircraft carriers helped change the nature of naval warfare, shifting power away from battleship-centered fleets and toward mobile air power that could strike across vast distances. In the Pacific especially, carriers became essential to challenging Japan’s once-dominant navy.

Some American carriers were more than floating airfields. They also carried heavy defensive weapons, anti-aircraft guns, and large air groups designed to protect the ship while projecting power far beyond the horizon. These vessels had to survive submarine threats, air attacks, kamikaze strikes, and some of the most intense naval battles of the war.

History Computer looked at one World War II-era American aircraft carrier that stood out for its firepower, scale, and role in U.S. naval history. Its weapons, aircraft, and battlefield record show how quickly carrier warfare evolved and why these ships became central to America’s rise as a global military power.

29. New York-class Battleship

First year launched: 1912
Number built: 2
Crew: 1,042
Armament: 5 x 14 in twin guns, 21 x 5 in single guns, 4 x 21 in torpedo tubes

28. Pennsylvania-class battleship

First year launched: 1915
Number built: 2
Crew: 915
Armament: 4 x 360 mm/.45cal triple guns, 12 x 130 mm/.51cal guns, 12 x 130 mm/.25cal anti-aircraft guns
Aircraft capacity: 3

27. New Mexico-class battleship

First year launched: 1917
Number built: 3
Crew: 1,084
Armament: 12 x 14 in/.50cal, 14 x 5 in/.51cal, 2 x 21 in torpedo tubes

26. Tennessee-class battleship

First year launched: 1919
Number built: 2
Crew: 1,083
Armament: 4 x 14 in triple guns, 14 x 5 in single guns, 4 x 3 in single guns, 2 x 21 in torpedo tubes

25. Indiana-Class Battleship

First year launched: 1893
Number built: 3
Crew: 473
Armament: 4 x 13 in/.35cal, 8 x 8 in/.35cal, 4 x 6 in/.40cal, two Colt gatling guns, 3 torpedo tubes

24. Colorado-class battleship

First year launched: 1920
Number built: 4
Crew: 1,080
Armament: 8 x 16 in/.45cal Mark 1 guns, 12 x 5 in/.51-cal guns, 4x3in/0.23-cal guns, 2x21in torpedo tubes
Aircraft capacity: 4

23. Omaha-class light cruiser

First year launched: 1921
Number built: 10
Crew: 458
Armament: 12 x 6 in/.53-cal guns, 2 x 3 in single anti-aircraft guns, 10 x 21 in torpedo tubes

22. Lexington-class aircraft carrier

First year launched: 1925
Number built: 2
Crew: 2,122
Armament: 4 x 8 in/.55-cal twin guns, 12 x 5 in anti-aircraft guns
Aircraft capacity: 91

21. Northampton-class heavy cruiser

First year launched: 1929 (tied)
Number built: 6
Crew: 621
Armament: As built: 3 x 8 in/.55-cal triple guns, 4 x 5 in/.25-cal anti-aircraft guns, 6 x 21 in torpedo tubes; 1941: 3 x 8 in/.55-cal triple guns, 8 Ã 5 in/.25-cal anti-aircraft guns, 2 x 47 mm saluting guns, 4 x 1.1 in/.75-cal anti-aircraft guns
Aircraft capacity: 4

20. Pensacola-class heavy cruiser

First year launched: 1929 (tied)
Number built: 2
Crew: 653
Armament: 10 x 203 mm/.55-cal guns, 4 x 127 mm/.25-cal anti-aircraft guns

19. Portland-class heavy cruiser

First year launched: 1932
Number built: 2
Crew: 848
Armament: 3 x 8 in /.55-cal triple guns, 8 x 5 in/.25-cal anti-aircraft guns, 2 x 47 mm 3-pounder guns, 4 x 40 mm quad Bofors anti-aircraft guns, 4 x 40 mm twin Bofors anti-aircraft guns, 17 x 20 mm Oerlikon anti-aircraft cannons
Aircraft capacity: 4

18. New Orleans-class heavy cruiser

First year launched: 1933 (tied)
Number built: 7
Crew: 899
Armament: 3 x 200 mm/.55-cal triple guns, 8 x 130 mm/.25-cal anti-aircraft guns, 2 x 37 mm saluting guns
Aircraft capacity: 4

17. Ranger-class aircraft carrier

First year launched: 1933 (tied)
Number built: 1
Crew: 2,461
Armament: 8 x 5 in/.25-cal anti-aircraft guns, 40 x .50-cal machine guns
Aircraft capacity: 86

16. Yorktown-class aircraft carrier

First year launched: 1936
Number built: 3
Crew: 2,217
Armament: 8 x 5 in/.38-cal guns, 4 x 1.1 in/.75-cal machine guns, 24 x .50-cal machine guns
Aircraft capacity: 90

15. Brooklyn-class light cruiser

First year launched: 1937
Number built: 9
Crew: 868
Armament: 5 x 152 mm/.47-cal triple guns, 8 x 127 mm/.25-cal anti-aircraft guns, 8 x .50-cal machine guns
Aircraft capacity: 4

14. St. Louis-class light cruiser

First year launched: 1938
Number built: 2
Crew: 888
Armament: 15 x 6 in/.50-cal Mark 6 guns, 8 x 5 in/.50-cal Mark 8 guns, 16 x 1.1 in guns, 12 x 20 mm saluting guns, 1 depth charge rack

13. Wasp-class aircraft carrier

First year launched: 1939
Number built: 1
Crew: 1,800
Armament: 8 x 5 in guns, 4 x 1.1 in anti-aircraft guns, 24 x .50-cal machine guns
Aircraft capacity: 80

12. Long Island-class escort carrier

First year launched: 1940 (tied)
Number built: 1
Crew: 970
Armament: 1 x 5 in/.51-cal gun, 2 x 3 in/.50-cal gun
Aircraft capacity: 21

11. North Carolina-class battleship

First year launched: 1940 (tied)
Number built: 2
Crew: 1,880
Armament: 9 x 16 in Mark 6 guns, 20 x 5 in/.38-cal guns, 16 x 1.1 in machine guns

10. Atlanta-class light cruiser

First year launched: 1941 (tied)
Number built: 8
Crew: 673
Armament: 8 x 5 in/.38-cal twin Mark 12 guns, 9 x 1.1 in/.75-cal anti-aircraft guns, 8 x 21 in torpedo tubes

9. Bogue-class escort carrier

First year launched: 1941 (tied)
Number built: 45
Crew: 890
Armament: 1942: 2 x 5 in/.51-cal guns, 10 x 20 mm Oerlikon anti-aircraft cannons; 1945: 2 x 5 in/.38-cal guns, 8 x 40 mm twin Bofors anti-aircraft guns, 20 x 20 mm Oerlikon anti-aircraft cannon
Aircraft capacity: 24

8. Cleveland-class light cruiser

First year launched: 1941 (tied)
Number built: 29
Crew: 1,255
Armament: 4 x 152 mm/.47-cal triple guns, 6 x 127 mm/.38-cal twin guns, 4 x 40 mm quad Bofors guns, 6 x 40 mm twin Bofors guns, 10 x 20 mm twin Oerlikon cannons
Aircraft capacity: 4

7. South Dakota-class battleship

First year launched: 1941 (tied)
Number built: 4
Crew: 2,364
Armament: 9 x 406 mm/.45-cal Mark 6 guns, 16 x 127 mm/.38-cal DP guns, 68 x 40 mm guns, 76 x 20 mm guns

6. Baltimore-class heavy cruiser

First year launched: 1942 (tied)
Number built: 14
Crew: 1,700
Armament: 3 x 203 mm/.55-cal triple guns, 6 x 127 mm/.38-cal twin guns, 12 x 40 mm quad Bofors anti-aircraft guns, 24 x 20 mm Oerlikon anti-aircraft cannons
Aircraft capacity: 4

5. Essex-class aircraft carrier

First year launched: 1942 (tied)
Number built: 24
Crew: 2,600
Armament: 4 x 5 in/.38-cal twin guns, 4 x 5 in/.38-cal singe guns, 8 x 1.6 in/.56-cal quad guns, 46 x 0.8 in/.78-cal anti-aircraft guns

4. Independence-class light carrier

First year launched: 1942 (tied)
Number built: 9
Crew: 1,569
Armament: 24 x 40 mm Bofors guns, 22 x 20 mm anti-aircraft guns
Aircraft capacity: 30

3. Iowa-class battleship

First year launched: 1942 (tied)
Number built: 4
Crew: 1,921
Armament: 3 x 16 in/.50-cal triple Mark 7 guns, 20 x 5 in/.38-cal Mark 12 guns, 80 x 40mm/.56-cal Bofors anti-aircraft guns, 49 x 20 mm/.70-cal Oerlikon anti-aircraft guns
Aircraft capacity: 3

2. Casablanca-class escort carrier

First year launched: 1943 (tied)
Number built: 50
Crew: 860
Armament: 1 x 5 in/.38-cal DP gun, 8 x 40 mm twin Oerlikon cannons, 28 x 20 mm Bofors anti-aircraft guns
Aircraft capacity: 28

1. Alaska-class large cruiser

First year launched: 1943 (tied)
Number built: 2
Crew: 2,251
Armament: 9 x 305 mm guns, 12 x 127 mm dual purpose guns, 56 x 40 mm guns, 34 x 20 mm guns
Aircraft capacity: 4