Only six Essex-class carriers sortied with TF 38. Intrepid, Franklin and Bunker Hill have been returned to west coast yards to repair damage in the Leyte campaign. While there, they will also receive major overhauls and upgrades, particularly with AA and radar. The six active carriers represents the low point of USN carrier strength since a year ago.
But that’s the impressive thing about the United States Navy in World War 2: we can rotate fleet units back home for repairs, and at the same time perform significant upgrades and overhaul while there. Meanwhile we still conduct active operations with the most powerful fleet in the world. And we know there are more carriers working up to join them.
Even though the USN was down to 6 Essex class carriers we still had 6 or more of the Independence class light carriers as well as several dozen, at least, of escort carriers.
And as the Battle of Samar showed the CVEs could pack a punch.
The light carriers (CVL) were just a bit better than the escort carriers. The CVL air group was around 35 aircraft vs about 20 aircraft on a CVE. The CVLs chief asset was they could keep up with the Essex class carriers.
Regards
alfa6 ;>}