[iowamark]

USS Iwo Jima was laid down on this date but never finished or christened as she was cancelled after the Jap surrender. The name was selected after the Battle of Iwo Jima.

There were 32(!) Essex class carriers planned, with 24 completed.

[BroJoeK]

iowamark: "There were 32(!) Essex class carriers planned, with 24 completed."

Coincidentally or not, today's US carrier force is still approx. 24 hulls, including our Essex class sized amphibious assault ships.

Yes, from time to time we hear of new enemy weapons which can render our flat-tops obsolete.
At the same time, new defensive weapons could keep them in a modern fight.

But by far, the biggest enemies of US carriers are Democrat defense budget cutters, to the point now where I shudder to think how few of our carrier groups today are fully combat ready.

USS Iowa Jima, 40,000 ton amphibious assault ship: