[BroJoeK]

cgbg: "Carriers are great until we get in a real shooting war with a major power.
At that moment they will be ridiculously easy targets to hit and annihilate.
“No plan survives first contact with the enemy.” "

March 19, 1945: USS Franklin (CV-13) on fire after kamikaze attack:

Sure, the same as they were during WWII.

During WWII, the US lost 12 aircraft carriers sunk, including 5-fleet carriers, 1-light carrier and 6-escort carriers.
In addition, many other carriers suffered major damage requiring extensive repairs.

So, any suggestion that all US aircraft carriers will survive a war unscathed is ridiculous.

Regardless, US aircraft carriers were still essential to victory in the Pacific, and to victory in the Atlantic U-boat war, just as they would be in any future conflict with China.

Finally, all of the fleet carriers sunk in WWII came in the war's early years, none in the final two years, despite devastating Kamikaze attacks on many.
One reason is that newer carriers were built tougher to withstand increasing punishment.
Another reason is the use of destroyer "picket ships" used to shoot down Kamikazes before they could reach the fleet carriers.

So, bottom line -- while no carrier is invulnerable, they are all very tough and very well defended.

August 8, 2021: USS Ford (CVN-78), shock trials:

[cgbg]

The technological change since World War II is mind boggling.

Carriers remain huge targets while the incredible array of weapons available to attack them boggles the mind.

They can be attacked from space, air, ground, other ships and by submarines—all even simultaneously.

In the beginning of World War II some countries still thought riders on horseback were a reasonable military option.