[Terry L Smith]

In WW2, we had a few ‘jeep carriers’, smaller than full-size carriers, but able to perform other missions.

[Retain Mike]

I wonder about all the electronics. If a missile or EMP hits the island does the ship (big or small) become just a room temperature iceberg? Bigger has an attraction for me in that it has more room for more state of the art defensive systems and a greater variety of offensive capabilities. The admirals just have to think out of their boxes, but is there really a chance of that?

[Hootowl99]

The WWII Jeep Carriers did not have the same mission as the fleet carriers. Jeeps were designed for convoy escort and support during assaults. They were slow and too lightly armed with planes, etc for major battle. Read up on the Taffy group during the Battle of Leyte Gulf. If not for an incompetent Japanese admiral, the invasion of the Philippine Islands would likely have been defeated.

The USN’s classes of assault carriers currently in service have a similar capability and role as the Jeeps did for WWII. They do not have near the capability to protect themselves as do the Nimitz and Ford classes nor are as fast.