First, the development of the evolution.
The Midway-class aircraft carrier is a type of aircraft carrier under the United States Navy, which was designed during World War II. In the later stages of the Pacific War, the U.S. Navy conducted research on the protection of aircraft carrier decks based on the combat experience of British aircraft carriers and the damage to their own aircraft carriers during the Pacific War. The study found that if the aircraft carrier wants to maintain both deck defense capability and sufficient carrier-based aircraft combat power, the size of the hull must be further enlarged. As a result, the US Navy began to design the Midway-class aircraft carrier, which had a standard displacement of up to 45,000 tons and a full load displacement of 60,000 tons, far surpassing the largest Lexington-class aircraft carriers at that time.
There are three midway-class aircraft carriers: the CVB-41 Midway, the CVB-42 Roosevelt, and the CVB-43 Coral Sea, all built during World War II. It was originally planned to build six ships, but due to the end of the war, subsequent construction plans were cancelled.
Second, technical characteristics.
1.Armored flight deck: The Midway-class was the first U.S. aircraft carrier to have an armored flight deck, increasing the survivability of the carrier.
2.Large hulls: The larger hulls of the Midway-class aircraft carriers far exceeded those of the largest Lexington-class aircraft carriers at the time, helping to improve the combat effectiveness of carrier-based aircraft.
3.High-efficiency power system: steam turbine, 12 boilers, 4 shafts, 212,000 horsepower, the maximum speed of about 30 knots, with good power performance.
3. Performance data.
1.Displacement: standard displacement 51,000 tons, full load displacement 64,000 tons.
2.Captain: 2984 meters.
3.Width: 3688 meters.
4.Draught: 109 meters.
5.Flight deck width: 7254 meters.
6.Endurance: 1430,000 nautical miles.
7.Carrier-based aircraft: A total of about 68 military aircraft of various types, including about 4 E-2C airborne early warning aircraft, four squadrons of F A-18A B C D fighters (about 48 aircraft), and two squadrons of A-6E attack aircraft (about 16 aircraft, decommissioned).
Fourth, service dynamics.
The Midway-class aircraft carriers underwent a series of modifications after World War II, including the addition of an angled flight deck. During the Cold War, they actively participated in military operations such as the Korean War and the Vietnam War. After the end of the Cold War, the Midway-class aircraft carriers continued to serve, participating in conflicts such as the Gulf War. However, with the development of the times, these aircraft carriers gradually withdrew from the stage of history. The Midway was decommissioned in 1992 and decommissioned in 1997. In 2003, the Navy donated the USS Midway to a civilian organization and converted it into a museum ship.