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USS Shangri-La CVA-38
Essex Class Carrier
decals to build any ship in the class.
When you buy from Totalnavy.com
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This kit has been
gone for close to 25 years. It's Back!
Not $29.00
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plus.
The Essex Class Carriers from 1950's to the 1980's
FEATURES:
Highly detailed plastic pieces molded in grey and clear
Version CVS-12
Apollo 11 capsule
4 type SH-3D helicopters
& 8 aircraft
Full hull with drive
equipment
Engraved angled deck
2 movable elevators
Authentic armaments
Reproduction
superstructures with radar equipment
Waterslide decals,
Illustrated instructions
Attention all Essex Aircraft Carrier veterans you can now
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Post War II Carrier Decals FREE when you buy the kit from Totalnavy.com
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NAV100 $7.95
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Photo-etched Set 50.00
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Post WWII Angled Deck USS Randolph
We have added hyperlinks to each Carrier Click your Ship below!
Attention all Essex Aircraft Carrier veterans you can now
build
a replica of the ship you served on in a detailed plastic
Model.
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Essential Skills Scale Modeling
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Catalogue
Essex Class Carriers
The Essex class of carriers was, though you may argue that point, in my opinion the best weapon in the world when commissioned, and stayed the best carrier class until the Midway class became available in October of 1945.
The Essex class was the successor of Hornet. Just as Hornet, it was designed after the limitations of the Washington Treaty were lifted in1936, and it was thus not necessary to obey to any rules other than those dictated by common sense. As a result, a class was devised which was to follow five main rules:
Each of these rules was followed. When USS Essex was commissioned into the Navy in early January, 1943, the US Navy had received all it had wanted. The carrier was able to carry up to a hundred planes, and, due to a aircraft lift to the port side of the flight deck, she was able to recover her planes while storing them in the hangar, and likewise for launching.
The ships were also highly
survivable. During the two years the Essex class saw service in the Pacific, none
of them was sunk, not even under the worst circumstances. This includes the devastation of
USS Franklin, hit by two bombs off Okinawa in March 1945, during the preparations
for the landing there. She suffered horrible fires aft, destroying planes and exploding
"friendly" bombs. With 724 dead and 265 wounded, the carrier's captain was given
permission to abandon the ship, but refused and saved Franklin. Bunker Hill, Admiral
Marc Mitscher's flagship, was hit by two Kamikazes in May, 1945, and survived as well,
with 389 dead or missing, and 264 wounded.
This may be to a great part
attributed to the reluctance of the crews to let their ships die, but also to the rugged
construction inherent in this class.
The Essex class
saw heavy service in the Pacific, beginning with the occupation of the Gilbert Islands in
Mid-1943, and the second carrier raid on Rabaul, with Essex, Bunker Hill and the
light carrier Independence. Throughout the war, the Essex class was the
spearhead of all Central Pacific operations, and temporarily supported the South Pacific
thrust of General Mac Arthur. Planes from these carriers were responsible for the
decimation of Japanese air units in the Marianas, the Philippines, Formosa, and eventually
Japan itself. With these carriers, the US Navy build up what was called the "Air
Navy", and with these carriers, the US Navy became the most powerful navy in the
world.
The Essex class was also highly
adaptable to modern technologies, and although not important in the World War 2 context,
the Essex class was to receive steel and angled flight decks to permit operation of
jet fighters. The service of these great ships was
welcome addition to the US Forces in Korea and in Vietnam.
The last Essex was
scrapped in 1989.
Ships in class: