Midway class aircraft carrier
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| Midway class aircraft carrier | |
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| Missing image USS_Midway.jpg | |
| Class Overview | |
| Class Type | Aircraft Carrier |
| Class Name | derived from the Battle of Midway |
| Preceded By | Ticonderoga-class aircraft carrier |
| Succeded By | United States-class supercarrier, Forrestal-class supercarrier |
| Ships of the Class: | Midway, Franklin D. Roosevelt, Coral Sea |
The Midway class aircraft carrier was one of the longest lived carrier designs in modern history. First commissioned in late 1945, the lead ship of the class, USS Midway was not decommissioned until 1991, shortly after seeing service in the Gulf War.
The class was originally conceived as the largest aircraft carrier of the era, with the ability to ferry more planes than any other carrier in the US fleet (30-40 more aircraft than the Essex-class). In their original configuration of World War II aircraft, they had an airwing of almost 130 aircraft. Unfortunately, it was soon realized that so many planes was beyond the effective command and control ability of one ship. However, the greater carrying ability of the class made it perfect for the larger and heavier jet fighter planes that started showing up in the 1950's.
None of the class went on war cruises during the Korean War and were mainly deployed to the Mediterranean. Carriers of the Midway class did perform combat duties in the Vietnam War. Coral Sea was deployed to Vietnamese waters a half a dozen times, Midway was deployed on three occasions, and Franklin D. Roosevelt saw one short combat deployment before again frequenting the Mediterranean.
As the 1970s drew to a close, the Midway class of carriers began to show their age. In 1977, Franklin D. Roosevelt was decommissioned, with the other two ships sure to follow. On her final deployment, Roosevelt included AV-8 Harrier jump jets in her air wing, to test the concept of including STOVL aircraft in a carrier air wing. The other two ships were rescued from their fate by the election of Ronald Reagan in 1980. His policy of a large military buildup resulted in the remaining ships of the class having their service lives extended.
But even this reprieve could not last. By 1990, Coral Sea, which had long since earned the nickname "Ageless Warrior", was on the list for decommissioning. Midway had one last war to take part in, and was one of the six aircraft carriers deployed by the US against Iraq in the Gulf War. A few months after the war, the last of the class left Navy service.
Coral Sea was slowly scrapped over nearly six years as legal and environmental troubles continually delayed her fate. Midway spent over a decade in mothballs before being rescued by a museum group. The ship is now open to the public as a San Diego museum.
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General characteristics
As built (1940s)
USS_Franklin_D_Roosevelt.jpg
- Displacement: 45,000 tons (stand)
- Length: 968 ft (295 m) (oa)
- Beam: 113 ft (34.4 m) at w. 1.
- Draft: 33 ft (10.1 m) max
- Armament: 18 x 5 in (127 mm) 54 DP; 21 x 40 mm quads; 28 x 20 mm
- Speed: 33 knots (61 km/h)
- Power: 212,000 hp (158 MW)
- Drive: 4 screws; geared turbines
- Aircraft: 130 (theoretical), 100 (practical)
USS Coral Sea, as retired (1991)
USS_Coral_Sea.jpg
- Displacement: 65,200 tons full load
- Length: 1003 feet/305.7 meters
- Beam: 236 feet/72 meters
- Draft: 35 feet/10.7 meters
- Armament: 3 Phalanx CIWS
- Speed: 33 knots (61 km/h)
- Power: 212,000 hp (158 MW)
- Drive: 4 screws; geared turbines
- Aircraft: 65
USS Midway, as retired (1992)
- Displacement: 69,873 tons full load
- Length: 976 feet/297.5 meters
- Beam: 263.5 feet/80.3 meters
- Draft: 35 feet/10.7 meters
- Armament: 2 x 8-cell Sea Sparrow launchers, 2 x Mark 71 mod 0 Phalanx CIWS
- Speed: 33 knots (61 km/h)
- Power: 212,000 hp (158 MW)
- Drive: 4 screws; geared turbines
- Aircraft: 75
| Midway-class aircraft carrier |
| Midway | Franklin D. Roosevelt | Coral Sea |
| List of aircraft carriers of the United States Navy |