The Essex-class aircraft carrier is an American aircraft carrier.
Description[]
In the late 1930s, the US Navy decided to extend their aircraft carrier force in order to improve its naval strength. This led to the Essex-class, a series of 24 large carriers build between 1942 and 1950. 12 of them have been commissioned during World War II and saw extensive service in the Pacific against the Japanese Empire. With up to 100 aircraft the Essex-class could operate one squadron of fighters more than their predecessors, the Yorktown-class. Usually grouped to carrier task forces of up to five carriers, the Essex-class ships took part in every major battle in the Pacific from mid 1943 onwards. Though some of them received considerable damage from suicide bombers, torpedo attacks and accidents, none of the ships ever got lost or damaged beyond repair. After the war most of the Essex-class received extensive modifications, including an angled flight deck to fulfill the operational requirements of new generation of carrier-based aircraft particularly jet-powered ones, and served throughout the Cold war with the last one retired in 1991.
In BattleGroup42, the Essex-class has four twin 5"/38 calibre gun turrets, which have two firing modes - as anti-aircraft guns or as naval artillery. It also has four dual Bofors 40mm guns for standard anti-aircraft defense. As a result the Essex-class is much less vulnerable to enemy attacks compared with other aircraft carriers in the mod.
One can be found in 4409-Operation Stalemate, 4508-Yamashita Treasure and 4701-Antarctica. Depending on the scenario, a Douglas SBD Dauntless, a Vought Corsair or a Hellcat and a TBF Avenger spawn on the flight deck. In 4701-Antarctica, the carrier's naval air component consists of two F8F Bearcats and a Sikorsky R-5 helicopter. In addition to the LCVPs that spawn at the rear of the carrier, there also spawns a LVT-4 Water Buffalo amphibious tracked vehicle amidship on port side.
Trivia[]
- The ship's model is ported and modified from Battlefield Vietnam counterpart of BattleGroup42 mod.
- Although promotional render suggests the Essex-class is represented by USS Essex in the mod, the number "41" on flight deck suggests the ship is actually USS Midway, the lead ship of her own class of aircraft carriers.
Gallery[]
