Military Model Scene

Title: Essex Class Aircraft Carriers 1945-91
Author: Mark Stille
Publisher: Osprey
ISBN: 978-1-4728-4581-8

Number 310 in the New Vanguard series, this new 48-page soft-cover book focuses on the post-war careers of the famous Essex class of aircraft carriers. Built in WW2 it was the most numerous class of carrier built during the war. Once the war was over. most were soon put into reserve, leaving just 5 in service.
There is a very brief bit of background of their WW2 design and service, then it gets into the 5 different modernisation programmes which were undertaken to enable more of those kept in reserve to be returned to service. This not only supported the effort for the Korean war, but they included the installation of a new Hurricane bow (fully enclosed) and a new, angled flight deck, as well as new radars and sensors. These changes still needed other changes to enable the ships manage the increased weight, so other changes were needed to enable these new developments. Those which had the new angled deck installed were able to operate newer, swept wing jet aircraft, quite different to the WW2 era piston engined machines they were originally designed to have. Even after the appearance of new Super Carriers in the 1960s, the Essex class still had their uses, as ASW and training carriers, let alone further service during the Vietnam War. There are details of what happened to each of the individual carriers. Most were scrapped eventually, or sunk as artificial reefs, while just 4 remain as museum ships.
Accompanied by some nice artwork and archive photos of the individual ships, this post-WW2 history of this famous class of aircraft carrier, and how the design was adapted to cope with the quickly changing technology of aircraft and other systems. Interesting I think not only for naval historians, but I think many ship modellers will find this interesting to read as well.
Thanks to Osprey of our copy.

Robin