Evolution of Aircraft Carriers
The Washington Naval Treaty of 1922 placed strict limits on the tonnages of battleships and battlecruisers for the major naval powers after World War I, as well as not only a limit on the total tonnage for carriers but also an upper limit of 27000 tons for each ship. Although exceptions were made regarding the maximum ship tonnage, fleet units counted, experimental units did not, the total tonnage could not be exceeded. However, while all of the major navies were over-tonnage on battleships, they were all considerably under-tonnage on aircraft carriers. Consequently, many battleships and battlecruisers under construction (or in-service) were converted into aircraft carriers.
HMS Argus: the first full-length flat deck
The first full-length flat deck, HMS Argus in 1918
The first ship to have a full-length flat deck was HMS Argus, the conversion of which was completed in September 1918. The United States Navy did not follow suit until 1920, when the conversion of USS Langley, an experimental ship that did not count against America's carrier tonnage, was completed. The first American fleet carriers would not enter service until November 1927 when the USS Saratoga of the Lexington-class was commissioned. The lead ship of the class, USS Lexington, was commissioned the following month.
Hōshō: the first purpose-built aircraft carrier commissioned
The IJN's 1922 Hōshō was the first purpose-built aircraft carrier to be commissioned. The first purpose-designed aircraft carrier to be laid down as HMS Hermes (1924) in 1918. Japan began work on Hōshō the following year. In December 1922, Hōshō became the first to be commissioned, while Hermes was commissioned in February 1924.
HMS Hermes (1924): the first off-set control tower.
The design of HMS Hermes (1924) preceded and influenced that of Hōshō, and its construction actually began earlier, but numerous tests, experiments, and budget considerations delayed its commission. The long gestation of Hermes resulted finally in the first aircraft carrier to display the two most distinctive features of a modern aircraft carrier: the full-length flight deck and the starboard-side control tower island. With the exception of the squared-off flight deck prow and angled flight deck of later carriers, Hermes was the first to display the main features of the classic silhouette and plan the layout of the great majority of aircraft carriers produced over the next century. HMS Hermes (1924) was commissioned two days earlier than a sister aircraft carrier, HMS Eagle. Like Hermes, Eagle had a full-length flight deck and a starboard-side control tower island. Unlike Hermes, however, Eagle was a converted battleship and had a less integrated design and appearance than the purpose-designed Hermes.
Sources:
www.history.navy.mil/news-and...
Photo Credits:
- USS Langley
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- USS Lexington
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- USS Ranger
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- USS Essex
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- Midway Class
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- Forrestal Class
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- USS Enterprise
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