United States Navy - Aircraft Carrier No. 2 (1922)

[Graham1973]

This is from Volume 1 of the United Navies 'Springstyles' plan books and is the design that might have been built had the Washington Naval Treaty not led to the conversion of Lexington and Saratoga.

As with a lot of early carrier designs there is a heavy surface armament, with a main battery of 6 x 6inch guns in three twin turrets, one forward of the bridge, the other two at the stern below the flight deck. The secondary battery is made up of 12 x 5 inch DP Guns and six 21inch TT thrown in for good measure. Design speed was 34 knots.

Photo # S-584-180 picture data

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[Dilandu]

Interesting to note, that despite being pre-Washington design it's almost 40.000 ton big. A clear demonstration that Washington Treaty did not affect carrier development as much as it often perceived; the realization of the large carriers advantages was already in minds.

 

[Graham1973]

Interesting to note, that despite being pre-Washington design it's almost 40.000 ton big. A clear demonstration that Washington Treaty did not affect carrier development as much as it often perceived; the realization of the large carriers advantages was already in minds.

The same site has plans for 'Treaty Compliant' carriers ranging from 29,000 tons to 10,000 tons, the former has a 9 x 8inch main battery (Three triple turrets), torpedo tubes and a very oddly shaped flight deck, the latter looks rather like the USS Langley (CV-1).

 

[JFC Fuller]

A comprehensive set of the drawings, as reference by Graham1973 above, can be found here. These are really fascinating, thanks for posting Graham.

 

[1Big Rich]

Excellent!!

I just referenced this design in the 'No Washington Treaty' thread over in Alternate History and Future Speculation:

https://www.secretprojects.co.uk/threads/what-if-no-treaty-of-washington-1922.33819/

Thanks for posting!

Regards,

 

[Graham1973]

Interesting to note, that despite being pre-Washington design it's almost 40.000 ton big. A clear demonstration that Washington Treaty did not affect carrier development as much as it often perceived; the realization of the large carriers advantages was already in minds.

Apologies for the 2 yr wait for a reply, but a recent video on YouTube discusses the various 'Fleet Problems' the US Navy conducted in the lead up to the Lexington and Saratoga coming into service and it's clear from what's covered that this was indeed the case.

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zaQ_VGhFP8k