USS United States (CVA-58)

[KJ_Lesnick]

I've done some searches about the proposed United-States-Class Carrier. 

From what I read, it was primarily designed around operating jet-powered nuclear-bombers with weights up to 100,000 pounds with projected sizes similar to the P2V in order to allow the USN a nuclear bombing capability as to rival the USAAF/USAF's B-36; later developing the secondary roles of providing CAS for amphibious forces and sea-control operations.  It had an unusual flight-deck set-up which was completely flush at the insistence of top-brass (of which were Naval Aviators) with what appeared to be angled flight-decks allowing aircraft to be launched and recovered simultaneously.  Unlike the USS Midway, it was fitted with 4-catapults, two on the main-deck, and two on each angled-section.

This still leaves me with a lot of questions

Firstly: Why there was such an insistence on having a flush-deck?  Admittedly, the means to launch and recover aircraft simultaneously is useful, but using one long angled deck would do that just fine (technically all of our modern carriers are actually configured that way)

Secondly: I remember hearing that because of the lack of a conventional island, it was not possible to fit radar-antennae to the carrier and as a result they proposed a command ship which would mount the radar and feed the data to the carrier.  Were they ever able to get around this obstacle?  I'm thinking they could have mounted a radar-antenna on the sides of the ship provided it was mounted high-up enough.  I'm not sure how tall the ship is, but destroyers aren't all that tall up, and they mount radar-antennas just fine.

Thirdly:  I remember seeing an extendable structure which appeared almost like a bridge -- was it a bridge, or a pri-fly area?

Thirdly: How long was the carrier?  I have done some checking and have seen several figures most of them revolving around a 1,090 foot length; but I've heard 1,190 thrown around here and there too.  Was 1,190 feet a mistake, or was it simply the fact that the design was lengthened as it evolved?


KJ Lesnick

[rickshaw]

A flush deck allows limitations on wingspan to be relaxed.  With nothing projecting above the deck, you can therefore have an aircraft who's wingspan exceeds the width of the deck.  I am sure that this has been explained in numerous books and articles about the MIDWAY design.  I remember reading about it first some 30+ years ago.

[Thorvic]

The USS United States design actually predates the angled flight deck concept for landing, it had offset catapults so they angled out after the bow cats so ity could launch 4 aircraft at a timebut it was still and axial landing deck.