Essex vs. Ford Comparison
6th November 2023
Do you find it a little disturbing that the combat capability of our aircraft carriers has not improved since WWII and, in fact, the only really important characteristic, air wing size, has markedly decreased?
Further, when factoring in the construction cost,
Early Essex $40M ($750M in 2023) [2]
Late Essex $78M ($1.33B in 2023) [2]
Ford $16B+
the Ford represents a staggering decrease in combat value for the dollar.It’s clear that our carriers have become less combat effective over time. I know that some of the less enlightened among you will attempt to say that a Ford can strike from a longer distance and with more precise, devastating weapons. Well, first, that’s a reflection of the air wing, not the carrier and, second, that’s an absurd comparison. The proper way to compare between WWII and today is to do so relative to the time period and the threats that existed during that period.