"Peter Stickney" wrote in message
...
W. D. Allen Sr. wrote:

The Douglas A3D Skywarrior was probably the biggest operated from
the 27C class modified WWII carriers.

Could we count the modified P2Vs that the nuclear strike VC squadrons
were to use? They did do a number of launches from the various
Midways (Which, I think, count as WW 2 ships).
Although they did have hooks, and performed FCLPs, according to Holly
Hills, who flew 'em after he returned to the Navy after flying in the
RCAF, they never could find a Carrier Skipper who'd let them come
aboard his ship in any manner other than a crane.

--
Pete Stickney
Java Man knew nothing about coffee.

Construction on the Midways was started during WWII but it was not rushed.
When they were ordered it was realized that they would not be required
during the War, so they were planned from the beginning to combine the best
features of the carriers used during the war. A kind of "lessons learned
carrier. They had about the same aircraft complement and the same speed as
the Essexs they were 45,000 tons compared to the approximate 31,000 ton
Essexs. There were originally supposed to be six Midways, but only three
were built and they were not completed until after the war was over. IIRC
the Midways were the first US ships ordered that were designed from the
start as being too wide to fit through the Panama canal.

(The following is more useless information from someone with too much time
on their hands, because its raining and I can't go fishing. Aviation
content? Yes the BB's carried scout planes, and were on the way to the
pacific to shout down jap naval aircraft.)Yes before anyone asks the Iowa
Class BB's could and did go through the Panama Canal. I know the New Jersey
was the first through the canal going through on 7 Jan 1944. The Iowa sailed
from Norfolk (?) on 2 Jan 44 but it probably took 7 days to get to the Canal
so most likely it was the 2d one through. The Wisconsin went through at the
end of Sep '44 followed by the Missouri on 18 Nov '44. The canal locks are
officially 33 meters (108.26 feet) wide and the battleships are supposed to
be 108 feet 2 inches (or 108.66 feet) at the water line. Tight fit ?