"PVK" wrote in
:

Mitch, I've thoroughly enjoyed the tour of this fine ship. I am an
ex-marine engineer ( as well as an aviation nut ) so its been
particularly interesting.

Many years ago, I attended a lecture at the Institute of Marine
Engineers in London and the guest speaker maintained that, taking
into account its era, the context of the requirements that it had been
designed to meet, and its operational history and longevity, the
Essex-class carrier was a candidate for the most successful capital
ship ever designed.

Excellent series !


I remember reading an interview with Tojo before he was
executed, about what he thought caused Japan to lose the
war. He listed the island-hopping strategy, the US submarine
campaign - and the Essex class carrier.