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In article , Scott Peterson
wrote:

My understanding is that both ships were completely repaired...at
least that's what the Bunker Hill veterans that I've talked to have
said. . As the "low milage" ships at the end of the war they were
held back for a super upgrade when needed. However, by the mid 1950's
it was clear that the Essexes were too small to operate the jets that
were coming into service. Also, the cost of upgrading the Essexes
already in service went far over budget. As a result the Navy had no
interest in spending any money on the Franklin and Bunker Hill. They
didn't want Essexes, they wanted Forrestals and even bigger ships.

Thanks for that perspective. My suspicion was that they might have been
only partially repaired and perhaps needed more work on interior spaces or
aircraft support equipment to make them fully operational again. But it's
entirely believable that by the time they emerged from drydock, there was
really no need for them and so they got mothballed.




D