... Enterprise carried up to 100 aircraft (IIRC during the Guadalcanal landings 6-7 Aug), and had a longer range than the RN counterparts, meaning it could operate at longer distances without refueling :)dunmunro wrote:Enterprise class never operated with 100 aircraft. Typical 1942 mix was ~72 plus spares and typical mix after her 1943 refit was ~60 plus spares. AA armament as designed was 8 x 5"/38 (open mounts), 16 x 1.1" and 24 x .5". Illustrious/Implacable design armament was 16 x 4.5in (twin turrets), 48 x 40mm pom-pom and 32 x .5". At the end of the war both carriers had much increased automatic armament, but to do so Enterprise had to be widened via a blister (bulge) which considerably increased her displacement. Enterprise as designed had a very weak AA armament.alecsandros wrote:@Duncan,
Enterprise and Essex class carried up to 100 aircraft.
Implacablee carried around 80.
The USN carriers had lomger range in exchange for poorer protection
AA systems were comparable, at least in size.
Range was never an issue with RN carriers but the first 3 did have insufficient avgas capacity when their airgroups were enlarged via a deck park.
AA guns for Enterprise at Santa Cruz was 16x40mm, 4x28mm, 44x20mm and by Oct 1943 it was 40x40mm Bofors and 50 x 20mm Oerlikon.