USS Enterprise

Survived

Type	Aircraft carrier
Class	Yorktown
War	Second World War
Main guns	8 × single 5 in/38 cal guns

Her dive bombers sank Akagi, Kaga and Hiryū at Midway. Hit by three bombs at the Eastern Solomons and two at Santa Cruz, and stayed in the fight. After Hornet was sunk she was for a time the only working American carrier in the Pacific. The most decorated US ship of the war.

The U.S. Navy aircraft carrier USS Enterprise (CV-6) making 20 knots during post-overhaul trials in Puget Sound, Washington (USA), on 13 September 1945. Photo: Unknown, Public domain · Wikimedia Commons

Armament and specifications

Armament

8 × single 5 in/38 cal guns
4 × quad 1.1 in/75 cal guns
24 × .50 caliber machine guns

From April 1942

8 × 5 in/38 cal
4 × quad 1.1 in/75 cal
30 × 20 mm Oerlikon cannons

From mid-June 1942 to mid-September 1942

5 × quad 1.1 in/75 cal
32 × 20 mm Oerlikons

From mid-September 1942

4 × quad 40 mm Bofors guns
1 × quad 1.1 in/75 cal
44 × 20 mm Oerlikons (46 from 11/42)

From October 1943

40 × 40 mm Bofors (8×2, 6×4)
50 × 20 mm Oerlikon

From September 1945

54 × 40 mm Bofors (5×2, 11×4)
32 × 20 mm Oerlikons (16×2)

Armour

2.5–4 in belt
60 lb protective decks
4 in bulkheads
4 in side and 2 in top round conning tower
4 in side over steering gear

Builder	Newport News Shipbuilding
Laid down	16 July 1934
Launched	3 October 1936
Commissioned	12 May 1938
Displacement	19,800 tons standard 25,500 tons full load From October 1943: 21,000 tons standard 32,060 tons full load
Length	761 ft (232.0 m) waterline 809 ft 6 in (246.7 m) overall From October 1943: 827 ft 5 in (252.2 m) overall length
Speed	32.5 knots (60.2 km/h; 37.4 mph)
Complement	2,217 officers and men (1941)