USS United States: The Aircraft Carrier Designed to Launch Bombers

USS United States: The Aircraft Carrier Designed to Launch Bombers

Key Points and Summary – The USS United States (CVA-58) was conceived as an 82,000-ton, island-less supercarrier to launch nuclear-capable heavy bombers—four hulls planned, one keel laid. Five days later, in April 1949, Defense Secretary Louis Johnson canceled it, siding with the new Air Force’s claim to the strategic bombing mission and citing costs. USS United States Aircraft Carrier U.S. Navy Photo. Image Credit: Creative Commons. -The decisi…