In Their Words - Warships

	Heavy Aircraft Carriers (CV) - Aircraft Carriers were the dominant naval vessels of World War II. It had been thought in some quarters that battleships with their powerful artillery would play the key role in the war but air attacks at Taranto and Pearl Harbor had demonstrated their susceptibility to carrier-based planes. These ships were not heavily armored, but could carry between 90-100 aircraft usually in a mix of fighters, dive-bombers, and torpedo-bombers, making them fearsome opponents. Examples include the USS Lexington and USS Franklin.
	Light Aircraft Carriers (CVL) - These smaller vessels carried 34 planes and were initially used as a stop-gap measure in 1942 and 1943. During the course of that year most of the American heavy carriers had been sunk and light carriers were able to fill in while new larger vessels were being built. Examples include the USS Independence and USS Princeton.
	Escort Aircraft Carriers (CVE) - These ships were slightly smaller versions of the light carrier and were designed to operate in support of larger vessels; to shuttle new planes to heavy carriers and to escort convoys by performing anti-submarine duties. They generally carried around 30 aircraft and their small size earned them the nickname "Jeep Carriers." Examples include the USS St. Lo and USS Gambier Bay.
	Battleships (BB) - These heavily-armored vessels had dominated naval combat in World War I, but air power had limited their effectiveness at sea. They were equipped with massive, mounted guns; some capable of throwing a 2,000 lb shell over twenty miles. Naturally this made them extremely effective at shore bombardment during an amphibious invasion. If the occasion permitted, such as at the night-battle of Surigao Straits, they could be highly effective in ship-to-ship combat. Examples include the USS Arkansas and USS Iowa.
	Heavy Cruisers (CA) - Cruisers were large, powerful warships, although slightly smaller than the battleships. They were less expensive to build, but could perform many of the same duties. Examples include the USS Vincennes and USS Indianapolis.
	Light Cruisers (CL) - Light cruisers were yet smaller versions of the above which were typically used as escorts for larger ships or convoys. Examples include the USS Philadelphia and USS Juneau.
	Destroyers (DD) - These vessels and similar related ships such as 'destroyer-escorts' were lightly armored, fast warships. They specialized in anti-submarine warfare and frequently patrolled shipping lanes or escorted convoys. Examples include USS Johnston and USS Reuben James.
	Patrol Torpedo Boats (PT) - Comparatively small (c. 75 ft long), wooden warships designed attack larger vessels with torpedoes. They were poorly armored, but fast and maneuverable. Examples include PT 41 and PT 109.
	Submarines (SS) - Cramped, unique vessels capable of operating underwater. These highly-effective boats attacked merchant vessels and warships using torpedoes. Examples include USS Snook and USS Razorback.
	Hospital ships (AH) - These vessels were critical floating hospitals allowing for superior medical treatment in the close vicinity of the war zone. They were especially useful during Pacific Island invasions. Examples include USS Hope and USS Samaritan.
	Auxiliary Ships - In addition to the more glamorous vessels noted above there were many, many other critical support ships such as sub-tenders, mine-sweepers, oil tankers, etc. that were critical to US success in the war. Because the number and types of these vessels is so bewildering they often get short-changed in historical books or films, but without their contribution victory would have been impossible. Examples include USS Deimos and USS Hoga.
	Liberty Ships - These were a particular class of auxiliary ship that warrant special mention. They were essentially cargo ships that were built to transport supplies and equipment overseas in support of the war effort. They were slow and crudely constructed being primarily welded (instead of riveted) together. What made them so important were their numbers. Between 1941 and 1945 the United States cranked out no less than 2,751 of these vessels. It took American shipyards only 42 days on average to build one and so many were being worked on simultaneously that by 1945 anywhere from 3-5 were launched on any given day. These ships were being assembled quite literally faster than the Germans or Japanese could sink them and some historians have argued that they were the most important ships of the war. Examples include SS Stephen Hopkins and SS Richard Montgomery.