CVA-58 1:2400 x1

CVA-58, the USS United States, was planned to be the lead ship of a new class of supercarriers. The main role of CVA-58 was to be long range nuclear strikes and it carried a group of 12-18 AJ Savage nuclear-capable bombers and a wing of 54 fighters for escort duty. At the time, nuclear weapons were extremely heavy and required large aircraft (like the Savage) to carry them. Advances in weapon design soon changed this. Approved in July 1948, the keel was laid down on April 18, 1949. However, resistance from the Air Force and Army and questions about its role caused its cancellation only 5 days later. Five ships were planned for the class.