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Photo # 80-G-706108:  October 1948 concept artwork of the aircraft carrier United States

Online Library of Selected Images:
-- U.S. NAVY SHIPS --

USS United States (CVA-58),
Fiscal Year 1949 Building Program. Cancelled April 1949

United States, a 65,000-ton attack aircraft carrier, was the Navy's first carrier of post-World War II concept and design. Intended to carry relatively large jet-propelled strategic bombers, she was laid down at Newport News, Virginia, on 18 April 1949. However, her construction was cancelled only five days later by Secretary of Defense Louis Johnson, in favor of building a large force of land-based B-36 bombers. The small amount of material already worked into the United States was subsequently broken up in her building dock.

This page features all the views we have related to the cancelled aircraft carrier United States (CVA-58).


If you want higher resolution reproductions than the digital images presented here, see: "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions."

Click on the small photograph to prompt a larger view of the same image.

Photo #: 80-G-706108

USS United States (CVA-58)


Artist's conception by Bruno Figallo, October 1948, showing the ship's approximate planned configuration as of that time. Many details, among them the location of smoke stacks, elevators and the retractable bridge, were then still not finally decided.
This carrier was laid down at Newport News, Virginia, on 18 April 1949 and cancelled by the Secretary of Defense a few days later.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives.

Online Image: 131KB; 740 x 600 pixels

Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system.

 
Photo #: 80-G-707175

USS United States (CVA-58)


Workmen lay the ship's 15-ton keel plate and initial shell plate, in a construction dry dock at the Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Company shipyard, Newport News, Virginia, 18 April 1949. The carrier was cancelled a few days later, on 23 April.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives.

Online Image: 104KB; 740 x 605 pixels

Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system.

 
Photo #: 80-G-707176

USS United States (CVA-58)


Ship's keel plate being laid in a construction dry dock at the Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Company shipyard, Newport News, Virginia, 18 April 1949. The carrier was cancelled a few days later, on 23 April.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives.

Online Image: 124KB; 740 x 605 pixels

Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system.

 


The following views show a preliminary design model of the carrier United States, which does not reflect her final intended appearance:

Photo #: NH 93831

USS United States (CVA-58)


Preliminary design model undergoing seakeeping tests at the David Taylor Model Basin, Carderock, Maryland, circa 1947. This is an early version of the CVA-58 design, without catapult sponsons. Note the folding smokestacks in the "up" position.
Aircraft models on the flight deck appear to represent the F7U fighter and a notional heavy attack bomber.

Copied from a photograph in File F-3, B-36 Carrier Charactoristics File in the records of OP-23, held by the Operational Archives Branch, Naval Historical Center, 1982.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 104KB; 740 x 605 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 93832

USS United States (CVA-58)


Preliminary design model undergoing seakeeping tests at the David Taylor Model Basin, Carderock, Maryland, circa 1947. This is an early version of the CVA-58 design, without catapult sponsons. Note the folding smokestacks in the "down" position, as they would have been during flight operations.
Aircraft models on the flight deck appear to represent the F7U fighter and a notional heavy attack bomber.

Copied from a photograph in File F-3, B-36 Carrier Charactoristics File in the records of OP-23, held by the Operational Archives Branch, Naval Historical Center, 1982.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 88KB; 740 x 605 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 93833

USS United States (CVA-58)


Preliminary design model undergoing seakeeping tests at the David Taylor Model Basin, Carderock, Maryland, circa 1947. This is an early version of the CVA-58 design, without catapult sponsons. Note the folding smokestacks in the "up" position and large amount of water splashed out around the bow.
Aircraft models on the flight deck appear to represent a notional heavy attack bomber.

Copied from a photograph in File F-3, B-36 Carrier Charactoristics File in the records of OP-23, held by the Operational Archives Branch, Naval Historical Center, 1982.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 57KB; 740 x 605 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 93834

USS United States (CVA-58)


Preliminary design model undergoing seakeeping tests at the David Taylor Model Basin, Carderock, Maryland, circa 1947. This is an early version of the CVA-58 design, without catapult sponsons. Note the folding smokestacks in the "down" position.
Aircraft models on the flight deck appear to represent the F7U fighter and a notional heavy attack bomber.

Copied from a photograph in File F-3, B-36 Carrier Charactoristics File in the records of OP-23, held by the Operational Archives Branch, Naval Historical Center, 1982.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 56KB; 740 x 605 pixels

 


If you want higher resolution reproductions than the digital images presented here, see: "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions."


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Page made 8 September 2001