Ship Database
Tier X Aircraft Carrier

U.S.A.

Essex

The first Essex-class aircraft carriers were ordered as part of the Navy's expansion program of 1938. The decision to construct more ships in the series was made after the Pacific war had broken out. The Essex-class aircraft carriers were significant for several reasons. They were large and fast; had strong air defenses; could carry and launch a large...

Read full ship history

The first Essex-class aircraft carriers were ordered as part of the Navy's expansion program of 1938. The decision to construct more ships in the series was made after the Pacific war had broken out. The Essex-class aircraft carriers were significant for several reasons. They were large and fast; had strong air defenses; could carry and launch a large air group rapidly; and, importantly, they were available in substantial numbers. Through a combination of these qualities, they played a pivotal role in the U.S. Navy's achievements in the Pacific during the final 2 years of World War II.

Credits
28,500,000
Official profile image of Essex

At a glance

The numbers that shape the ship

Hit points
59,500
Maximum speed
33.0 knots
Surface detection
13.5 km

Combat envelope

Range and detection

Scale: 15 km

Every bar uses the same 15 km scale. Surface detection is a visibility threshold, not a weapon range.

  • Surface detection13.5 km
  • Secondary battery5 km

Damage comparison

Published maximum per hit

Ship-relative

Bars are normalized only against this ship's highest listed hit. They are not salvo damage, expected damage or DPM.

  • Aircraft torpedo 5,067
Handling, concealment and protectionOverview

Handling

Maximum speed
33.0 knots
Turning circle radius
1,120 m
Rudder shift time
13.9 s
Maneuverability API rating 46

Concealment

Surface detection
13.5 km
Air detection
10.0 km
Submarine detection
10.0 km
Concealment API rating 45

Survivability

Hit points
59,500
Torpedo damage reduction
34 %
Survivability API rating 78

Published armour thickness

Only positive values supplied by the API are shown.

Overall published range
13–102 mm
Weapons and payloadsArmament

Automatic armament

Secondary battery

Maximum range
5.0 km
Mount
127 mm HE Mk33
Maximum damage per hit
1,800
Fire chance
5.0 %
Rate of fire
10.0 rounds/min
Muzzle velocity
792 m/s
Mount
127 mm HE Mk33
Maximum damage per hit
1,800
Fire chance
5.0 %
Rate of fire
10.0 rounds/min
Muzzle velocity
792 m/s

Anti-aircraft defence

AA defence API rating 92
Aura
20 mm Oerlikon on a Mk.4 mount
Calibre
20 mm
Mounts
56
Aura
40 mm/56 Bofors on a Mk.2 mount
Calibre
40 mm
Mounts
17
Aura
127 mm/38 Mk.12 on a Mk.24 mount
Calibre
127 mm
Mounts
4
Aura
127 mm/38 Mk.12 on a Mk.32 mount
Calibre
127 mm
Mounts
4
Carrier aviationClass system

The public API still uses legacy aircraft categories and does not expose every modern carrier payload mechanic. Only fields returned by Wargaming are shown.

Dive bombers

Torpedo bombers

AD-1 Skyraider

Aircraft tier
10
Squadrons
4
Cruise speed
126 knots
Aircraft health
2,040
Maximum damage per torpedo
5,067
Torpedo range
3.5 km
Torpedo speed
43 knots

Attack aircraft (legacy API field)

Modules, hull and progressionTechnical data

Default hull

Hull hit points
59,500
Secondary barrels
8
AA mounts
81

Engine

Published maximum speed
33.0 knots

Module research tree

Names, research prices and defaults are reported directly by the API.

AD-1 Skyraider

Default
Type
TorpedoBomber
Purchase
1,000,000 credits
Next modules
1

BTD Destroyer

Type
TorpedoBomber
Research
38,000 XP
Purchase
2,500,000 credits

Essex

Default
Type
Hull
Purchase
3,000,000 credits

TB2D Skypirate

Default
Type
DiveBomber
Purchase
1,000,000 credits
Next modules
1

TB2D Skypirate

Type
DiveBomber
Research
38,000 XP
Purchase
2,500,000 credits

F8F Bearcat Tiny Tim

Default
Type
Fighter
Purchase
1,000,000 credits
Next modules
1

F8F Bearcat Tiny Tim

Type
Fighter
Research
38,000 XP
Purchase
2,500,000 credits

Propulsion: 150,000 hp

Default
Type
Engine
Purchase
900,000 credits

Compatible upgrades

Official modernization descriptions and listed purchase prices. Effects still depend on the slot and configuration used in game.

Concealment System Modification 1

Modernization

Credits
2,000,000

Air Groups Modification 2

Modernization

Credits
3,000,000

Damage Control System Modification 2

Modernization

Credits
1,000,000

Flight Control Modification 2

Modernization

Credits
3,000,000

Air Groups Modification 1

Modernization

Credits
125,000

Damage Control System Modification 1

Modernization

Credits
250,000

Flight Control Modification 1

Modernization

Does not increase the maximum number of each type of tactical squadron aircraft on deck.

Credits
2,000,000

Secondary Battery Modification 1

Modernization

Credits
500,000

Auxiliary Armaments Modification 1

Modernization

Credits
125,000
Available module groups
10
Compatible upgrades
9
Upgrade slots
6
Published battle levels
10–11

Cross-nation comparison

Ships that fill a similar slot

Closest same-tier, same-class matches from other nations, ranked by published base statistics.

Germany

Manfred von Richthofen

HP
65,300
Speed
32 kn
Open comparison

United Kingdom

Audacious

HP
63,400
Speed
32 kn
Open comparison

Japan

Hakuryū

HP
63,100
Speed
34.5 kn
Open comparison