The Dream Carrier that Changed U.S. Military Strategy Forever—Without Ever Sailing

In the aftermath of World War II, as the United States grappled with the dawn of the nuclear age, a revolutionary supercarrier was poised to reshape naval warfare. The USS United States Supercarrier promised to be a behemoth of unprecedented proportions, designed to launch nuclear-armed bombers from a flush deck.

Yet, just five days after her keel was laid in April 1949, the project was abruptly canceled, igniting a firestorm of controversy that would reshape American military strategy for decades to come.

Here is how the dream of naval supremacy ultimately led to one of the most pivotal moments in U.S. military history – the “Revolt of the Admirals.”

The Need for a New Carrier Design

As World War II drew to a close, U.S. naval planners began to grapple with the implications of nuclear weapons for carrier design.

The challenge was building a ship that could accommodate the large, heavy bombers needed to deliver atomic payloads over long distances while also handling the jet fighters rapidly, replacing propeller-driven aircraft.

The United States-Class Design

The solution was the United States class, a radical departure from previous carrier designs. With a fully loaded displacement of over 160,000,000 pounds, the United States would be significantly larger than any carrier yet built. 

She would feature a flush deck with no island and four deck-edge elevators to maximize deck space for her air wing of up to 18 heavy bombers and 54 fighters. 

The ship would be heavily armored to protect against nuclear attack and incorporate cutting-edge technologies like steam catapults and an angled flight deck.

Inter-Service Rivalry

But even as the keel of the United States was laid down at Newport News Shipbuilding in April 1949, storm clouds were gathering in Washington.

The newly-formed U.S. Air Force saw the Navy’s supercarrier as a direct challenge to its monopoly on strategic nuclear deterrence and lobbied hard to cancel the program.

The Cancellation & Its Aftermath

Matters came to a head when Secretary of Defense Louis A. Johnson, just 18 days into the job, abruptly canceled the United States on April 23, 1949. (ref)

The decision sparked a crisis in civil-military relations known as the “Revolt of the Admirals,” senior Navy leaders resigned in protest and took their case to Congress and the public. 

Ultimately, the Navy could not save the United States, and the subsequent political fallout led to Johnson’s resignation. 

However, the controversy also highlighted the need for a more unified approach to defense planning in the nuclear age, paving the way for the creation of the Department of Defense and the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

Influence on Future Carrier Design

Although the United States was never completed, her influence can be seen in the following supercarriers. 

The first true supercarrier, USS Forrestal (CVA-59) (ref), incorporated many design features pioneered by the United States, including an angled flight deck and steam catapults. 

While the Navy ultimately lost the battle for control of nuclear deterrence to the Air Force, it would play a key role in the nuclear triad with the development of ballistic missile submarines.

Lessons for the Future

Today, the story of the United States remains a cautionary tale about the dangers of inter-service rivalry and the challenges of adapting to new technologies in a rapidly changing strategic environment. 

As the U.S. Navy looks to the future with a new generation of Ford-class supercarriers, it would do well to remember the lessons of the past.

The SS United States

In an ironic twist, the cancellation of the United States had an unexpected consequence. Instead, the dry dock reserved for the carrier was used to build the SS United States, a luxury ocean liner that would set speed records on the North Atlantic run. 

Designed by naval architect William Francis Gibbs (ref), the SS United States was built to exact military specifications and could be converted into a troopship in the event of war.

The Legacy of the SS United States

Her innovative design and powerful engines allowed her to cross the Atlantic in just three and a half days, and in 1952, she captured the prestigious Blue Riband. 

While the SS United States enjoyed a brief heyday in the 1950s and early 1960s, she ultimately retired in 1969 as air travel supplanted ocean liners. 

Today, efforts are underway to preserve the historic ship as a museum and educational center, ensuring that her legacy lives alongside that of her stillborn naval namesake.