Hmmm, I never considered any of the Pearl Ladies to be gnarly...
![Smile [:)]](/FSM/CS/emoticons/icon_smile.gif)
Here's the breakdown of the modernizations that took place on the Essex Class:
SCB-27A (27 Alpha)
This was the first Essex class modernization program and was carried out on CV-9, CV-10, CV-12, CV-15, CV-18, CV-20, CV-33 and CV39 between 1948 and 1953. (CV-34 was completed to SCB-27A standard in 1950.) The principal features of SCB-27A included:
Removal of the side belt armor and replacing it with a hull blister which increased the beam at the waterline to 101 feet.
Removal of the island twin 5-inch turrets and relocation of the new open 5-inch mounts to the starboard side along the edge of the flight deck.
Modifications to the Island which replaced the tripod mast with a single pole mast and redesigned smokestack.
Strengthening the flight deck in the landing area.
Installation of larger and more powerful elevators.
Replacement of the H-4-1 Hydraulic catapults with H-8 Hydraulic catapults capable of launching aircraft up to 40,000 pounds gross weight.
More powerful bomb and ammunition elevators.
Equipment for the handling of Jet aircraft, including jet blast deflectors behind the catapults.
Increased aviation fuel capacity.
Installation of higher capacity aircraft cranes.
Three ready rooms relocated below the hanger deck.
Installation of an escalator along the starboard side of the island for aircrew to reach the flight deck.
Division of the hanger deck space by two fireproof steel doors.
The SCB-27C (27 Charlie) program was a further refinement of the SCB-27A program. The SCB-27C ships fall into two groups:
The first Group (CV-11, CV-14, and CV-19) recieved the basic SCB-27C modifications between 1951 and 1954.
The second group (CV-16, CV-31, and CV-38) received an advanced SCB-27C that included most of the features of the later SCB-125 program. The principal features of the basic SCB-27C that differed from the SCB-27A included:
A revised hull blister which increased the waterline beam to 103 feet.
Installation of two C-11 steam catapults.
Strengthing the flight deck.
Replacement of the number three elevator with a starboard side deck edge unit (this required moving the starboard side open 5-inch guns further aft to a position opposite the port side guns)
Installation of a stronger arresting gear system.
SCB-125
SCB-125 introduced the angled deck and enclosed "Hurricane" bow to the Essex class. Three groups were covered by SCB-125.
The first (CV-16, CV-31, and CV-38) received both their SCB-27C and SCB-125 modifications in one dockyard period between 1951 and 1955.
The second group (CV-11, CV-14, and CV-19) included those SCB-27C ships brought up to SCB-125 standards during a later dockyard period between 1955 and 1957. These ships were also given longer (70-feet 3-inches) forward centerline elevators.
The third group (CV-9, CV-10, CV-12, CV-15, CV-18, CV-20, and CV-33) including SCB-27A ships which did not get all the features that the SCB-27C ships did. (CV-39 was the only SCB-27A ship that did not get the SCB-125 modernization. CV-34 is covered under the SCB-125A program.
Apart from the hurricane bow and angled deck, the principal features of the SCB-125 included:
Installation of the improved Mark 7 dual arrestor wire system with half the cross-deck pendants of the previous systems.
Introduction of air conditioning in some spaces.
Strengthing of the crash barriers.
Primary flight control (Prifly) was moved to the aft edge of the island, two decks high.
Better soundproofing of the island.
Improved deck lighting.
(Antietam's angled deck installation was not considered part of the SCB-125 modernization program.)
Hope that explains it...
Jeff Herne