<P> Until Midway opened at San Diego, every preserved aircraft carrier in the U.S. was an Essex . </P> <P> Oriskany was scuttled in 2006 to form an artificial reef off the coast of Pensacola, Florida, and can be visited by experienced divers . </P> <Table> <Tr> <Th> Hull no . </Th> <Th> Ship </Th> <Th> Yard </Th> <Th> Ordered </Th> <Th> Keel laid </Th> <Th> Launched </Th> <Th> Commission </Th> <Th> Rebuild (s) </Th> <Th> Re-designations </Th> <Th> Decomm </Th> <Th> Fate </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> CV - 9 </Td> <Td> Essex </Td> <Td> NNSD </Td> <Td> 000000001940 - 02 - 01 - 0000 Feb 1940 </Td> <Td> 000000001941 - 04 - 01 - 0000 Apr 1941 </Td> <Td> 000000001942 - 07 - 01 - 0000 Jul 1942 </Td> <Td> 000000001942 - 12 - 01 - 0000 Dec 1942 Jan 1951 </Td> <Td> SCB - 27A, 1951 SCB - 125, 1956 SCB - 144, 1962 </Td> <Td> CVA - 9, 1952 CVS - 9, 1960 </Td> <Td> Jan 1947 000000001969 - 06 - 01 - 0000 Jun 1969 </Td> <Td> Scrapped (Jun 1975) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> CV - 10 </Td> <Td> Yorktown (ex-Bon Homme Richard) </Td> <Td> NNSD </Td> <Td> 000000001940 - 05 - 01 - 0000 May 1940 </Td> <Td> 000000001941 - 12 - 01 - 0000 Dec 1941 </Td> <Td> 000000001943 - 01 - 01 - 0000 Jan 1943 </Td> <Td> 000000001943 - 04 - 01 - 0000 Apr 1943 Jan 1953 </Td> <Td> SCB - 27A, 1953 SCB - 125, 1955 SCB - 144, 1966 </Td> <Td> CVA - 10, 1953 CVS - 10, 1957 </Td> <Td> Jan 1947 000000001970 - 06 - 01 - 0000 Jun 1970 </Td> <Td> Museum at Charleston, SC (1975) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> CV - 11 </Td> <Td> Intrepid </Td> <Td> NNSD </Td> <Td> 000000001940 - 05 - 01 - 0000 May 1940 </Td> <Td> 000000001941 - 12 - 01 - 0000 Dec 1941 </Td> <Td> 000000001943 - 04 - 01 - 0000 Apr 1943 </Td> <Td> 000000001943 - 08 - 01 - 0000 Aug 1943 Feb 1952 Oct 1954 </Td> <Td> SCB - 27C, 1954 SCB - 125, 1957 SCB - 144, 1965 </Td> <Td> CVA - 11, 1952 CVS - 11, 1961 </Td> <Td> Mar 1947 Apr 1952 000000001974 - 03 - 01 - 0000 Mar 1974 </Td> <Td> Museum at New York City (1982) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> CV - 12 </Td> <Td> Hornet (ex-Kearsarge) </Td> <Td> NNSD </Td> <Td> 000000001940 - 09 - 01 - 0000 Sep 1940 </Td> <Td> 000000001942 - 08 - 01 - 0000 Aug 1942 </Td> <Td> 000000001943 - 08 - 01 - 0000 Aug 1943 </Td> <Td> 000000001943 - 11 - 01 - 0000 Nov 1943 Mar 1951 Sep 1953 </Td> <Td> SCB - 27A, 1953 SCB - 125, 1956 SCB - 144, 1965 </Td> <Td> CVA - 12, 1953 CVS - 12, 1958 </Td> <Td> Jan 1947 May 1951 000000001970 - 06 - 01 - 0000 Jun 1970 </Td> <Td> Museum at Alameda, CA (1998) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> CV - 13 </Td> <Td> Franklin </Td> <Td> NNSD </Td> <Td> 000000001940 - 09 - 01 - 0000 Sep 1940 </Td> <Td> 000000001942 - 12 - 01 - 0000 Dec 1942 </Td> <Td> 000000001943 - 10 - 01 - 0000 Oct 1943 </Td> <Td> 000000001944 - 01 - 01 - 0000 Jan 1944 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 000000001947 - 02 - 01 - 0000 Feb 1947 </Td> <Td> Scrapped (Aug 1966) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> CV - 14 </Td> <Td> Ticonderoga * (ex-Hancock) </Td> <Td> NNSD </Td> <Td> 000000001940 - 09 - 01 - 0000 Sep 1940 </Td> <Td> 000000001943 - 02 - 01 - 0000 Feb 1943 </Td> <Td> 000000001944 - 02 - 01 - 0000 Feb 1944 </Td> <Td> 000000001944 - 05 - 01 - 0000 May 1944 Oct 1954 </Td> <Td> SCB - 27C, 1954 SCB - 125, 1957 </Td> <Td> CVA - 14, 1954 CVS - 14, 1969 </Td> <Td> Jan 1947 000000001973 - 09 - 01 - 0000 Sep 1973 </Td> <Td> Scrapped (Sep 1975) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> CV - 15 </Td> <Td> Randolph * </Td> <Td> NNSD </Td> <Td> 000000001940 - 09 - 01 - 0000 Sep 1940 </Td> <Td> 000000001943 - 05 - 01 - 0000 May 1943 </Td> <Td> 000000001944 - 06 - 01 - 0000 Jun 1944 </Td> <Td> 000000001944 - 10 - 01 - 0000 Oct 1944 Jul 1953 </Td> <Td> SCB - 27A, 1953 SCB - 125, 1956 SCB - 144, 1961 </Td> <Td> CVA - 15, 1953 CVS - 15, 1959 </Td> <Td> Feb 1948 000000001969 - 02 - 01 - 0000 Feb 1969 </Td> <Td> Scrapped (May 1975) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> CV - 16 </Td> <Td> Lexington (ex-Cabot) </Td> <Td> FRSY </Td> <Td> 000000001940 - 09 - 01 - 0000 Sep 1940 </Td> <Td> 000000001941 - 07 - 01 - 0000 Jul 1941 </Td> <Td> 000000001942 - 09 - 01 - 0000 Sep 1942 </Td> <Td> 000000001943 - 02 - 01 - 0000 Feb 1943 Aug 1955 </Td> <Td> SCB - 27C / 125, 1955 </Td> <Td> CVA - 16, 1955 CVS - 16, 1962 CVT - 16, 1969 AVT - 16, 1978 </Td> <Td> Apr 1947 000000001991 - 11 - 01 - 0000 Nov 1991 </Td> <Td> Museum at Corpus Christi, TX (1992) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> CV - 17 </Td> <Td> Bunker Hill </Td> <Td> FRSY </Td> <Td> 000000001940 - 09 - 01 - 0000 Sep 1940 </Td> <Td> 000000001941 - 09 - 01 - 0000 Sep 1941 </Td> <Td> 000000001942 - 12 - 01 - 0000 Dec 1942 </Td> <Td> 000000001943 - 05 - 01 - 0000 May 1943 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 000000001947 - 01 - 01 - 0000 Jan 1947 </Td> <Td> Scrapped (May 1973) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> CV - 18 </Td> <Td> Wasp (ex-Oriskany) </Td> <Td> FRSY </Td> <Td> 000000001940 - 09 - 01 - 0000 Sep 1940 </Td> <Td> 000000001942 - 03 - 01 - 0000 Mar 1942 </Td> <Td> 000000001943 - 08 - 01 - 0000 Aug 1943 </Td> <Td> 000000001943 - 11 - 01 - 0000 Nov 1943 Sep 1951 </Td> <Td> SCB - 27A, 1951 SCB - 125, 1955 SCB - 144, 1964 </Td> <Td> CVA - 18, 1952 CVS - 18, 1956 </Td> <Td> Feb 1947 000000001972 - 07 - 01 - 0000 Jul 1972 </Td> <Td> Scrapped (May 1973) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> CV - 19 </Td> <Td> Hancock * (ex-Ticonderoga) </Td> <Td> FRSY </Td> <Td> 000000001940 - 09 - 01 - 0000 Sep 1940 </Td> <Td> 000000001943 - 01 - 01 - 0000 Jan 1943 </Td> <Td> 000000001944 - 01 - 01 - 0000 Jan 1944 </Td> <Td> 000000001944 - 04 - 01 - 0000 April 1944 Feb 1954 Nov 1956 </Td> <Td> SCB - 27C, 1954 SCB - 125, 1956 </Td> <Td> CVA - 19, 1952 CV - 19, 1975 </Td> <Td> May 1947 Apr 1956 000000001976 - 01 - 01 - 0000 Jan 1976 </Td> <Td> Scrapped (Sep 1976) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> CV - 20 </Td> <Td> Bennington </Td> <Td> BNY </Td> <Td> 000000001941 - 12 - 01 - 0000 Dec 1941 </Td> <Td> 000000001942 - 12 - 01 - 0000 Dec 1942 </Td> <Td> 000000001944 - 02 - 01 - 0000 Feb 1944 </Td> <Td> 000000001944 - 08 - 01 - 0000 Aug 1944 Nov 1952 </Td> <Td> SCB - 27A, 1952 SCB - 125, 1955 SCB - 144, 1963 </Td> <Td> CVA - 20, 1952 CVS - 20, 1959 </Td> <Td> Nov 1946 000000001970 - 01 - 01 - 0000 Jan 1970 </Td> <Td> Scrapped (Jan 1994) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> CV - 21 </Td> <Td> Boxer * </Td> <Td> NNSD </Td> <Td> 000000001941 - 12 - 01 - 0000 Dec 1941 </Td> <Td> 000000001943 - 09 - 01 - 0000 Sep 1943 </Td> <Td> 000000001944 - 12 - 01 - 0000 Dec 1944 </Td> <Td> 000000001945 - 04 - 01 - 0000 Apr 1945 </Td> <Td> Amphib </Td> <Td> CVA - 21, 1952 CVS - 21, 1956 LPH - 4, 1959 </Td> <Td> 000000001969 - 12 - 01 - 0000 Dec 1969 </Td> <Td> Scrapped (Feb 1971) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> CV - 31 </Td> <Td> Bon Homme Richard </Td> <Td> BNY </Td> <Td> 000000001942 - 08 - 01 - 0000 Aug 1942 </Td> <Td> 000000001943 - 02 - 01 - 0000 Feb 1943 </Td> <Td> 000000001944 - 04 - 01 - 0000 Apr 1944 </Td> <Td> 000000001944 - 11 - 01 - 0000 Nov 1944 Jan 1951 Sep 1955 </Td> <Td> SCB - 27C / 125, 1955 </Td> <Td> CVA - 31, 1952 </Td> <Td> Jan 1947 May 1953 000000001971 - 07 - 01 - 0000 Jul 1971 </Td> <Td> Scrapped (Mar 1992) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> CV - 32 </Td> <Td> Leyte * (ex-Crown Point) </Td> <Td> NNSD </Td> <Td> 000000001942 - 08 - 01 - 0000 Aug 1942 </Td> <Td> 000000001944 - 02 - 01 - 0000 Feb 1944 </Td> <Td> 000000001945 - 08 - 01 - 0000 Aug 1945 </Td> <Td> 000000001946 - 04 - 01 - 0000 Apr 1946 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> CVA - 32, 1952 CVS - 32, 1953 </Td> <Td> 000000001959 - 05 - 01 - 0000 May 1959 </Td> <Td> Scrapped (Mar 1970) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> CV - 33 </Td> <Td> Kearsarge * </Td> <Td> BNY </Td> <Td> 000000001942 - 08 - 01 - 0000 Aug 1942 </Td> <Td> 000000001944 - 03 - 01 - 0000 Mar 1944 </Td> <Td> 000000001945 - 05 - 01 - 0000 May 1945 </Td> <Td> 000000001946 - 03 - 01 - 0000 Mar 1946 Feb 1952 </Td> <Td> SCB - 27A, 1952 SCB - 125, 1957 SCB - 144, 1962 </Td> <Td> CVA - 33, 1952 CVS - 33, 1958 </Td> <Td> Jun 1950 000000001970 - 02 - 01 - 0000 Feb 1970 </Td> <Td> Scrapped (Feb 1974) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> CV - 34 </Td> <Td> Oriskany * * </Td> <Td> BNY </Td> <Td> 000000001942 - 08 - 01 - 0000 Aug 1942 </Td> <Td> 000000001944 - 05 - 01 - 0000 May 1944 </Td> <Td> 000000001945 - 10 - 01 - 0000 Oct 1945 </Td> <Td> 000000001950 - 09 - 01 - 0000 Sep 1950 Mar 1959 </Td> <Td> SCB - 27, 1950 SCB - 125A, 1959 </Td> <Td> CVA - 34, 1952 CV - 34, 1975 </Td> <Td> Jan 1957 000000001976 - 09 - 01 - 0000 Sep 1976 </Td> <Td> Scuttled as an artificial reef in Gulf of Mexico (May 2006) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> CV - 35 </Td> <Td> Reprisal * * * </Td> <Td> BNY </Td> <Td> 000000001942 - 08 - 01 - 0000 Aug 1942 </Td> <Td> 000000001944 - 07 - 01 - 0000 July 1944 </Td> <Td> 000000001946 - 01 - 01 - 0000 1946 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> Scrapped (Nov 1949) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> CV - 36 </Td> <Td> Antietam * </Td> <Td> PNY </Td> <Td> 000000001942 - 08 - 01 - 0000 Aug 1942 </Td> <Td> 000000001943 - 03 - 01 - 0000 Mar 1943 </Td> <Td> 000000001944 - 08 - 01 - 0000 Aug 1944 </Td> <Td> 000000001945 - 01 - 01 - 0000 Jan 1945 Jan 1951 </Td> <Td> Experimental angled deck, 1952 </Td> <Td> CVA - 36, 1952 CVS - 36, 1953 </Td> <Td> 1949 000000001963 - 05 - 01 - 0000 May 1963 </Td> <Td> Scrapped (Feb 1974) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> CV - 37 </Td> <Td> Princeton * (ex-Valley Forge) </Td> <Td> PNY </Td> <Td> 000000001942 - 08 - 01 - 0000 Aug 1942 </Td> <Td> 000000001943 - 09 - 01 - 0000 Sep 1943 </Td> <Td> 000000001945 - 07 - 01 - 0000 Jul 1945 </Td> <Td> 000000001945 - 11 - 01 - 0000 Nov 1945 Aug 1950 </Td> <Td> Amphib </Td> <Td> CVA - 37, 1952 CVS - 37, 1954 LPH - 5, 1959 </Td> <Td> Jun 1949 000000001970 - 01 - 01 - 0000 Jan 1970 </Td> <Td> Scrapped (May 1971) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> CV - 38 </Td> <Td> Shangri - La * </Td> <Td> NNY </Td> <Td> 000000001942 - 08 - 01 - 0000 Aug 1942 </Td> <Td> 000000001943 - 01 - 01 - 0000 Jan 1943 </Td> <Td> 000000001944 - 02 - 01 - 0000 Feb 1944 </Td> <Td> 000000001944 - 09 - 01 - 0000 Sep 1944 May 1951 </Td> <Td> SCB - 27C / 125, 1955 </Td> <Td> CVA - 38, 1952 CVS - 38, 1969 </Td> <Td> Nov 1947 000000001971 - 07 - 01 - 0000 Jul 1971 </Td> <Td> Scrapped (Aug 1988) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> CV - 39 </Td> <Td> Lake Champlain * </Td> <Td> NNY </Td> <Td> 000000001942 - 08 - 01 - 0000 Aug 1942 </Td> <Td> 000000001943 - 03 - 01 - 0000 Mar 1943 </Td> <Td> 000000001944 - 11 - 01 - 0000 Nov 1944 </Td> <Td> 000000001945 - 06 - 01 - 0000 Jun 1945 Sep 1952 </Td> <Td> SCB - 27A, 1952 </Td> <Td> CVA - 39, 1952 CVS - 39, 1957 </Td> <Td> Feb 1947 000000001966 - 05 - 01 - 0000 May 1966 </Td> <Td> Scrapped (Apr 1972) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> CV - 40 </Td> <Td> Tarawa * </Td> <Td> NNY </Td> <Td> 000000001942 - 08 - 01 - 0000 Aug 1942 </Td> <Td> 000000001944 - 03 - 01 - 0000 Mar 1944 </Td> <Td> 000000001945 - 05 - 01 - 0000 May 1945 </Td> <Td> 000000001945 - 11 - 01 - 0000 Nov 1945 Feb 1951 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> CVA - 40, 1952 CVS - 40, 1955 </Td> <Td> Jun 1949 000000001960 - 05 - 01 - 0000 May 1960 </Td> <Td> Scrapped (Oct 1968) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> CV - 45 </Td> <Td> Valley Forge * </Td> <Td> PNY </Td> <Td> 000000001943 - 06 - 01 - 0000 Jun 1943 </Td> <Td> 000000001944 - 09 - 01 - 0000 Sep 1944 </Td> <Td> 000000001945 - 11 - 01 - 0000 Nov 1945 </Td> <Td> 000000001946 - 11 - 01 - 0000 Nov 1946 </Td> <Td> Amphib </Td> <Td> CVA - 45, 1952 CVS - 45, 1953 LPH - 8, 1961 </Td> <Td> 000000001970 - 01 - 01 - 0000 Jan 1970 </Td> <Td> Scrapped (Oct 1971) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> CV - 46 </Td> <Td> Iwo Jima * * * </Td> <Td> NNSD </Td> <Td> 000000001943 - 06 - 01 - 0000 Jun 1943 </Td> <Td> 000000001945 - 01 - 01 - 0000 Jan 1945 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> Canceled while under construction . Scrapped 1946 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> CV - 47 </Td> <Td> Philippine Sea * </Td> <Td> FRSY </Td> <Td> 000000001943 - 06 - 01 - 0000 Jun 1943 </Td> <Td> 000000001944 - 08 - 01 - 0000 Aug 1944 </Td> <Td> 000000001945 - 09 - 01 - 0000 Sep 1945 </Td> <Td> 000000001946 - 05 - 01 - 0000 May 1946 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> CVA - 47, 1952 CVS - 47, 1955 </Td> <Td> 000000001958 - 12 - 01 - 0000 Dec 1958 </Td> <Td> Scrapped (Mar 1971) </Td> </Tr> </Table> <Tr> <Th> Hull no . </Th> <Th> Ship </Th> <Th> Yard </Th> <Th> Ordered </Th> <Th> Keel laid </Th> <Th> Launched </Th> <Th> Commission </Th> <Th> Rebuild (s) </Th> <Th> Re-designations </Th> <Th> Decomm </Th> <Th> Fate </Th> </Tr>

How long did it take to build an aircraft carrier in ww2