Supercarrier Denied?

Latest in my “What if never?” series at the National Interest looks at the void left by the USS Forrestal…

But the construction of the Forrestals had not resolved the argument. Air Force General Curtis Lemay continued to content that aircraft carriers, even ships as large and formidable as USS Forrestal, could not compete effectively with land-based aircraft. Based on his experience from World War II, Lemay had little interest or faith in airpower that could not conduct a strategic nuclear campaign against the Soviet Union.  Although Forrestal class carriers could carry out nuclear attacks, they would likely not be in position to do so at the beginning of the war, unlike the B-52 Stratofortress. Lemay’s arguments were particularly compelling given the President’s interest in massive retaliation as the cornerstone of US policy to deter the Soviet Union.  At one point, the President mused “What in the world are we building Forrestal-type carriers for?” in response to Lemay’s arguments.