The USS Wasp was a flawed carrier built to exploit a treaty loophole.

Nature · Published 29 September 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Commissioned in 1940, the USS Wasp was a unique aircraft carrier designed to squeeze maximum air power into a restricted tonnage limit. This engineering compromise resulted in a vessel with minimal armor and no torpedo protection, leaving her dangerously vulnerable when she finally faced combat in the Pacific theater.

The USS Wasp (CV-7) was a product of the Washington Naval Treaty, which left the United States with a remaining allowance of 15,000 long tons for aircraft carrier construction. To maximize air capacity within this rigid limit, designers created a hull nearly 25% smaller than the Yorktown-class. This necessitated significant sacrifices, including low-power propulsion machinery and the complete absence of side protection for boilers or aviation fuel stores. These design flaws were recognized during construction but could not be remedied without exceeding the treaty-mandated tonnage.

Despite these inherent weaknesses, the Wasp was a pioneer in naval aviation, becoming the first carrier fitted with a deck-edge elevator. Her early career involved diverse missions, from neutrality patrols in the Atlantic to ferrying British fighter aircraft to Malta. However, her lack of defensive armor proved fatal after she was transferred to the Pacific in June 1942. On 15 September 1942, the Japanese submarine I-19 struck the ship with two or three torpedoes. The resulting damage destroyed the water-mains and disabled the ship's power, rendering the crew unable to contain the fires.

The tragedy claimed 193 lives and injured 366 of the 2,139 people aboard. With 46 of her 71 aircraft lost and the fires raging out of control, the ship was abandoned and scuttled by the USS Lansdowne. The loss of the Wasp highlighted the lethal combination of design limitations and the relative lack of damage control experience during the early stages of the war. Her wreck was eventually located in early 2019, marking the final chapter for the sole ship of her class.

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