Casablanca-Class: The Navy Built 50 'Tiny' Aircraft Carriers in 1 Year
In 1942, industrialist Henry Kaiser proposed mass-producing dozens of small, escort aircraft carriers using assembly-line techniques. Initially spurned by the Navy, Kaiser's proposal gained support from President Franklin Roosevelt due to urgent wartime needs. Kaiser built 50 Casablanca-class carriers between 1943 and 1944.
While armed services often crave “gold-plated” weapon systems, Kaiser’s cheap jeep carriers showed how simple, affordable and numerous platforms well-suited to operational requirements can prove to be of greater value.
About the Author
Sébastien Roblin holds a master’s degree in conflict resolution from Georgetown University and served as a university instructor for the Peace Corps in China. He has also worked in education, editing, and refugee resettlement in France and the United States. He currently writes on security and military history for War Is Boring.
