The Midway-class aircraft carriers weren’t just war machines. They were a turning point. Born at the end of World War II, these ships remained in service for nearly 50 years, outliving many of their newer peers. They fought in Korea, Vietnam, the Cold War, and Desert Storm. They did it all because they were built tough, modernized smart, and used to the very edge of possibility.
So, why did the Navy keep these three ships in action for so long? What made them so essential?
Built for War, Ready for the Jet Age
The Midway-class was designed with lessons from World War II baked in. Big flight decks, heavy armor, and fireproof hangars made them hard to kill. Unlike earlier carriers, they were designed to absorb hits and continue launching planes. The British had shown how armor saved ships from kamikazes.
The Navy copied that idea and improved upon it. Midway’s deck could take a beating and still stay in the fight.
The News / Even though they missed World War II, they were built just in time for something new: jets.
As the first big U.S. carriers to launch and recover early jet aircraft, they pushed naval aviation into the future. Planes like the Savage and Neptune helped the Navy figure out how to carry nukes at sea. That mattered during the Cold War, when every branch was racing to prove they could strike back.
They Changed With the Times
Most ships age out fast. The Midway-class didn’t. Instead of scrapping them, the Navy gave them major overhauls. These weren’t just upgrades. They were makeovers. In the 1950s, they were equipped with angled flight decks and hurricane bows, allowing them to handle adverse weather conditions and launch jets safely.
Plus, they also got more powerful steam catapults to throw heavier planes into the air.
The USS Midway underwent a major overhaul in the late 1960s. The Navy widened the flight deck, added new elevators, and brought in the latest sensors and tech. This lets the ship handle modern jets like the A-6 Intruder and F/A-18 Hornet.
They Fought Everywhere, For Decades
Midway-class carriers didn’t just look good on paper. They saw real action in every major conflict after World War II. During the Vietnam War, all three carriers took part. The USS Coral Sea became a workhorse, launching hundreds of missions. Midway’s pilots shot down the first and last enemy jets of the war.
When Saigon fell, it was Midway that led the final evacuation, Operation Frequent Wind.
They remained busy during the Cold War as well. Coral Sea faced off against Libya in the 1980s. Midway made history again when it became the first forward-deployed U.S. carrier, stationed in Japan. That move gave the Navy a permanent presence in Asia and cut response times during regional crises.
GTN / In 1991, the Midway closed its combat chapter with Operation Desert Storm. It launched over 3,000 sorties, proving it could still carry its weight in modern warfare.
At the time, it was the oldest carrier in combat—but it didn’t act like it.
Strong Where It Counted
No ship is perfect. The Midway-class had its flaws. Low freeboards made them sit close to the water, so they took on waves during rough seas. That made flight ops tricky and could shake up the crew. Inside, they were tight. The design left little breathing room, especially as crews got bigger and equipment grew more complex.
But the original build gave them wiggle room where it mattered. They had thick armor, big hangars, and strong power plants. That meant the Navy could stack on upgrades over the years without maxing them out. They were overbuilt from the start, and that turned out to be a huge win.
They Bridged Two Naval Eras
The real value of the Midway-class was in what they represented. These carriers were the link between the past and the future. They emerged from a war fought with propeller planes and ended their careers launching jets with smart bombs. Along the way, they shaped how the Navy used carriers in a changing world.
Sure! They weren’t supercarriers like the Nimitz-class. But they laid the groundwork. Their experiments with nuclear bombers, jets, and high-tech systems gave the Navy confidence to go bigger.