Medium Aircraft Carriers: The Warship Idea That Just Won't 'Sink'

What You Need to Know: At the height of the Cold War, U.S. Navy planners introduced the concept of the CVV—medium-sized aircraft carriers designed to be a more affordable alternative to the massive, nuclear-powered Nimitz class. Presidents Ford and Carter supported the CVV concept, seeing it as a way to reduce costs while maintaining a powerful naval force.

However, despite its lower initial price tag and life-cycle costs, the CVV required more ships and crew to deliver the same airpower as one Nimitz-class carrier.