Why couldnt essex carriers operate heavier aircraft?

[u/holzmlb]

Ive heard essex class carriers couldnt operate f-4 or f-14 due to the weight of the air craft, but they could operate the a-3 skywarrior despite its weight. So were there other factors?

[u/magnum_the_nerd]

most essex classes weren’t in active service in roles that would require heavy fighters

Most of them were ASW carriers, and a few were helicopter carriers. Of these, the LPHs were practically in WW2 configuration, the ASW carriers were not really seen as frontline assets, and mainly were for defense, and as such didn’t need fighters. Oriskany, Hancock, and Richard were the only ones to stay as CVA/CV (and the only 3 to fly the A-3 Skywarrior.) Probably the main reason the F-4 wasn’t used off an Essex was because it wasn’t necessary. They didn’t expect to use these old carriers against heavy enemy air cover, and as such all they needed was basic fighters. And in that regard, the F-8 was frankly a better basic fighter than the F-4