World War II was the deadliest conflict in history, with the number of casualties amounting to over 50 million people, both civilian and military personnel. At the start of the war, the strongest navy in the world was the Royal Navy due to their superiority in several areas, which included industrial capital and military manpower, although the German Wehrmacht was efficient and had an effective fighting force. Although the United States didn’t enter the war until December 1942, it excelled far above other nations at naval carrier combat. However, nations on both sides of the conflict hurried to expand their naval fleets, leading to the production of many naval vessels that are now iconic.
This story delves into U.S. Navy ships that were the most mass-produced, and used, during WWII. (also see: these are the most expensive warships in the US Navy fleet today.) 24/7 Wall St. reviewed warship production figures from Military Factory, an online repository of military equipment data to determine the most mass-produced American military ships used during the Second World War. We exclusively considered ship classes that served in WWII and had a minimum production of nine units during the class’s lifespan.
The classes are ranked by their total production count, including those built before or after the war. Additional information regarding the type, notable ships, crew, and year of service also originated from Military Factory. Ships within the same class often exhibited distinct crew complements.
Many of the entries on this list are destroyers, vessels used by the Navy to serve a variety of functions: convoy escort, anti-aircraft screening, and anti-submarine warfare, but there are also aircraft carriers, amphibious assault vessels, and patrol boats.
The Fletcher-class destroyer, introduced in 1942, constituted the majority of the U.S. Navy’s destroyer force in the Pacific Theater of WWII. Armed with five main guns, 10 torpedo tubes, and two anti-submarine weapon depth charge racks, this destroyer class produced a total of 175 ships, actively participating in numerous naval encounters in the Pacific Theater. (Also see, a battle with Japan during WWII was the largest in U.S. naval history.)
The Essex-class aircraft carriers significantly influenced the Pacific’s turning point. The swift production pace and rapid deployment of these ships played a vital role. The class’s flagship, USS Essex, was finished in just 20 months, underscoring the urgent need for carriers at that time. Equally impressive is the fact that not a single Essex-class carrier fell victim to enemy action throughout the war.  (Here is the fate of every US aircraft carrier during World War II.)
These ships represent a diverse array of functions and capabilities and serve as crucial elements in determining the outcomes of numerous engagements and, ultimately, the course of the war itself.Â
Here are the U.S. Navy ships most mass-produced during World War II:
29. Independence-class
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
- Number produced: 9
- Type: Conventionally-powered light aircraft carrier
- Notable ship(s): USS Independence (CVL-22), USS Cabot (CVL-28), USS Cowpens (CVL-25)
- Year USS Independence (CVL-22) entered service: 1943
- USS Independence (CVL-22) personnel: 1,569
28. Sims-class
Source: national_museum_of_the_us_navy / Flickr
- Number produced: 12
- Type: Destroyer
- Notable ship(s): USS Wainwright (DD-419)
- Year USS Wainwright (DD-419) entered service: 1940
- USS Wainwright (DD-419) personnel: 192
27. Fargo-class
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
- Number produced: 13
- Type: Light cruiser
- Notable ship(s): USS Fargo (CL-106)
- Year USS Fargo (CL-106) entered service: 1945
- USS Fargo (CL-106) personnel: 1,255
26. Baltimore-class
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
- Number produced: 14
- Type: Heavy cruiser
- Notable ship(s): USS Fall River (CA-131), USS Saint Paul (CA-73)
- Year USS Fall River (CA-131) entered service: 1945
- USS Fall River (CA-131) personnel: 1,142
25. Mahan-class
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
- Number produced: 18
- Type: Multicole destroyer
- Notable ship(s): USS Downes (DD-375)
- Year USS Downes (DD-375) entered service: 1937
- USS Downes (DD-375) personnel: 158
24. PT 95
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
- Number produced: 18
- Type: Motorized torpedo fast boat
- Notable ship(s): Huckins PT Boat (Patrol Torpedo)
- Year Huckins PT Boat (Patrol Torpedo) entered service: 1942
- Huckins PT Boat (Patrol Torpedo) personnel: 11
23. Rudderow-class
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
- Number produced: 22
- Type: Destroyer escort
- Notable ship(s): USS Rudderow (DE-224)
- Year USS Rudderow (DE-224) entered service: 1944
- USS Rudderow (DE-224) personnel: 221
22. Essex-class
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
- Number produced: 24
- Type: Conventionally-powered aircraft carrier
- Notable ship(s): USS Essex (CV-9), USS Hancock (CV-19), USS Franklin (CV-13)
- Year USS Essex (CV-9) entered service: 1942
- USS Essex (CV-9) personnel: 2,600
21. Cleveland-class
Source: national_museum_of_the_us_navy / Flickr
- Number produced: 29
- Type: Light cruiser
- Notable ship(s): USS Cleveland (CL-55), USS Oklahoma City (CL-91), USS Wilkes-Barre (CL-103)
- Year USS Cleveland (CL-55) entered service: 1942
- USS Cleveland (CL-55) personnel: 1,255
20. Benson-class
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
- Number produced: 30
- Type: Destroyer
- Notable ship(s): USS Laffey (DD-459)
- Year USS Laffey (DD-459) entered service: 1942
- USS Laffey (DD-459) personnel: 208
19. Tolland-class
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
- Number produced: 33
- Type: Attack cargo ship
- Notable ship(s): USS Alamance (AKA-75)
- Year USS Alamance (AKA-75) entered service: 1944
- USS Alamance (AKA-75) personnel: 395
18. Bogue-class
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
- Number produced: 45
- Type: Escort carrier/aircraft carrier
- Notable ship(s): USS Bogue (CVE-9)
- Year USS Bogue (CVE-9) entered service: 1942
- USS Bogue (CVE-9) personnel: 890
17. Lapwing-class
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
- Number produced: 49
- Type: Minesweeper
- Notable ship(s): USS Lapwing (AM-1)
- Year USS Lapwing (AM-1) entered service: 1918
- USS Lapwing (AM-1) personnel: 78
16. Casablanca-class
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
- Number produced: 50
- Type: Escort carrier
- Notable ship(s): USS Kalinin Bay (CVE-68), USS Liscome Bay (CVE-56), USS Shamrock Bay (CVE-84)
- Year USS Kalinin Bay (CVE-68) entered service: 1943
- USS Kalinin Bay (CVE-68) personnel: 860
15. Allen M. Sumner-class
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
- Number produced: 58
- Type: Destroyer
- Notable ship(s): USS Allen M. Sumner (DD-692), USS Laffey (DD-724), USS Hugh W. Hadley (DD-774)
- Year USS Allen M. Sumner (DD-692) entered service: 1944
- USS Allen M. Sumner (DD-692) personnel: 336
14. Crater-class freighter
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
- Number produced: 62
- Type: Cargo ship
- Notable ship(s): USS Serpens (AK-97)
- Year USS Serpens (AK-97) entered service: 1943
- USS Serpens (AK-97) personnel: 206
13. Gleaves-class
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
- Number produced: 66
- Type: Destroyer
- Notable ship(s): USS Gleaves (DD-423), USS McCalla (DD-488)
- Year USS Gleaves (DD-423) entered service: 1940
- USS Gleaves (DD-423) personnel: 276
12. John C. Butler-class
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
- Number produced: 83
- Type: Destroyer escort
- Notable ship(s): USS John C. Butler (DE-339), USS Samuel B. Roberts (DE-413)
- Year USS John C. Butler (DE-339) entered service: 1944
- USS John C. Butler (DE-339) personnel: 186
11. Edsall-class
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
- Number produced: 85
- Type: Destroyer escort
- Notable ship(s): USS Pillsbury (DE-133)
- Year USS Pillsbury (DE-133) entered service: 1943
- USS Pillsbury (DE-133) personnel: 209
10. Gearing-class
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
- Number produced: 98
- Type: Destroyer/submarine hunter
- Notable ship(s): USS Gearing (DD-710), USS Floyd B. Parks (DD-884)
- Year USS Gearing (DD-710) entered service: 1945
- USS Gearing (DD-710) personnel: 336
9. Admirable-class
Source: national_museum_of_the_us_navy / Flickr
- Number produced: 123
- Type: Minesweeper / anti-submarine warfare vessel
- Notable ship(s): USS Improve (AM-247)
- Year USS Improve (AM-247) entered service: 1944
- USS Improve (AM-247) personnel: 104
8. Clemson-class
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
- Number produced: 156
- Type: Destroyer
- Notable ship(s): USS John D. Ford (DD-228), USS McCalla (DD-253), USS Reuben James (DD-245)
- Year USS John D. Ford (DD-228) entered service: 1920
- USS John D. Ford (DD-228) personnel: 122
7. Fletcher-class
Source: national_museum_of_the_us_navy / Flickr
- Number produced: 175
- Type: Destroyer / anti-submarine warfare platform
- Notable ship(s): USS Fletcher (DD-445), USS Stoddard (DD-566), USS The Sullivans (DD-537)
- Year USS Fletcher (DD-445) entered service: 1942
- USS Fletcher (DD-445) personnel: 273
6. Higgins PT Boat
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
- Number produced: 199
- Type: Patrol boat/motor torpedo boat
- Notable ship(s): N/A
- Year entered service: 1942
- Personnel: 11
5. PT 103-class
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
- Number produced: 326
- Type: Patrol boat/motor torpedo boat
- Notable ship(s): N/A
- Year entered service: 1941
- Personnel: 14
4. Landing Craft Infantry (Large)
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
- Number produced: 923
- Type: Amphibious assault ship
- Notable ship(s): N/A
- Year entered service: 1943
- Personnel: 24
3. Landing Ship, Tank MkII (LST2)
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
- Number produced: 1,051
- Type: Amphibious assault transport vessel
- Notable ship(s): N/A
- Year entered service: 1942
- Personnel: 265
2. EC2-S-C1-class (Liberty Ship)
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
- Number produced: 2,751
- Type: Cargo ship vessel
- Notable ship(s): SS John Brown B4611
- Year SS John Brown B4611 entered service: 1942
- SS John Brown B4611 personnel: 87
1. Higgins Boat LCVP (Landing Craft, Vehicle, Personnel)
Source: Robert Sargent / Archive Photos via Getty Images
- Number produced: 20,000
- Type: Amphibious assault landing craft
- Notable ship(s): N/A
- Year entered service: 1941
- Personnel: 39
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