Originally designed as a "long-hulled" Essex-class ship (considered by some authorities to be a separate class, the Ticonderoga class) her construction was suspended in 1946.
Hon designades ursprungligen som ett hangarfartyg med "långt skrov" i Essex-klassen (anses av vissa myndigheter vara en separat klass, Ticonderoga-klass) men hennes konstruktion avbröts 1947.