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Yup, it surprised me too. There were indeed three different N156s by 1955
- N156T (= T-38)
- N156F (= future F-5)
- N156N (Navy variant)

The USN had a huge number of light and escort carriers in storage. The Saipan class (two of them) and the Independance class. Of the later, nine had been build, yet two lost / scrapped (Taffy 3 1944 and 1946 nuclear blasts), two more had already gone to France (Lafayette / Bois Belleau) - and one last would be passed to Spain, but only in 1967 (Dedalo).

So five available, plus the two Saipan = seven 30 kt carriers. I suppose the N156N was for these 7 ships.

The Saipan were no Essex but still pretty large (23 000 tons) and fast. They ended instead as Nuclear Command Posts at Sea, better known as doomsday ships: very much a floating, Navy Boeing E-4B. One big cruiser was also converted for the job.

And in addition there was an even larger number of Sangamons and Casablancas which were much, much slower at 20 kt. Dozens of such ships.

<blockquote data-quote="Archibald" data-source="post: 423818" data-attributes="member: 138">Yup, it surprised me too. There were indeed three different&nbsp; N156s by 1955- N156T (= T-38)- N156F (= future F-5)- N156N (Navy variant)The USN&nbsp; had a huge number of light and escort carriers in storage. The Saipan class (two of them) and the&nbsp; Independance class. Of the later,&nbsp; nine had been build, yet two lost / scrapped (Taffy 3 1944 and 1946 nuclear blasts), two more had already gone to France (Lafayette / Bois Belleau) - and one last would be passed to Spain, but only in 1967 (Dedalo).So five available, plus the two Saipan = seven 30 kt carriers.&nbsp; I suppose the N156N was for these 7 ships.The Saipan were no Essex but still pretty large (23 000 tons) and fast. They ended instead as Nuclear Command Posts at Sea, better known as doomsday ships: very much a floating, Navy Boeing E-4B. One big cruiser was also converted for the job.And in addition there was an even larger number of Sangamons and Casablancas which were much, much slower at 20 kt. Dozens of such ships.</blockquote>

[QUOTE="Archibald, post: 423818, member: 138"] Yup, it surprised me too. There were indeed three different N156s by 1955 - N156T (= T-38) - N156F (= future F-5) - N156N (Navy variant) The USN had a huge number of light and escort carriers in storage. The Saipan class (two of them) and the Independance class. Of the later, nine had been build, yet two lost / scrapped (Taffy 3 1944 and 1946 nuclear blasts), two more had already gone to France (Lafayette / Bois Belleau) - and one last would be passed to Spain, but only in 1967 (Dedalo). So five available, plus the two Saipan = seven 30 kt carriers. I suppose the N156N was for these 7 ships. The Saipan were no Essex but still pretty large (23 000 tons) and fast. They ended instead as Nuclear Command Posts at Sea, better known as doomsday ships: very much a floating, Navy Boeing E-4B. One big cruiser was also converted for the job. And in addition there was an even larger number of Sangamons and Casablancas which were much, much slower at 20 kt. Dozens of such ships. [/QUOTE]

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