[[Essex class aircraft carrier]]

After the abrogation by Japan from disarmament treaties, the U.S. took a realistic look at its naval strength. With the Naval Expansion Act of Congress passed on May 17, 1938, an increase of 40,000 tons in aircraft carriers was authorized.

The United Kingdom, the United States, and Japan each violated the treaties they signed to limit war ship production ([[London Naval Treaty]] and [[Washington Naval Treaty]].) The United States appears to have done so first, failing to decommission enough tonnage to bring it into compliance and building ships it believed were not limited by the treaty such as so-called "[[Light cruiser]]". Although Japan announced in 1934 it would not be renewing the London Naval Treaty, the four remaining signatories each also stated they would no longer be restrained by either treaty. Stating here that only Japan abrogated the treaty is biased and not within NPOV.