Question: Which class of ships was larger, Iowa-class battleship or Essex-class aircraft carrier?
Sentence (from "Essex-class aircraft carrier"): The "Essex"-class carriers were the backbone of the U.S. Navy's combat strength during World War II from mid-1943 on, and, along with the addition of the three "Midway"-class carriers just after the war, continued to be the heart of U.S. naval strength until the supercarriers began to come into the fleet in numbers during the 1960s and 1970s.
Relevant evidence: No