A compliant foil thrust bearing, comprising: a compliant foil thrust bearing subassembly comprising: a fluid plate comprising an annular mating ring and a plurality of fluid foil elements disposed radially inwardly from the fluid plate annular mating ring; a force transfer plate comprising an annular mating ring and a plurality of force transfer elements disposed radially inwardly from the force transfer plate mating annular ring; and a spring plate comprising an annular mating ring and a plurality of deflection elements disposed radially inwardly from the spring plate annular mating ring, wherein: the fluid plate, the force transfer plate and the spring plate are stackable such that each fluid foil element is axially supported by a corresponding pair of overlapping force transfer elements and deflection elements; wherein the compliant foil thrust bearing further comprises a thrust plate, comprising: an annular mating surface; a recessed surface disposed radially inwardly from the annular mating surface and axially recessed from the annular mating surface; and one or more supports disposed radially inwardly from the annular mating surface and axially extending from the recessed surface; and wherein: the depth of the recessed surface, or the depth of the supports, or the depth of both the surface and the supports limit the deflection of the deflection elements in the axial direction. a compliant foil thrust bearing subassembly comprising: a fluid plate comprising an annular mating ring and a plurality of fluid foil elements disposed radially inwardly from the fluid plate annular mating ring; a force transfer plate comprising an annular mating ring and a plurality of force transfer elements disposed radially inwardly from the force transfer plate mating annular ring; and a spring plate comprising an annular mating ring and a plurality of deflection elements disposed radially inwardly from the spring plate annular mating ring, wherein: the fluid plate, the force transfer plate and the spring plate are stackable such that each fluid foil element is axially supported by a corresponding pair of overlapping force transfer elements and deflection elements; wherein a fluid plate comprising an annular mating ring and a plurality of fluid foil elements disposed radially inwardly from the fluid plate annular mating ring; a force transfer plate comprising an annular mating ring and a plurality of force transfer elements disposed radially inwardly from the force transfer plate mating annular ring; and a spring plate comprising an annular mating ring and a plurality of deflection elements disposed radially inwardly from the spring plate annular mating ring, wherein: the fluid plate, the force transfer plate and the spring plate are stackable such that each fluid foil element is axially supported by a corresponding pair of overlapping force transfer elements and deflection elements; wherein the fluid plate, the force transfer plate and the spring plate are stackable such that each fluid foil element is axially supported by a corresponding pair of overlapping force transfer elements and deflection elements; wherein the compliant foil thrust bearing further comprises a thrust plate, comprising: an annular mating surface; a recessed surface disposed radially inwardly from the annular mating surface and axially recessed from the annular mating surface; and one or more supports disposed radially inwardly from the annular mating surface and axially extending from the recessed surface; and wherein: the depth of the recessed surface, or the depth of the supports, or the depth of both the surface and the supports limit the deflection of the deflection elements in the axial direction. an annular mating surface; a recessed surface disposed radially inwardly from the annular mating surface and axially recessed from the annular mating surface; and one or more supports disposed radially inwardly from the annular mating surface and axially extending from the recessed surface; and wherein: the depth of the recessed surface, or the depth of the supports, or the depth of both the surface and the supports limit the deflection of the deflection elements in the axial direction. the depth of the recessed surface, or the depth of the supports, or the depth of both the surface and the supports limit the deflection of the deflection elements in the axial direction.