Which class of ships was larger, Iowa-class battleship or Essex-class aircraft carrier?
Iowa-class battleship: The "Iowa"-class battleships were a class of six fast battleships ordered by the United States Navy in 1939 and 1940 to escort the Fast Carrier Task Forces that would operate in the Pacific Theater of World War II. Essex-class aircraft carrier: The "Essex" class was a class of aircraft carriers of the United States Navy that constituted the 20th century's most numerous class of capital ships. Essex-class aircraft carrier:  The class consisted of 24 vessels, which came in "short-hull" and "long-hull" versions.
"Essex" class