# WWII aircraft carrier bows and friendly fire **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [March 23, 2003, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wwii-aircraft-carrier-bows-and-friendly-fire/163558 "2003-03-23T15:57:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 2\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![mlees](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba8739/32.png) [@mlees](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mlees)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2011, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wwii-aircraft-carrier-bows-and-friendly-fire/163558/21 "2011-07-08T17:39:39Z")
> [@Johnny L.A.](#): > > Second question: When was this change made, and how many of the ships were so modified? The SCB-125 refits in the mid to late 50’s fitted hurricane bows to the Essex class cv’s. [SCB-125 - Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SCB-125) The wiki article on the Midway class states that they received hurricane bows in the SCB-110/110A upgrades in the late 50’s. :smack: Zombie carriers! ---
**Author:** ![Damfino](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Damfino](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Damfino)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2011, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wwii-aircraft-carrier-bows-and-friendly-fire/163558/22 "2011-07-08T22:43:27Z")
> [@Rick](#): > > I recall reading about a peeled back bow in a **novel** about WWII. IIRC it was near the begining of HMS Ulysses by Alstair McLean. I don’t have a copy any more, so I can’t check. I was going to post about this too. Maclean served in the Arctic convoys for about eighteen months, and a lot of HMS Ulysses is obviously related from experience. The carriers are knocked out one by one, including the one with the bent deck after plunging into a heavy sea. The captain sends several humorous messages about his predicament, including the new stylish look, the possibility of its acting as a sail, and the realisation that aircraft take offs might now be difficult. He is quickly shut up by the Admiral aboard _Ulysses_ [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wwii-aircraft-carrier-bows-and-friendly-fire/163558.md?page=1)