When the U.S.A. joined World War II, they surpassed Britain by their number of battleships, which were still considered a benchmark of naval power. Besides this, the practical Americans understood the value of submarines, which were relatively cheap and effective.
Within less than four years, the number of battleships in the U.S. Navy increased significantly, with their total number almost equaling the number of battleships in all other countries combined. However, the steel giants had scaled back by that time: the scope of military activities at sea required "universal soldiers", so the number of cruisers and destroyers sharply increased. Though, if we compare the relative "weight" of destroyers and cruisers among the main ship types, they just maintained their positions. Aircraft carriers were the most powerful force at sea, reclaiming their leading role in the U.S. Navy. By 1945, their number reigned supreme across the world.
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