.jpg)
By the end of World War II, millions of American troops were scattered across the globe. They had fought through the beaches of Normandy, the islands of the Pacific, and the deserts of North Africa. Now, with victory secured, they faced one last mission: getting home. But transporting that many soldiers back to the United States was a logistical nightmare. The solution? A massive military operation known as Operation Magic Carpet.
At the heart of this effort were aircraft carriers, warships designed to launch and recover fighter planes. But instead of fighters, these steel giants would now be used to carry as many troops as physically possible. And when it came to packing soldiers onto a ship, the Navy wasted no space.
Take the USS Saratoga (CV-3) for example. Originally built to carry about 2,500 crew members and 90 aircraft, the Saratoga was stripped of unnecessary equipment and repurposed as a floating troop transport. In January 1946, it made history by bringing back over 6,000 troops in a single voyage—more than double its normal capacity.
But that wasn’t even the record.
The USS Hornet (CV-12) and USS Enterprise (CV-6), both legendary carriers, also took part in the operation, cramming between 5,000 and 8,000 troops per trip. Hammocks were strung up in every available space, and soldiers slept on decks, in hangars, and anywhere else they could squeeze in. In some cases, bunks were stacked five or six high. Even aircraft elevators, normally used to move planes, were converted into makeshift sleeping areas.
And then there was the USS Lake Champlain (CV-39), which still holds the record for the most troops ever transported on an aircraft carrier in a single trip—over 7,500 men! This was more than three times its standard crew size.
Between late 1945 and 1946, Operation Magic Carpet ferried home over 8 million U.S. troops using everything from aircraft carriers to transport ships. It was one of the largest mass movements of military personnel in history.
So, how many soldiers can fit on an aircraft carrier? During Operation Magic Carpet, the answer was simple: as many as humanly possible.