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The major difference in the Forestall Class wasn't weight of those in it's class or even conventionals to follow. It was the Boilers and Engineering Plant. Forestall although the first in it's class was a 600 psi plant and Srartoga and the rest of the two conventional classes to follow thereafter including the KH class and JFK were 1200 psi plants. The unloaded displacement was within a thousand or so tons from CV-59-67 on conventionals. Big E the nuke is the exception weighing in 10,000 tons more on light and full displacement. http://www.nvr.navy.mil/nvrships/NAME.HTM

Each carrier had a few quirks that set it apart from the rest. America for example had a Sonar Dome the others didn't. You could hear it loud and clear if you slept at water level like I did. Being on a carrier at Flank speed is an experience indeed. The ship takes on a completely different feel underway but changes again at Flank. We ran around Messiana one night at flank transiting it several times. The Old Girl was at flank and turning as well. Only a few onboard know the real top end speeds. Bridge would know, Central would know, the MMR's would know or ENG SECCON, and FWD IC definately would know as thats where the brain was located IIRC :>}.

AS an FTM on the SoCar I maintained the aft radar. We also kept the helo controls up on the 03 level aft. Those controls had info for landing helo's on deck, heading, ships speed, wind direction and speed, etc.

I know that the claimed top speed of the ship (which is now decommissioned) was 32 knot.I personally witnessed 41 knot indicated. If that equipment was accurate, that is hauling a$$.

Anyone who served on naval fighting ships knows the experience of flank speed. It is awesome to see and feel.

I have watched as we were at flank as the Nimitz or Ike walked away from us like we dropped anchor! When I said The "big" carriers I meant the currant class active. Which also happen to be largest in tonnage and length as delivered to the Navy. Someone, who I will not name called me out on that complete with some numbers of tonnage that were wholly inaccurate.