32 is certainly reasonable. Problem was, they installed these huge bulges on Midway in her later years and the parasitic drag was significant.
If I recall correctly, the bulges (sponsons) were intended to increase buoyancy as the Midway became heavier with heavier aircraft, heavier equipment modifications, etc. While they did increase buoyancy, they also resulted in the ship becoming less stable in heavy seas and rolling increased.
I flew off the Midway in the '80,'82 timeframe before they put the sponsons on her. She was notorious for a "Dutch Roll" when seas got a bit rough so in addition to the deck moving up and down, it would wallow left and right too...it could cause some severe vertigo and chasing of lineup, especially at night.
The American engineers came up with the idea of the sponsons at the waterline to act sort of like outriggers, thereby helping to stabilize any rolling moment.
The Japanese engineers said the extra weight that far from the centerline would cause more inertia for any rolling motion.
The American engineers said, "no it won't." The Japanese engineers said, "yes it will." "No it won't!" "yes it will!
The Japanese engineers finally gave up.
They put the sponsons on and guess what? The rolling and "Dutch Roll" got a LOT worse.
