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An <b>aircraft carrier</b> is a [[military]] [[ship]] whose main function is to deploy and recover [[aircraft]]. This allows a nation to project power great distances without having to depend on local bases for land-based aircraft. Aircraft carriers are generally the largest ships operated by [[Navy|navies]]; a [[Nimitz]] class carrier powered by two nuclear reactors and four steam turbines is over 1,000 feet long and costs about $4.5 billion. Only a few countries maintain aircraft carriers, including [[France]], [[India]], [[Russia]], [[Spain]], the [[United Kingdom]] and the [[USA]]. [[Chinese aircraft carrier|China]] appears to be actively interested in acquiring a carrier.
An <b>aircraft carrier</b> is a [[military]] [[ship]] whose main function is to deploy and recover [[aircraft]]. This allows a nation to project power great distances without having to depend on local bases for land-based aircraft. Aircraft carriers are generally the largest ships operated by [[Navy|navies]]; a [[Nimitz]] class carrier powered by two nuclear reactors and four steam turbines is over 1,000 feet long and costs about $4.5 billion. Only a few countries maintain aircraft carriers, including [[France]], [[India]], [[Russia]], [[Spain]], the [[United Kingdom]] and the [[USA]]. [[Chinese aircraft carrier|China]] appears to be actively interested in acquiring a carrier.




Aircraft carriers have two basic configurations. The most common has a flat top deck that serves as a take off and landing area for [[airplane]]s. A steam-powered catapult accelerates an aircraft under full throttle, from 0 to 165 mph in 2 seconds during take-off to help it reach take-off speed. To land on the carrier, incoming airplanes moving at 150 mph are equipped with tailhooks to engage one of up to four arresting cables stretched across the deck, stopping the aircraft within 320 feet after engaging a cable.
Aircraft carriers have two basic configurations. The most common has a flat top deck that serves as a take off and landing area for [[airplane]]s. A steam-powered catapult accelerates an aircraft under full throttle, from 0 to 165 mph in 2 seconds during take-off to help it reach take-off speed. To land on the carrier, incoming airplanes moving at 150 mph are equipped with tailhooks to engage one of up to four arresting cables stretched across the deck, stopping the aircraft within 320 feet after engaging a cable.




The second configuration, most commonly used by the [[Royal Navy]], has a 'ski-jump' at one end of the flat deck, that helps launch the aircraft. This arrangement is designed for use with [[VTOL]] or [[STOVL]] aircraft that are able to take-off and land with little or no forward movement. These aircraft do not require catapult facilities or arrestor cables to be deployed across the flight deck.
The second configuration, most commonly used by the [[Royal Navy]], has a 'ski-jump' at one end of the flat deck, that helps launch the aircraft. This arrangement is designed for use with [[VTOL]] or [[STOVL]] aircraft that are able to take-off and land with little or no forward movement. These aircraft do not require catapult facilities or arrestor cables to be deployed across the flight deck.




In either case the ship steams at up to 30 knots straight into the wind during take-off and landing operations in order to increase the apparent wind speed, thereby reducing the ground speed the plane needs to achieve.
In either case the ship steams at up to 30 knots straight into the wind during take-off and landing operations in order to increase the apparent wind speed, thereby reducing the ground speed the plane needs to achieve.




Aircraft carriers are generally accompanied by a number of other ships, to provide protection for the relatively unwieldy carrier, to carry supplies, and to provide additional offensive capabilities. This is often termed a battle group or carrier group.
Aircraft carriers are generally accompanied by a number of other ships, to provide protection for the relatively unwieldy carrier, to carry supplies, and to provide additional offensive capabilities. This is often termed a battle group or carrier group.




[[Eugene Ely]] piloted the first airplane to land on and launch from a ship in November [[1910]]. He took off from the US [[Cruiser]] [[USS Birmingham]] at [[Hampton Roads]], [[Virginia]].
[[Eugene Ely]] piloted the first airplane to land on and launch from a ship in November [[1910]]. He took off from the US [[Cruiser]] [[USS Birmingham]] at [[Hampton Roads]], [[Virginia]].




The first strike from a carrier against a land target took place on July 19, [[1918]]. Seven [[Sopwith Camel]]s launched from [[HMS Furious]] attacked the German [[Zeppelin]] base at [[Tondern]]. Several [[airship]]s and [[balloon]]s were destroyed.
The first strike from a carrier against a land target took place on July 19, [[1918]]. Seven [[Sopwith Camel]]s launched from [[HMS Furious]] attacked the German [[Zeppelin]] base at [[Tondern]]. Several [[airship]]s and [[balloon]]s were destroyed.




The first ship to have a full length flat deck was [[HMS Argus]] the conversion of which was completed in September 1918. The first ship to be designed specifically as an aircraft carrier was the second [[HMS Hermes]] which was commissioned in July [[1923]].
The first ship to have a full length flat deck was [[HMS Argus]] the conversion of which was completed in September 1918. The first ship to be designed specifically as an aircraft carrier was the second [[HMS Hermes]] which was commissioned in July [[1923]].




'''Individual aircraft carriers:'''
'''Individual aircraft carriers:'''




*[[US Navy]] (active):
*[[US Navy]] (active):

** [[USS Kitty Hawk|USS <i>Kitty Hawk</i> (CV-63)]]
** [[USS Kitty Hawk|USS <i>Kitty Hawk</i> (CV-63)]]

** [[USS Constellation|USS <i>Constellation</i> (CV-64)]]
** [[USS Constellation|USS <i>Constellation</i> (CV-64)]]

** [[USS Enterprise|USS <i>Enterprise</i> (CVN-65)]]
** [[USS Enterprise|USS <i>Enterprise</i> (CVN-65)]]

** [[USS John F Kennedy|USS <i>John F. Kennedy</i> (CV-67)]]
** [[USS John F Kennedy|USS <i>John F. Kennedy</i> (CV-67)]]

** [[USS Nimitz|USS <i>Nimitz</i> (CVN-68)]]
** [[USS Nimitz|USS <i>Nimitz</i> (CVN-68)]]

** [[USS Dwight D Eisenhower|USS <i>Dwight D. Eisenhower</i> (CVN-69)]]
** [[USS Dwight D Eisenhower|USS <i>Dwight D. Eisenhower</i> (CVN-69)]]

** [[USS Carl Vinson|USS <i>Carl Vinson</i> (CVN-70)]]
** [[USS Carl Vinson|USS <i>Carl Vinson</i> (CVN-70)]]

** [[USS Theodore Roosevelt|USS <i>Theodore Roosevelt</i> (CVN-71)]]
** [[USS Theodore Roosevelt|USS <i>Theodore Roosevelt</i> (CVN-71)]]

** [[USS Abraham Lincoln|USS <i>Abraham Lincoln</i> (CVN-72)]]
** [[USS Abraham Lincoln|USS <i>Abraham Lincoln</i> (CVN-72)]]

** [[USS George Washington|USS <i>George Washington</i> (CVN-73)]]
** [[USS George Washington|USS <i>George Washington</i> (CVN-73)]]

** [[USS John C Stennis|USS <i>John C. Stennis</i> (CNV-74)]]
** [[USS John C Stennis|USS <i>John C. Stennis</i> (CNV-74)]]

** [[USS Harry S Truman|USS <i>Harry S. Truman</i> (CVN-75)]]
** [[USS Harry S Truman|USS <i>Harry S. Truman</i> (CVN-75)]]




*US Navy (under construction):
*US Navy (under construction):

** [[USS Ronald Reagan|USS <i>Ronald Reagan</i> (CVN-76)]]
** [[USS Ronald Reagan|USS <i>Ronald Reagan</i> (CVN-76)]]




*US Navy (retired):
*US Navy (retired):

** [[USS Langley]]
** [[USS Langley]]

** [[USS Lexington]]
** [[USS Lexington]]

** [[USS Saratoga]]
** [[USS Saratoga]]

** [[USS Ranger]]
** [[USS Ranger]]

** [[USS Yorktown]]
** [[USS Yorktown]]

** [[USS Enterprise]]
** [[USS Enterprise]]

** [[USS Wasp]]
** [[USS Wasp]]

** [[USS Hornet]]
** [[USS Hornet]]

** [[USS Essex]]
** [[USS Essex]]

** [[USS Yorktown]]
** [[USS Yorktown]]

** [[USS Intrepid]]
** [[USS Intrepid]]

** [[USS Hornet]]
** [[USS Hornet]]

** [[USS Franklin]]
** [[USS Franklin]]

** [[USS Ticonderoga]]
** [[USS Ticonderoga]]

** [[USS Randolph]]
** [[USS Randolph]]

** [[USS Lexington]]
** [[USS Lexington]]

** [[USS Bunker]]
** [[USS Bunker]]

** [[USS Wasp]]
** [[USS Wasp]]

** [[USS Hancock]]
** [[USS Hancock]]

** [[USS Bennington]]
** [[USS Bennington]]

** [[USS Boxer]]
** [[USS Boxer]]

** [[USS Independence]]
** [[USS Independence]]

** [[USS Princeton]]
** [[USS Princeton]]

** [[USS Belleau]]
** [[USS Belleau]]

** [[USS Cowpens]]
** [[USS Cowpens]]

** [[USS Monterey]]
** [[USS Monterey]]

** [[USS Langley]]
** [[USS Langley]]

** [[USS Cabot]]
** [[USS Cabot]]

** [[USS Bataan]]
** [[USS Bataan]]

** [[USS San]]
** [[USS San]]

** [[USS Bon]]
** [[USS Bon]]

** [[USS Leyte]]
** [[USS Leyte]]

** [[USS Kearsarge]]
** [[USS Kearsarge]]

** [[USS Oriskany]]
** [[USS Oriskany]]

** [[USS Antietam]]
** [[USS Antietam]]

** [[USS Princeton]]
** [[USS Princeton]]

** [[USS Shangri-La]]
** [[USS Shangri-La]]

** [[USS Lake]]
** [[USS Lake]]

** [[USS Tarawa]]
** [[USS Tarawa]]

** [[USS Midway]]
** [[USS Midway]]

** [[USS Franklin]]
** [[USS Franklin]]

** [[USS Coral]]
** [[USS Coral]]

** [[USS Valley]]
** [[USS Valley]]

** [[USS Philippine]]
** [[USS Philippine]]

** [[USS Saipan]]
** [[USS Saipan]]

** [[USS Wright]]
** [[USS Wright]]

** [[USS Forrestal]]
** [[USS Forrestal]]

** [[USS Saratoga]]
** [[USS Saratoga]]

** [[USS Ranger]]
** [[USS Ranger]]

** [[USS Independence]]
** [[USS Independence]]




*UK [[Royal Navy]]
*UK [[Royal Navy]]

** [[HMS Argus]]
** [[HMS Argus]]

** [[HMS Ark Royal]]
** [[HMS Ark Royal]]

** [[HMS Furious]]
** [[HMS Furious]]

** [[HMS Hermes]]
** [[HMS Hermes]]

** [[HMS Illustrious]]
** [[HMS Illustrious]]

** [[HMS Invincible]]
** [[HMS Invincible]]




* Argentina
* Argentina

** [[Argentine aircraft carrier Independencia|<i>Independencia</i>]]
** [[Argentine aircraft carrier Independencia|<i>Independencia</i>]]

** [[Argentine aircraft carrier Veinticinco De Mayo|<i>Veinticinco De Mayo</i>]]
** [[Argentine aircraft carrier Veinticinco De Mayo|<i>Veinticinco De Mayo</i>]]




* Australia
* Australia
* <I>note:The current Sydney and Melbourne are guided missile frigates, and the current Albatross is a naval base on land near [[Nowra]]. I'm not sure there is a current Vengeance. Australia's aircraft carrier fleet was decommissioned decades ago</I>

* <I>note:The current Sydney and Melbourne are guided missile frigates. Australia's aircraft carrier fleet was decommissioned decades ago</I>

** [[HMAS Albatross]]
** [[HMAS Albatross]]

** [[HMAS Sydney]]
** [[HMAS Sydney]]

** [[HMAS Vengeance]]
** [[HMAS Vengeance]]

** [[HMAS Melbourne]]
** [[HMAS Melbourne]]




* Brazil
* Brazil

** [[Brazilian aircraft carrier Minas Gerais|<i>Minas Gerais</i>]]
** [[Brazilian aircraft carrier Minas Gerais|<i>Minas Gerais</i>]]

** [[Brazilian aircraft carrier Sao Paulo|<i>S&atilde;o Paulo</i>]]
** [[Brazilian aircraft carrier Sao Paulo|<i>S&atilde;o Paulo</i>]]




* Canada
* Canada

** [[HMCS Nabob]]
** [[HMCS Nabob]]

** [[HMCS Puncher]]
** [[HMCS Puncher]]

** [[HMCS Warrior]]
** [[HMCS Warrior]]

** [[HMCS Magnificent]]
** [[HMCS Magnificent]]

** [[HMCS Bonaventure]]
** [[HMCS Bonaventure]]




* France
* France

** [[French aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle|<i>Charles de Gaulle</i>]]
** [[French aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle|<i>Charles de Gaulle</i>]]




* India
* India

** [[INS Vikrant|INS <i>Vikrant</i>]]
** [[INS Vikrant|INS <i>Vikrant</i>]]

** [[INS Viraat|INS <i>Viraat</i>]]
** [[INS Viraat|INS <i>Viraat</i>]]




* Italy
* Italy

** [[Italian aircraft carrier Giuseppe Garibaldi|<i>Giuseppe Garibaldi</i>]]
** [[Italian aircraft carrier Giuseppe Garibaldi|<i>Giuseppe Garibaldi</i>]]

** [[Italian aircraft carrier Andrea Doria|<i>Andrea Doria</i>]]
** [[Italian aircraft carrier Andrea Doria|<i>Andrea Doria</i>]]




* Spain
* Spain

** [[Spanish aircraft carrier Principe de Asturias|<i>Principe de Asturias</i>]]
** [[Spanish aircraft carrier Principe de Asturias|<i>Principe de Asturias</i>]]




* Thailand
* Thailand

** [[Thai aircraft carrier Chakri Nareubet|<i>Chakri Nareubet</i>]]
** [[Thai aircraft carrier Chakri Nareubet|<i>Chakri Nareubet</i>]]




* Russia
* Russia

** [[Soviet aircraft carrier Kuznetsov|<i>Admiral Flota Svetskogo Soyuza Kuznetsov</i>]]
** [[Soviet aircraft carrier Kuznetsov|<i>Admiral Flota Svetskogo Soyuza Kuznetsov</i>]]




* <s>Russia</s> ... <s>Ukraine</s> ... China?
* <s>Russia</s> ... <s>Ukraine</s> ... China?

** [[Soviet aircraft carrier Varyag|<i>Varyag</i>]]
** [[Soviet aircraft carrier Varyag|<i>Varyag</i>]]




See also: [[Escort aircraft carrier]]; [[amphibious assault ship]]
See also: [[Escort aircraft carrier]]; [[amphibious assault ship]]




----
----

'''External links:'''
'''External links:'''

* Haze Gray & Underway, <i>World Aircraft Carrier Lists</i>:
* Haze Gray & Underway, <i>World Aircraft Carrier Lists</i>:

** http://www.hazegray.org/navhist/carriers/
** http://www.hazegray.org/navhist/carriers/

*** The World Aircraft Carriers Lists are comprehensive and detailed listings (and photo gallery) of all the world's aircraft carriers and seaplane tenders from 1913-2001.
*** The World Aircraft Carriers Lists are comprehensive and detailed listings (and photo gallery) of all the world's aircraft carriers and seaplane tenders from 1913-2001.

Revision as of 20:37, 29 January 2002

An aircraft carrier is a military ship whose main function is to deploy and recover aircraft. This allows a nation to project power great distances without having to depend on local bases for land-based aircraft. Aircraft carriers are generally the largest ships operated by navies; a Nimitz class carrier powered by two nuclear reactors and four steam turbines is over 1,000 feet long and costs about $4.5 billion. Only a few countries maintain aircraft carriers, including France, India, Russia, Spain, the United Kingdom and the USA. China appears to be actively interested in acquiring a carrier.

Aircraft carriers have two basic configurations. The most common has a flat top deck that serves as a take off and landing area for airplanes. A steam-powered catapult accelerates an aircraft under full throttle, from 0 to 165 mph in 2 seconds during take-off to help it reach take-off speed. To land on the carrier, incoming airplanes moving at 150 mph are equipped with tailhooks to engage one of up to four arresting cables stretched across the deck, stopping the aircraft within 320 feet after engaging a cable.

The second configuration, most commonly used by the Royal Navy, has a 'ski-jump' at one end of the flat deck, that helps launch the aircraft. This arrangement is designed for use with VTOL or STOVL aircraft that are able to take-off and land with little or no forward movement. These aircraft do not require catapult facilities or arrestor cables to be deployed across the flight deck.

In either case the ship steams at up to 30 knots straight into the wind during take-off and landing operations in order to increase the apparent wind speed, thereby reducing the ground speed the plane needs to achieve.

Aircraft carriers are generally accompanied by a number of other ships, to provide protection for the relatively unwieldy carrier, to carry supplies, and to provide additional offensive capabilities. This is often termed a battle group or carrier group.

Eugene Ely piloted the first airplane to land on and launch from a ship in November 1910. He took off from the US Cruiser USS Birmingham at Hampton Roads, Virginia.

The first strike from a carrier against a land target took place on July 19, 1918. Seven Sopwith Camels launched from HMS Furious attacked the German Zeppelin base at Tondern. Several airships and balloons were destroyed.

The first ship to have a full length flat deck was HMS Argus the conversion of which was completed in September 1918. The first ship to be designed specifically as an aircraft carrier was the second HMS Hermes which was commissioned in July 1923.

Individual aircraft carriers:

  • Australia
  • note:The current Sydney and Melbourne are guided missile frigates, and the current Albatross is a naval base on land near Nowra. I'm not sure there is a current Vengeance. Australia's aircraft carrier fleet was decommissioned decades ago
  • Russia ... Ukraine ... China?

See also: Escort aircraft carrier; amphibious assault ship

External links:

  • Haze Gray & Underway, World Aircraft Carrier Lists:
    • http://www.hazegray.org/navhist/carriers/
      • The World Aircraft Carriers Lists are comprehensive and detailed listings (and photo gallery) of all the world's aircraft carriers and seaplane tenders from 1913-2001.
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