List of aircraft carriers of the United States Navy
Overview
The United States Navy has a rich history of using aircraft carriers, large warships that serve as seagoing airbases. These vessels have been instrumental in numerous military operations, providing air support and serving as a base for fighter planes and other aircraft. This article provides a comprehensive list of aircraft carriers that have served in the United States Navy.
Early Carriers (1910-1945)
The first aircraft carrier of the United States Navy was the USS Langley, commissioned in 1922. Originally a collier ship named the USS Jupiter, it was converted into an aircraft carrier and renamed in honor of Samuel Pierpont Langley, an American aviation pioneer.
Following the USS Langley, the Navy commissioned the USS Lexington and the USS Saratoga in the late 1920s. These carriers were part of the United States' response to similar naval developments by Japan and the United Kingdom.
During World War II, the United States Navy expanded its fleet of aircraft carriers significantly. Notable carriers from this period include the USS Enterprise, the most decorated ship of World War II, and the USS Yorktown, which played a crucial role in the Battle of Midway.
Cold War Era Carriers (1947-1991)
The Cold War era saw the introduction of larger, more powerful aircraft carriers. The USS Midway, commissioned in 1945, was the lead ship of her class and served for an unprecedented 47 years.
The USS Forrestal, commissioned in 1955, was the first carrier designed and built from the keel up as a supercarrier. It was followed by the USS Kitty Hawk and the USS Enterprise, the world's first nuclear-powered aircraft carrier.
Post-Cold War Carriers (1991-Present)
The post-Cold War era has seen the commissioning of the Nimitz-class and Gerald R. Ford-class carriers. The USS Nimitz, commissioned in 1975, was the lead ship of her class and is one of the largest warships in the world.
The USS Gerald R. Ford, commissioned in 2017, is the lead ship of her class and represents the future of aircraft carriers in the United States Navy. This class of carriers features advanced technology and systems, including a new type of nuclear reactor for propulsion and an Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System (EMALS).
