Aircraft carrier | Definition, History, & Facts

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</span> <a class="toc-extra-link link-gray-900" href="https://www.britannica.com/technology/aircraft-carrier/additional-info">References & Edit History</a> <a class="toc-extra-link link-gray-900" href="/facts/aircraft-carrier">Quick Facts & Related Topics</a> </div> <div class="tlr-media-slider pb-10 mb-30"> <a class="section-header link-gray-900 font-serif font-14 font-weight-bold mb-10 mx-10" href="https://www.britannica.com/technology/aircraft-carrier/images-videos">Images & Videos</a> <div class="slider js-slider position-relative d-inline-flex align-items-center mw-100 "> <div class="slider-container js-slider-container overflow-hidden d-flex overflow-hidden text-nowrap ml-15"> <a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/34/94834-050-16DB7EEB/USS-Carl-Vinson-aircraft-carrier-US-Navy-2005.jpg" data-href="/media/1/10957/126222" class="media-overlay-link d-inline-block mr-5"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/34/94834-004-A6919893/USS-Carl-Vinson-aircraft-carrier-US-Navy-2005.jpg" alt="USS Carl Vinson" height="50" /> </a> <a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/73/158773-050-7486376E/USS-Langley-US-Navy-collier-1920.jpg" data-href="/media/1/10957/168299" class="media-overlay-link d-inline-block mr-5"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/73/158773-004-537CC756/USS-Langley-US-Navy-collier-1920.jpg" alt="USS Langley" height="50" /> </a> <a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/26/160826-050-929B75DB/Deck-USS-Yorktown-bombs-Battle-of-Midway-June-4-1942.jpg" data-href="/media/1/10957/172600" class="media-overlay-link d-inline-block mr-5"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/26/160826-004-30B9FEC7/Deck-USS-Yorktown-bombs-Battle-of-Midway-June-4-1942.jpg" alt="Battle of Midway: USS Yorktown" height="50" /> </a> <a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/55/109855-050-445C48CC/USS-Enterprise-aircraft-carrier-US-Navy-1961.jpg" data-href="/media/1/10957/126228" class="media-overlay-link d-inline-block mr-5"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/55/109855-004-CB529EB2/USS-Enterprise-aircraft-carrier-US-Navy-1961.jpg" alt="USS Enterprise" height="50" /> </a> <a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/98/124798-050-4537EA98/HMS-Invincible-light-aircraft-carrier-The-Royal.jpg" data-href="/media/1/10957/118755" class="media-overlay-link d-inline-block mr-5"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/98/124798-004-CA7CC8C0/HMS-Invincible-light-aircraft-carrier-The-Royal.jpg" alt="Royal Navy, The" height="50" /> </a> <a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/42/159742-004-8D131B60/HMS-Argus-aircraft-carrier-flight-deck-Royal-1918.jpg" data-href="/media/1/10957/168753" class="media-overlay-link d-inline-block mr-5"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/42/159742-004-8D131B60/HMS-Argus-aircraft-carrier-flight-deck-Royal-1918.jpg" alt="HMS Argus" height="50" /> </a> <a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/17/5417-004-78B3EC17/John-F-Kennedy-Aircraft-carrier.jpg" data-href="/media/1/10957/4126" class="media-overlay-link d-inline-block mr-5"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/17/5417-004-78B3EC17/John-F-Kennedy-Aircraft-carrier.jpg" alt="Aircraft carrier USS John F. Kennedy" height="50" /> </a> <a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/93/100993-050-A0E98687/American-P-51s-deck-aircraft-carrier-British-Liverpool-February-1-1944.jpg" data-href="/media/1/10957/100953" class="media-overlay-link d-inline-block mr-5"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/93/100993-004-211B11D2/American-P-51s-deck-aircraft-carrier-British-Liverpool-February-1-1944.jpg" alt="P-51" height="50" /> </a> <a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/72/158772-050-F3A44C64/aircraft-carriers-Royal-Navy-HMS-Centaur-Albion-1954.jpg" data-href="/media/1/10957/168275" class="media-overlay-link d-inline-block mr-5"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/72/158772-004-8C5ECDA9/aircraft-carriers-Royal-Navy-HMS-Centaur-Albion-1954.jpg" alt="Royal Navy aircraft carriers HMS Albion and HMS Centaur" height="50" /> </a> <a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/67/94967-050-2031727A/USS-Kitty-Hawk-US-Navy-Philippine-Sea-1960.jpg" data-href="/media/1/10957/126227" class="media-overlay-link d-inline-block mr-5"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/67/94967-004-66BD14D4/USS-Kitty-Hawk-US-Navy-Philippine-Sea-1960.jpg" alt="USS Kitty Hawk; aircraft carrier" height="50" /> </a> </div> <button disabled class="prev-button js-prev-button position-absolute btn btn-circle shadow btn-blue " aria-label="Previous"> <span class="material-icons md-24" data-icon="keyboard_arrow_left"></span> </button> <button disabled class="next-button js-next-button position-absolute btn btn-circle shadow btn-blue " aria-label="Next"> <span class="material-icons md-24" data-icon="keyboard_arrow_right"></span> </button> </div> </div> <div class="mb-30 tlr-related-quizzes"> <div class="text-gray-900 p-5 font-serif font-14 font-weight-bold mx-10 mb-10"> Quizzes </div> <div class="imagelink-with-image-on-the-side card card-horizontal tlr-img-with-side-link ml-15 link-gray-900 mb-10" > <div class="position-relative card-media" style="flex: 0;"> <a class="ilf-image position-relative" href="/quiz/ships-and-underwater-exploration"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/34/94834-131-8D8EEA5B/USS-Carl-Vinson-aircraft-carrier-US-Navy-2005.jpg?w=200&h=200&c=crop" alt="Nuclear powered aircraft carrier USS Carl vinson plows through the Indian ocean as aircraft on its flight deck are prepared for flight operations 3/15/05." width="200" height="200" /> </a> </div> <div class="card-body ilf-content"> <a class="font-weight-semi-bold d-block mb-5 font-16 ilf-title" href="/quiz/ships-and-underwater-exploration" >Ships and Underwater Exploration</a> </div> </div> </div> <div class="mb-30 tlr-related-questions"> <div class="text-gray-900 p-5 pb-0 font-serif font-14 font-weight-bold mx-10 mb-15"> Related Questions </div> <ul> <li class="link-gray-900 mb-15"><a class="" href="/question/What-is-an-aircraft-carrier">What is an aircraft carrier? </a> </li> <li class="link-gray-900 mb-15"><a class="" href="/question/What-ship-was-the-first-aircraft-carrier">What ship was the first aircraft carrier?</a> </li> <li class="link-gray-900 mb-15"><a class="" href="/question/Why-did-Japan-attack-Pearl-Harbor">Why did Japan attack Pearl Harbor?</a> </li> <li class="link-gray-900 mb-15"><a class="" href="/question/How-long-did-the-Pearl-Harbor-attack-last">How long did the Pearl Harbor attack last?</a> </li> <li class="link-gray-900 mb-15"><a class="" href="/question/Was-the-Pearl-Harbor-attack-successful">Was the Pearl Harbor attack successful?</a> </li> </ul> </div> <div class="mb-30 tlr-read-next"> <div class="text-gray-900 p-5 font-serif font-14 font-weight-bold mx-10 mb-10"> Read Next </div> <div class="imagelink-with-image-on-the-side card card-horizontal tlr-img-with-side-link ml-15 link-gray-900 mb-10" > <div class="position-relative card-media" style="flex: 0;"> <a class="ilf-image position-relative" href="/story/the-attack-on-pearl-harbor"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/96/192896-131-ECCA4FB7/Explosion-USS-Shaw-magazine-attack-Pearl-Harbor-Dec-7-1941.jpg?w=200&h=200&c=crop" alt="Explosion of the USS Shaw's forward magazine during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, Dec. 7, 1941. 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They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors.</div> </a> <div data-popper-arrow></div> </div> <span class="btn btn-link editor-link p-0 qa-byline-link gtm-byline font-12 byline-contributor text-decoration-underline"> The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica</span></div> <div class="last-updated font-12 font-serif"> <span class="text-gray-700"> Last Updated: <time datetime="2025-02-20T00:00:00CST" >Feb 20, 2025</time> •</span> <a class="byline-edit-history" href="https://www.britannica.com/technology/aircraft-carrier/additional-info#history" rel="nofollow">Article History</a> </div></div> </div> <button class="d-flex d-lg-none btn btn-outline-blue border rounded-sm shadow-sm mobile-toc-button gtm-mobile-toc-inline-button d-none d-sm-block js-sections-inline-button module-spacing btn d-lg-none"> <em class="material-icons mr-5 ml-n10 my-n5 md-icon" data-icon="toc"></em> Table of Contents </button> <div class="d-flex d-sm-none flex-row"> <button class="d-flex d-lg-none btn btn-outline-blue border rounded-sm shadow-sm mobile-toc-button gtm-mobile-toc-inline-button js-sections-inline-button module-spacing"> <em class="material-icons mr-5 ml-n10 my-n5 md-icon" data-icon="toc"></em> Table of Contents </button> <button class="ai-ask-button btn btn-sm border-2 btn-outline-red-400 border-red-400 module-spacing js-inline-ai-ask-button p-10 ml-5"> Ask the Chatbot </button> </div> <div class="js-qf-module qf-module px-40 px-sm-20 py-15 mx-auto module-spacing font-14 bg-gray-50 rounded"> <div class="facts-list mt-10"> <div class=""> <div class="js-fact mb-10 line-clamp clamp-3"> <dl> <dt>Related Topics: </dt> <dd><a href="/technology/airplane" topicid="11014">airplane</a></dd> <dd><a href="/technology/merchant-aircraft-carrier" topicid="375702">merchant aircraft carrier</a></dd> <dd><a href="/technology/light-fleet-carrier" topicid="340605">light fleet carrier</a></dd> <dd><a href="/technology/arresting-gear" topicid="36074">arresting gear</a></dd> <dd><a href="/technology/escort-carrier" topicid="192408">escort carrier</a></dd> </dl> <button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-gray-50" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"> <em class="js-content link-blue">(Show more)</em> </button> </div> <div class="text-center"> <a class="btn btn-sm btn-link p-0" href="/facts/aircraft-carrier"> See all related content </a> </div> </div> </div> </div><script type="application/ld+json"> { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "FAQPage", "mainEntity": [ { "@type" : "Question", "name" : "<div>What is an aircraft carrier? <\/div><em><\/em>", "acceptedAnswer" : { "@type" : "Answer", "text" : "An aircraft carrier is a naval vessel from which airplanes may take off and land. Basically, an aircraft carrier is an airfield at sea. Special features include catapults on the flight deck to assist in launching aircraft; for braking while landing, aircraft are fitted with retractable hooks that engage wires on the deck." } } , { "@type" : "Question", "name" : "<div>Who was the first pilot to take off from a platform on a ship, a forerunner of the aircraft carrier?<\/div><em><\/em>", "acceptedAnswer" : { "@type" : "Answer", "text" : "American civilian Eugene Ely was the first pilot to fly a plane off a specially built platform on the deck of the U.S. cruiser <em>Birmingham<\/em> at Hampton Roads, Virginia, in November 1910. These experimental platforms led to the development of true aircraft carriers." } } , { "@type" : "Question", "name" : "<div>What was the first nuclear-powered aircraft carrier?<\/div><em><\/em>", "acceptedAnswer" : { "@type" : "Answer", "text" : "The first nuclear-powered aircraft carrier was the <em>Enterprise<\/em>, launched by the United States on September 24, 1960." } } , { "@type" : "Question", "name" : "<div>Were aircraft carriers used in World War II?<\/div><em><\/em>", "acceptedAnswer" : { "@type" : "Answer", "text" : "Aircraft carriers were used from the early stages of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/event\/World-War-II\">World War II<\/a>. They became the dominant combat vessel after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, demonstrated their potential. They also played a leading role in the battles of Midway Island, Coral Sea, and Leyte Gulf." } } , { "@type" : "Question", "name" : "<div>What ship was the first aircraft carrier?<\/div><em><\/em>", "acceptedAnswer" : { "@type" : "Answer", "text" : "During World War I the British navy developed the first true aircraft carrier with an unobstructed flight deck, the HMS <em>Argus<\/em>, which was built on a converted merchant-ship hull. A Japanese carrier, the <em>Hosyo<\/em>, which entered service in December 1922, was the first carrier designed as such from the keel up." } } ] } </script> <div class="top-questions qa-accordion d-flex flex-column module-spacing"><div class="font-weight-bold font-14 mb-5"> Top Questions </div><div id="intent-accordion" class="md-intent-accordion"><div class="top-question bg-gray-50 rounded" data-value="1"><h3 class="accordion--question font-14 font-weight-normal cursor-pointer rounded"><div class="pe-none d-flex justify-content-between align-items-center"><div>What is an aircraft carrier? </div><em class="material-icons" data-icon="expand_more"></em></div></h3><div class="accordion--answer hidden p-15 pt-5 font-16 mb-5"><div class="accordion--answer-copy"><p>An aircraft carrier is a naval vessel from which airplanes may take off and land. Basically, an aircraft carrier is an airfield at sea. Special features include catapults on the flight deck to assist in launching aircraft; for braking while landing, aircraft are fitted with retractable hooks that engage wires on the deck.</p></div></div></div><div class="top-question bg-gray-50 rounded" data-value="2"><h3 class="accordion--question font-14 font-weight-normal cursor-pointer rounded"><div class="pe-none d-flex justify-content-between align-items-center"><div>Who was the first pilot to take off from a platform on a ship, a forerunner of the aircraft carrier?</div><em class="material-icons" data-icon="expand_more"></em></div></h3><div class="accordion--answer hidden p-15 pt-5 font-16 mb-5"><div class="accordion--answer-copy"><p>American civilian Eugene Ely was the first pilot to fly a plane off a specially built platform on the deck of the U.S. cruiser <em>Birmingham</em> at Hampton Roads, Virginia, in November 1910. These experimental platforms led to the development of true aircraft carriers.</p></div></div></div><div class="top-question bg-gray-50 rounded" data-value="3"><h3 class="accordion--question font-14 font-weight-normal cursor-pointer rounded"><div class="pe-none d-flex justify-content-between align-items-center"><div>What was the first nuclear-powered aircraft carrier?</div><em class="material-icons" data-icon="expand_more"></em></div></h3><div class="accordion--answer hidden p-15 pt-5 font-16 mb-5"><div class="accordion--answer-copy"><p>The first nuclear-powered aircraft carrier was the <em>Enterprise</em>, launched by the United States on September 24, 1960.</p></div></div></div><div class="top-question bg-gray-50 rounded" data-value="4"><h3 class="accordion--question font-14 font-weight-normal cursor-pointer rounded"><div class="pe-none d-flex justify-content-between align-items-center"><div>Were aircraft carriers used in World War II?</div><em class="material-icons" data-icon="expand_more"></em></div></h3><div class="accordion--answer hidden p-15 pt-5 font-16 mb-5"><div class="accordion--answer-copy"><p>Aircraft carriers were used from the early stages of <a href="https://www.britannica.com/event/World-War-II" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">World War II</a>. They became the dominant combat vessel after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, demonstrated their potential. They also played a leading role in the battles of Midway Island, Coral Sea, and Leyte Gulf.</p></div></div></div><div class="top-question bg-gray-50 rounded" data-value="5"><h3 class="accordion--question font-14 font-weight-normal cursor-pointer rounded"><div class="pe-none d-flex justify-content-between align-items-center"><div>What ship was the first aircraft carrier?</div><em class="material-icons" data-icon="expand_more"></em></div></h3><div class="accordion--answer hidden p-15 pt-5 font-16 mb-5"><div class="accordion--answer-copy"><p>During World War I the British navy developed the first true aircraft carrier with an unobstructed flight deck, the HMS <em>Argus</em>, which was built on a converted merchant-ship hull. A Japanese carrier, the <em>Hosyo</em>, which entered service in December 1922, was the first carrier designed as such from the keel up.</p></div></div></div><button class="show-more-button js-toggle-top-questions btn btn-unstyled font-14 d-flex pr-10 rounded-sm"><em class="material-icons" data-icon="expand_more"></em></button></div></div><span class="marker before-article"></span><section data-level="1" id="ref1"><span class="marker PREMOD1 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph"><strong><span id="ref243612"></span>aircraft carrier</strong>, naval <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off eb" data-term="vessel" href="https://www.britannica.com/dictionary/vessel" data-type="EB">vessel</a> from which airplanes may take off and on which they may land. As early as November 1910, an American civilian pilot, <span id="ref243613"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Eugene-Ely" class="md-crosslink ">Eugene Ely</a>, flew a plane off a specially built platform on the deck of the U.S. <a href="https://www.britannica.com/technology/cruiser" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">cruiser</a> <em>Birmingham</em> at <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Hampton-Roads" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">Hampton Roads</a>, <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Virginia-state" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">Virginia</a>. On January 18, 1911, in <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/San-Francisco-Bay" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">San Francisco Bay</a>, Ely landed on a platform built on the quarterdeck of the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/technology/battleship-naval-ship" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">battleship</a> <em>Pennsylvania,</em> using wires attached to sandbags on the platform as arresting gear; he then took off from the same <a href="https://www.britannica.com/technology/ship" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">ship</a>.</p><span class="marker MOD1 mod-inline"></span><span class="marker PREMOD2 mod-inline"></span><div class="assemblies"><div class="w-100"><figure class="md-assembly m-0 mb-md-0 card card-borderless print-false" data-assembly-id="168299" data-asm-type="image"><div class="md-assembly-wrapper card-media" data-type="image"><a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/73/158773-050-7486376E/USS-Langley-US-Navy-collier-1920.jpg" class="gtm-assembly-link position-relative d-flex align-items-center justify-content-center media-overlay-link card-media" data-href="/media/1/10957/168299"><picture><source media="(min-width: 680px)" srcset="https://cdn.britannica.com/73/158773-050-7486376E/USS-Langley-US-Navy-collier-1920.jpg?w=300"><img src="https://cdn.britannica.com/73/158773-050-7486376E/USS-Langley-US-Navy-collier-1920.jpg?w=300" alt="USS Langley" data-width="1600" data-height="1241" loading="eager"></picture><button class="magnifying-glass btn btn-circle position-absolute shadow btn-white top-10 right-10" aria-label="Zoom in"><em class="material-icons link-blue" data-icon="zoom_in"></em></button></a></div><figcaption class="card-body"><div class="md-assembly-caption text-muted font-14 font-serif line-clamp"><span><a class="gtm-assembly-link md-assembly-title font-weight-bold d-inline font-sans-serif mr-5 media-overlay-link" href="https://cdn.britannica.com/73/158773-050-7486376E/USS-Langley-US-Navy-collier-1920.jpg" data-href="/media/1/10957/168299">USS <em>Langley</em></a><span>USS <em>Langley</em>, the U.S. Navy's first aircraft carrier, 1927. The <em>Langley</em> was converted in 1920 from a collier, the USS <em>Jupiter</em>.</span><button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-white js-content" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"><span class="link-blue">(more)</span></button></span></div></figcaption></figure></div></div><p class="topic-paragraph">The British <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/navy" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">navy</a> also experimented with the carrier; during <a href="https://www.britannica.com/event/World-War-I" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">World War I</a> it developed the first true carrier with an unobstructed flight deck, the HMS <em><span id="ref243614"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/Argus-ship" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Argus</a>,</em> built on a converted merchant-ship hull. The <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/war" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">war</a> ended before the <em>Argus</em> could be put into action, but the U.S. and Japanese navies quickly followed the British example. The first U.S. carrier, a converted collier renamed the USS <em><span id="ref243615"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/Langley-ship" class="md-crosslink ">Langley</a>,</em> joined the fleet in March 1922. A Japanese carrier, the <em><span id="ref243616"></span>Hosyo,</em> which entered service in December 1922, was the first carrier designed as such from the keel up.</p><span class="marker MOD2 mod-inline"></span><span class="marker PREMOD3 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph">Fundamentally, the carrier is an airfield at sea with many special features necessitated by limitations in size and the medium in which it operates. To <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off mw" data-term="facilitate" href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/facilitate" data-type="MW">facilitate</a> short takeoffs and landings, airspeeds over the deck are increased by turning the ship into the wind. Catapults flush with the flight deck assist in launching aircraft; for landing, aircraft are fitted with retractable hooks that engage transverse wires on the deck, braking them to a quick stop.</p><a class="link-module shadow-sm d-block qa-quiz-module" href="/quiz/ships-and-underwater-exploration" data-link-module-iframe-link=""> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/34/94834-131-8D8EEA5B/USS-Carl-Vinson-aircraft-carrier-US-Navy-2005.jpg" alt="Nuclear powered aircraft carrier USS Carl vinson plows through the Indian ocean as aircraft on its flight deck are prepared for flight operations 3/15/05." class="rounded-sm mr-15" width="70" /> <div class="line-clamp clamp-5"> <div class="module-title bg-green">Britannica Quiz</div> <div class="font-weight-semi-bold mt-5">Ships and Underwater Exploration</div> </div> </a><span class="marker MOD3 mod-inline"></span><span class="marker PREMOD4 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph">The control centres of a carrier are situated in the superstructure (the “island”), at one side of the flight deck. Aircraft landings are guided by radio and radar and by visual signals from the deck.</p><span class="marker MOD4 mod-inline"></span><span class="marker PREMOD5 mod-inline"></span><div class="assemblies"><div class="w-100"><figure class="md-assembly m-0 mb-md-0 card card-borderless print-false" data-assembly-id="172600" data-asm-type="image"><div class="md-assembly-wrapper card-media" data-type="image"><a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/26/160826-050-929B75DB/Deck-USS-Yorktown-bombs-Battle-of-Midway-June-4-1942.jpg" class="gtm-assembly-link position-relative d-flex align-items-center justify-content-center media-overlay-link card-media" data-href="/media/1/10957/172600"><picture><source media="(min-width: 680px)" srcset="https://cdn.britannica.com/26/160826-050-929B75DB/Deck-USS-Yorktown-bombs-Battle-of-Midway-June-4-1942.jpg?w=300"><img src="https://cdn.britannica.com/26/160826-050-929B75DB/Deck-USS-Yorktown-bombs-Battle-of-Midway-June-4-1942.jpg?w=300" alt="Battle of Midway: USS Yorktown" data-width="700" data-height="618" loading="eager"></picture><button class="magnifying-glass btn btn-circle position-absolute shadow btn-white top-10 right-10" aria-label="Zoom in"><em class="material-icons link-blue" data-icon="zoom_in"></em></button></a></div><figcaption class="card-body"><div class="md-assembly-caption text-muted font-14 font-serif line-clamp"><span><a class="gtm-assembly-link md-assembly-title font-weight-bold d-inline font-sans-serif mr-5 media-overlay-link" href="https://cdn.britannica.com/26/160826-050-929B75DB/Deck-USS-Yorktown-bombs-Battle-of-Midway-June-4-1942.jpg" data-href="/media/1/10957/172600">Battle of Midway: USS <em>Yorktown</em></a><span>Deck of the USS <em>Yorktown</em> shortly after being hit by Japanese bombs during the Battle of Midway, northeast of the Midway Islands in the central Pacific, June 4, 1942. </span><button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-white js-content" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"><span class="link-blue">(more)</span></button></span></div></figcaption></figure></div></div><p class="topic-paragraph">Carriers were first used in combat during the early stages of <span id="ref39979"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/event/World-War-II" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">World War II</a>. The Japanese attack on <span id="ref39980"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/event/Pearl-Harbor-attack" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Pearl Harbor</a> by carrier-based planes on December 7, 1941, dramatically demonstrated the potential of the aircraft carrier, which thereafter was the dominant combat vessel of the war. The carrier played leading roles in the sea battles of the Pacific theatre, such as Midway Island, <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Coral-Sea" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">Coral Sea</a>, and Leyte Gulf.</p><span class="marker MOD5 mod-inline"></span><span class="marker PREMOD6 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph">Carriers built after the war were larger and had armoured flight decks. Jet aircraft posed serious problems because of their greater weight, slower acceleration, higher landing speeds, and greater fuel <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off mw" data-term="consumption" href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/consumption" data-type="MW">consumption</a>. Three British <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off mw" data-term="innovations" href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/innovations" data-type="MW">innovations</a> contributed toward solution of these problems: a steam-powered <a href="https://www.britannica.com/technology/catapult-military-weaponry" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">catapult</a>, an angled, or canted, flight deck, and a mirror landing-signal system.</p><span class="marker MOD6 mod-inline"></span><span class="marker PREMOD7 mod-inline"></span><div class="assemblies"><div class="w-100"><figure class="md-assembly m-0 mb-md-0 card card-borderless print-false" data-assembly-id="126228" data-asm-type="image"><div class="md-assembly-wrapper card-media" data-type="image"><a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/55/109855-050-445C48CC/USS-Enterprise-aircraft-carrier-US-Navy-1961.jpg" class="gtm-assembly-link position-relative d-flex align-items-center justify-content-center media-overlay-link card-media" data-href="/media/1/10957/126228"><picture><source media="(min-width: 680px)" srcset="https://cdn.britannica.com/55/109855-050-445C48CC/USS-Enterprise-aircraft-carrier-US-Navy-1961.jpg?w=300"><img src="https://cdn.britannica.com/55/109855-050-445C48CC/USS-Enterprise-aircraft-carrier-US-Navy-1961.jpg?w=300" alt="USS Enterprise" data-width="730" data-height="931" loading="eager"></picture><button class="magnifying-glass btn btn-circle position-absolute shadow btn-white top-10 right-10" aria-label="Zoom in"><em class="material-icons link-blue" data-icon="zoom_in"></em></button></a></div><figcaption class="card-body"><div class="md-assembly-caption text-muted font-14 font-serif line-clamp"><span><a class="gtm-assembly-link md-assembly-title font-weight-bold d-inline font-sans-serif mr-5 media-overlay-link" href="https://cdn.britannica.com/55/109855-050-445C48CC/USS-Enterprise-aircraft-carrier-US-Navy-1961.jpg" data-href="/media/1/10957/126228">USS <em>Enterprise</em></a><span>USS <em>Enterprise</em>, commissioned in 1961, the first nuclear-powered aircraft carrier of the U.S. Navy.</span><button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-white js-content" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"><span class="link-blue">(more)</span></button></span></div></figcaption></figure></div></div><p class="topic-paragraph">On September 24, 1960, the first nuclear-powered carrier, the <em><span id="ref39981"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/Enterprise-aircraft-carrier" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Enterprise</a>,</em> was launched by the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/United-States" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">United States</a>. It had no need for the fuel bunkers, smokestacks, and ducts for the elimination of exhaust gases that had occupied space in previous carriers.</p><div class="module-spacing"> <DIV class="marketing-INLINE_SUBSCRIPTION marketing-content" data-marketing-id="INLINE_SUBSCRIPTION"><style> .student-promo-banner-wrapper { container-type: inline-size; margin-bottom: 15px; } @container (min-width: 475px) { .student-promo-banner { flex-direction: row; } .student-promo-banner-img-wrapper { margin-bottom: 0; margin-right: 10px; justify-content: flex-start; } .student-promo-banner-text-wrapper { text-align: left; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 10px; } .student-promo-banner-button-wrapper { margin-right: 0; } }</style> <div class="student-promo-banner-wrapper"> <div class="student-promo-banner d-flex flex-column align-items-center bg-blue rounded p-20"> <div class="student-promo-banner-img-wrapper mb-20 mr-0 d-flex justify-content-center"> <img class="rounded" style="max-width: 100px; min-width: 80px" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/marketing/BlueThistle.webp" /> </div> <div class="student-promo-banner-text-wrapper ml-0 mb-10 text-center text-white"> <div class="h2 mb-10">Get Unlimited Access</div> <div class="h4 font-weight-semi-bold">Try Britannica Premium for free and discover more.</div> </div> <div class="student-promo-banner-button-wrapper d-flex justify-content-center align-items-center ml-auto mr-auto"> <a class="btn btn-m btn-orange" href="https://premium.britannica.com/premium-membership/?utm_source=premium&utm_medium=inline-cta&utm_campaign=august-2024">Subscribe</a> </div> </div> </div> </DIV></div><div class="one-good-fact-module"> </div><span class="marker MOD7 mod-inline"></span><span class="marker PREMOD8 mod-inline"></span><div class="assemblies"><div class="w-100"><figure class="md-assembly m-0 mb-md-0 card card-borderless print-false" data-assembly-id="118755" data-asm-type="image"><div class="md-assembly-wrapper card-media" data-type="image"><a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/98/124798-050-4537EA98/HMS-Invincible-light-aircraft-carrier-The-Royal.jpg" class="gtm-assembly-link position-relative d-flex align-items-center justify-content-center media-overlay-link card-media" data-href="/media/1/10957/118755"><picture><source media="(min-width: 680px)" srcset="https://cdn.britannica.com/98/124798-050-4537EA98/HMS-Invincible-light-aircraft-carrier-The-Royal.jpg?w=300"><img src="https://cdn.britannica.com/98/124798-050-4537EA98/HMS-Invincible-light-aircraft-carrier-The-Royal.jpg?w=300" alt="Royal Navy, The" data-width="1600" data-height="794" loading="eager"></picture><button class="magnifying-glass btn btn-circle position-absolute shadow btn-white top-10 right-10" aria-label="Zoom in"><em class="material-icons link-blue" data-icon="zoom_in"></em></button></a></div><figcaption class="card-body"><div class="md-assembly-caption text-muted font-14 font-serif line-clamp"><span><a class="gtm-assembly-link md-assembly-title font-weight-bold d-inline font-sans-serif mr-5 media-overlay-link" href="https://cdn.britannica.com/98/124798-050-4537EA98/HMS-Invincible-light-aircraft-carrier-The-Royal.jpg" data-href="/media/1/10957/118755">Royal Navy, The</a><span>HMS <em>Invincible</em>, a light aircraft carrier of The Royal Navy.</span><button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-white js-content" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"><span class="link-blue">(more)</span></button></span></div></figcaption></figure></div></div><p class="topic-paragraph">Subsequent design modifications produced such variations as the light carrier, equipped with large amounts of electronic gear for the detection of submarines, and the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/technology/helicopter" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">helicopter</a> carrier, intended for conducting amphibious assault. Another development was the <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off eb" data-term="substitution" href="https://www.britannica.com/dictionary/substitution" data-type="EB">substitution</a> of missile armament for much of the former antiaircraft firepower. Carriers with combined capabilities are classified as multipurpose carriers.</p><span class="marker MOD8 mod-inline"></span></section> <span class="md-signature font-12">This article was most recently revised and updated by <a href="/contributor/encyclopaedia-britannica/12989892">Encyclopaedia Britannica</a>.</span><span class="marker end-of-content"></span><span class="marker after-article"></span></div> <div id="chatbot-simplify-root"></div> <div id="chatbot-root"></div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="ai-dialog-placeholder"></div> </div> </div> <aside class="col-md-da-320"></aside> </div> </div> </div> </div> </article> </div> </div> </div> </div> </main> <div id="md-footer"></div> <noscript><iframe src="//www.googletagmanager.com/ns.html?id=GTM-5W6NC8" height="0" width="0" style="display:none;visibility:hidden"></iframe></noscript>  <script> window.ap3c = window.ap3c || {}; var ap3c = window.ap3c; ap3c.cmd = ap3c.cmd || []; ap3c.cmd.push(function() { ap3c.init('ZO4siT4cLwnykPnzZWJtd3Byb2Q', 'https://engage.email.britannica.com/'); ap3c.track({v: 0}); }); ap3c.activity = function(act) { ap3c.act = (ap3c.act || []); ap3c.act.push(act); }; var s, t; s = document.createElement('script'); s.type = 'text/javascript'; s.src = "https://engage.email.britannica.com/app.js"; t = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; t.parentNode.insertBefore(s, t); </script> <script class="marketing-page-info" type="application/json"> {"pageType":"Topic","templateName":"DESKTOP","pageNumber":1,"pagesTotal":1,"pageId":10957,"pageLength":505,"initialLoad":true,"lastPageOfScroll":false} </script> <script class="marketing-content-info" type="application/json"> [] </script> <script src="https://cdn.britannica.com/mendel-resources/3-133/js/libs/jquery-3.5.0.min.js?v=3.133.48"></script> <script type="text/javascript" data-type="Init Mendel Code Splitting"> (function() { $.ajax({ dataType: 'script', cache: true, url: 'https://cdn.britannica.com/mendel-resources/3-133/dist/topic-page.js?v=3.133.48' }); })(); </script> <script class="analytics-metadata" type="application/json"> {"leg":"B","adLeg":"B","userType":"ANONYMOUS","pageType":"Topic","pageSubtype":null,"articleTemplateType":"MEDIUM","gisted":false,"pageNumber":1,"hasSummarizeButton":false,"hasAskButton":true,"hasAiTopQuestions":false,"hasSimplifyButton":false} </script> <script type="text/javascript"> EBStat={accountId:-1,hostnameOverride:'webstats.eb.com',domain:'www.britannica.com', json:''}; </script> <script type="text/javascript"> ( function() { $.ajax( { dataType: 'script', cache: true, url: '//www.britannica.com/webstats/mendelstats.js?v=1' } ) .done( function() { try {writeStat(null,EBStat);} catch(err){} } ); })(); </script> <div id="bc-fixed-dialogue"></div> </body> </html>

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Aircraft carrier | Definition, History, & Facts | Britannica