An Argentine navy Super Etendard aircraft approaches the flight deck of the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS ABRAHAM LINCOLN (CVN-72). The aircraft is taking part in touch-and-go operations aboard the LINCOLN during the ship's circumnavigation of South America. A Fighter Squadron 114 (VF-114) F-14 A aircraft is in the foreground

Aircraft carriers are warships that act as airbases for carrier-based aircraft. In the United States Navy, these consist of ships commissioned with hull classification symbols CV (aircraft carrier), CVA (attack aircraft carrier), CVB (large aircraft carrier), CVL (light aircraft carrier), CVN (aircraft carrier (nuclear propulsion) and CVAN (attack aircraft carrier (nuclear propulsion). The first aircraft carrier commissioned into the United States Navy was USS Langley (CV-1) on 20 March 1922.