Edward J. Campbell, Newport News Shipbuilding, addresses guests at the launching ceremony for the aircraft carrier USS THEODORE ROOSEVELT (CVN 71). Behind Campbell at the podium are, left to right, Barbara W. Lehman, wife of Secretary of the Navy John F. Lehman Jr. and Ship's Sponsor; Lehman's daughter, Alexandra, Maid of Honor; and Mrs. William McMillan, Matron of Honor

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.