Electronics Technician 3rd Class Jeff Merritt troubleshoots a WRC-1 high frequency transmitter in the Aircraft Intermediate Maintenance Department calibration laboratory aboard the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS NIMITZ (CVN-68) during WestPac '93

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.