U.S. Navy Aviation Boatswain's Mate 2nd Class Edwin Mangona waits to signal the pilot prior to launch during flight operations aboard the Nimitz Class Aircraft Carrier USS NIMITZ (CVN 68) on Nov. 1, 2006, while the NIMITZ is currently underway conducting a tailored ships training availability (TSTA) off the coast of Southern California. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication SPECIALIST 3rd Class Jeremiah Sholtis) (RELEASED)

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.