Aircraft carrier

An aircraft carrier is a warship whose main role is to deploy and recover aircraft—in effect acting as a sea-going airbase. Aircraft carriers thus allow a naval force to project air power great distances without having to depend on local bases for land-based aircraft. Modern navies, who operate such ships, treat aircraft carriers as the centerpiece of the fleet, a role previously played by the battleship. The change, part of the growth of air power as a significant part of warfare, took place during World War II. Unescorted carriers are considered vulnerable to attack by other ships, aircraft, submarines or missiles and therefore travel as part of a carrier battle group.

Common types

Over the course of the last century there have been several types of aircraft carrier, some of which are now obsolete. They can be generally categorised as follows:

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Initial designs and inter-war developments

• Seaplane tenders, such as HMS Engadine, out of use after the 1950s with the general demise of the seaplane.
• Standard fleet carriers, such as HMS Ark Royal, typically 20,000 to 65,000 tons.
• Flying aircraft carrier; airship that can carry aircrafts. Example include USS Akron (ZRS-4) and USS Macon (ZRS-5)

World War II developments

• Escort carriers, such as USS Barnes, were built only during World War II, and were used by the Royal Navy and US Navy.
• Light aircraft carriers, such as USS Independence, were designed to primarily carry fighters.
• CAM ships, such as SS Michael E, cargo carrying merchant ships which could launch but not retrieve fighter aircraft. These vessels were an emergency measure during World War II.
• Merchant aircraft carriers (MACs), such as MV Empire MacAlpine, another emergency measure which saw cargo-carrying merchant ships equipped with flight decks.
• Carrier battleship is created by the Imperial Japan Naval force to partially compensate for the loss of carrier strength at Midway. The two of them are made from the Ise class battleship: the Ise and Hyuga. The aft turrets were removed and replaced with a hangar, deck and catapult.
• Submarine aircraft carriers, such as the French Surcouf, or the Japanese I-400 class submarines which were capable of carrying 3 Aichi M6A Seiran aircraft. The first of these were built in the 1920s.

In addition, many battleships, cruisers and merchant raiders were equipped with floatplanes for reconnaissance.

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Post-war developments

• Amphibious assault carriers, such as USS Tarawa, which often also serve the purpose of carrying and landing soldiers and operate a large contingent of helicopters for that purpose. Also known as Commando Carriers
• Anti-submarine warfare carriers, such as HMS Invincible, also known as a "helicopter carrier."
• Supercarriers, such as USS Nimitz, typically 90,000 tons or greater.

Some Cruisers and capital ships of the inter-war years often carried a catapult launched seaplane for reconnaissance and spotting the fall of the guns. It was launched by a catapult and recovered by crane from the water after landing. These were mostly removed during World War II, but had some notable successes early in the war as shown by HMS Warspite?s Walrus during operations in the Norwegian fjords in 1940.

Related Topics:
Cruiser - Capital ship - HMS Warspite - Walrus

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Many modern warships have helicopter landing capability and helicopter assault ships represent a new form of amphibious assault carrier.

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