An SD-1D aircraft spotting dolly is used to maneuver an SH-3H Sea King from Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron 8 on a lowered elevator aboard the aircraft carrier USS CONSTELLATION (CV 64). On the right is an S-3A Viking aircraft. The carrier is participating in Fleet Exercise 85

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.