Phalanx Mark 15 (3X1) weapons systems numbers 65 and 66 are ready to be lifted aboard the Aegis guided missile cruiser USS TICONDEROGA (CG-47). The 3,000 rounds-per-minute 20mm gun can be fitted readily on any ship from the Oliver Hazard Perry class frigate to the Nimitz class aircraft carrier

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.