Senator John W. Warner, R-Virginia, addresses guests attending the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS THEODORE ROOSEVELT (CVN 71). Seated on the left are, left to right, William Johnston, President of the Theodore Roosevelt Association; Admiral James D. Watkins, CHIEF of Naval Operations; and Secretary of the Navy John F. Lehman Jr

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.