The Japanese Maritime Self Defense Force (JMSDF) Band plays during an Independence day reception ceremony held aboard the US Navy (USN) Aircraft Carrier USS KITTY HAWK (CV 63) in Otaru, Japan. While in port, KITTY HAWK Sailors will have a chance to sightsee, shop, enjoy recreational activities and participate in community relation projects with the host nation. The USS KITTY HAWK demonstrates power projection and sea control as the USN only permanently, forward-deployed 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.