US Navy Intelligence SPECIALIST 3rd Class Dylan J. Robinson bows and greets his sensei, Tactical Action Officer LT. Joshua Taylor as they begin their Aikido training in the hangar bay onboard the Nimitz Class Aircraft Carrier USS JOHN C. STENNIS (CVN 74). The STENNIS and embarked Carrier Air Wing 9 are operating together for the first time during a Composite Training Unit Exercise in the Pacific Ocean.(U.S Navy photo by Mass Communication SPECIALIST 3rd Class Mark G. Logico) (Released)

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.