U.S. Navy PETTY Officer 2nd Class Ronda Carlson, Aviation Electrician's Mate 2nd Class runs an anti-skid brake wire to an F/A-18C Hornet aircraft axle aboard the U.S. Navy Aircraft Carrier USS ENTERPRISE (CVN 65). The ENTERPRISE Carrier Strike Group are currently underway in the Arabian Sea on a six-month deployment in support of the Global War On Terrorism. Sept. 12, 2006. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication SPECIALIST 3rd Class N.C. Kaylor) (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.