U.S. Navy Rear Adm. David Architzel (second left), Commander, Operational Test and Evaluation Force and Program Executive Officer for Aircraft Carriers, speaks to Sailors during a recent visit aboard the USN Nimitz Class Aircraft Carrier USS CARL VINSON (CVN 70). Aug. 31, 2006 (U.S. Navy PHOTO by Mass Communication SPECIALIST 3rd Class Crystal M. Vigil) (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.