US Navy (USN) Photographer's Mate Third Class (PH3) Christian (foreground) uses a digital video camera to document flight operation aboard the USN Aircraft Carrier USS JOHN F. KENNEDY (CV 67). A USN F/A-18C Hornet aircraft is positioned in the background. CV 67 and Carrier Air Wing One Seven (CVW 17) are taking part in a Composite Training Unit Exercise (COMPTUX)

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.