List of aircraft carriers of the United States Navy
Encyclopedia
This list of aircraft carrier
s of the United States Navy
includes all types in the main hull numbering sequence, consisting of those commissioned with hull classification symbol
s 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)). All units after CVA-58 are supercarrier
s. The USS Wolverine (IX-64)
sometimes called the Seeandbee and the USS Sable (IX-81) also known as The Greater Buffalo are converted aircraft carriers and do not have the capabilities of other aircraft carriers so these two were used in The Great Lakes for training and were scrapped The Wolverine was scrapped in 1947 and The Sable was scrapped in 1948.
For the smaller escort aircraft carrier
s (CVE), please see list of escort aircraft carriers of the United States Navy.
For grouping by class, please see list of aircraft carrier classes of the United States Navy.
For airship aircraft carriers, please see list of airships of the United States Navy.
side-wheel paddle steamer
s and converted them into freshwater aircraft carrier training ships. Both vessels were designated with the hull classification symbol IX and lacked hangar decks
, elevators or armament
s. The role of these ships was for the training of pilots for carrier take-offs and landings. Together the Sable and Wolverine trained 17,820 pilots in 116,000 carrier landings. Of these, 51,000 landings were on Sable alone.
The active carriers of the US Navy
Active Enterprise-class carriers:
Active Nimitz-class carriers:
Aircraft carrier
An aircraft carrier is a warship designed with a primary mission of deploying and recovering aircraft, acting as a seagoing airbase. Aircraft carriers thus allow a naval force to project air power worldwide without having to depend on local bases for staging aircraft operations...
s of the United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
includes all types in the main hull numbering sequence, consisting of those commissioned with hull classification symbol
Hull classification symbol
The United States Navy, United States Coast Guard, and United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration use hull classification symbols to identify their ship types and each individual ship within each type...
s 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)). All units after CVA-58 are supercarrier
Supercarrier
Supercarrier is an unofficial descriptive term for the largest type of aircraft carrier, usually displacing over 70,000 long tons.Supercarrier is an unofficial descriptive term for the largest type of aircraft carrier, usually displacing over 70,000 long tons.Supercarrier is an unofficial...
s. The USS Wolverine (IX-64)
USS Wolverine (IX-64)
USS Wolverine was a freshwater aircraft carrier of the United States Navy during World War II. She had been converted from a paddlewheeler coal-burning steamer to be used for advanced training for naval aviators in carrier take-offs and landings....
sometimes called the Seeandbee and the USS Sable (IX-81) also known as The Greater Buffalo are converted aircraft carriers and do not have the capabilities of other aircraft carriers so these two were used in The Great Lakes for training and were scrapped The Wolverine was scrapped in 1947 and The Sable was scrapped in 1948.
For the smaller escort aircraft carrier
Escort aircraft carrier
The escort aircraft carrier or escort carrier, also called a "jeep carrier" or "baby flattop" in the USN or "Woolworth Carrier" by the Royal Navy, was a small and slow type of aircraft carrier used by the British Royal Navy , the Imperial Japanese Navy and Imperial Japanese Army Air Force, and the...
s (CVE), please see list of escort aircraft carriers of the United States Navy.
For grouping by class, please see list of aircraft carrier classes of the United States Navy.
For airship aircraft carriers, please see list of airships of the United States Navy.
List
| # | Name | Commissioned | Class | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CV-1 | Langley USS Langley (CV-1) USS Langley was the United States Navy's first aircraft carrier, converted in 1920 from the collier USS Jupiter , and also the U.S. Navy's first electrically propelled ship... |
1922 | Langley-class USS Langley (CV-1) USS Langley was the United States Navy's first aircraft carrier, converted in 1920 from the collier USS Jupiter , and also the U.S. Navy's first electrically propelled ship... , lead ship Lead ship The lead ship or class leader is the first of a series or class of ships all constructed according to the same general design. The term is applicable military ships and larger civilian craft.-Overview:... |
Sunk Shipwreck A shipwreck is what remains of a ship that has wrecked, either sunk or beached. Whatever the cause, a sunken ship or a wrecked ship is a physical example of the event: this explains why the two concepts are often overlapping in English.... , 27 February 1942 65 nm south of Cilacap, Java |
| CV-2 | Lexington USS Lexington (CV-2) USS Lexington , nicknamed the "Gray Lady" or "Lady Lex," was an early aircraft carrier of the United States Navy. She was the lead ship of the , though her sister ship was commissioned a month earlier... |
1927 | Lexington-class Lexington class aircraft carrier The Lexington class aircraft carriers were the first operational aircraft carriers in the United States Navy. There were two ships in the class: and .... , lead ship |
Sunk, 8 May 1942 in the Battle of the Coral Sea Battle of the Coral Sea The Battle of the Coral Sea, fought from 4–8 May 1942, was a major naval battle in the Pacific Theater of World War II between the Imperial Japanese Navy and Allied naval and air forces from the United States and Australia. The battle was the first fleet action in which aircraft carriers engaged... |
| CV-3 | Saratoga USS Saratoga (CV-3) USS Saratoga was the second aircraft carrier of the United States Navy and the fifth ship to bear her name. She was commissioned one month earlier than her sister and class leader, , which is the third actually commissioned after and Saratoga... |
1927 | Lexington-class | Sunk, 25 July 1946 in Operation Crossroads Operation Crossroads Operation Crossroads was a series of nuclear weapon tests conducted by the United States at Bikini Atoll in mid-1946. It was the first test of a nuclear weapon after the Trinity nuclear test in July 1945... as a nuclear test target |
| CV-4 | Ranger USS Ranger (CV-4) USS Ranger was the first ship of the United States Navy to be designed and built from the keel up as an aircraft carrier. Ranger was a relatively small ship, closer in size and displacement to the first U.S. carrier——than later ships. An island superstructure was not included in the original... |
1934 | Ranger-class USS Ranger (CV-4) USS Ranger was the first ship of the United States Navy to be designed and built from the keel up as an aircraft carrier. Ranger was a relatively small ship, closer in size and displacement to the first U.S. carrier——than later ships. An island superstructure was not included in the original... , lead ship |
Decommissioned: 18 October 1946. Scrapped Ship breaking Ship breaking or ship demolition is a type of ship disposal involving the breaking up of ships for scrap recycling. Most ships have a lifespan of a few decades before there is so much wear that refitting and repair becomes uneconomical. Ship breaking allows materials from the ship, especially... 1947 |
| CV-5 | Yorktown USS Yorktown (CV-5) was an aircraft carrier commissioned in the United States Navy from 1937 until she was sunk at the Battle of Midway in June 1942. She was named after the Battle of Yorktown in 1781 and the lead ship of the Yorktown class which was designed after lessons learned from operations with the large... |
1937 | Yorktown-class Yorktown class aircraft carrier The Yorktown class was a class of three aircraft carriers built by the U.S. and completed shortly before World War II. They bore the brunt of early action in that war, and the sole survivor of the class was to become the most decorated ship in the history of the U.S... , lead ship |
Sunk, 7 June 1942 in the Battle of Midway Battle of Midway The Battle of Midway is widely regarded as the most important naval battle of the Pacific Campaign of World War II. Between 4 and 7 June 1942, approximately one month after the Battle of the Coral Sea and six months after Japan's attack on Pearl Harbor, the United States Navy decisively defeated... |
| CV-6 | Enterprise USS Enterprise (CV-6) USS Enterprise , colloquially referred to as the "Big E," was the sixth aircraft carrier of the United States Navy and the seventh U.S. Navy ship to bear the name. Launched in 1936, she was a ship of the Yorktown class, and one of only three American carriers commissioned prior to World War II to... |
1938 | Yorktown-class | Decommissioned: 17 February 1947. Scrapped Ship breaking Ship breaking or ship demolition is a type of ship disposal involving the breaking up of ships for scrap recycling. Most ships have a lifespan of a few decades before there is so much wear that refitting and repair becomes uneconomical. Ship breaking allows materials from the ship, especially... 1960 The USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD 6) looks like a carrier with number "6", but is classified otherwise. |
| CV-7 | Wasp USS Wasp (CV-7) USS Wasp was a United States Navy aircraft carrier. The eighth Navy ship of that name, she was the sole ship of her class. Built to use up the remaining tonnage allowed to the U.S. for aircraft carriers under the treaties of the time, she was built on a reduced-size version of the Yorktown-class... |
1940 | Wasp-class USS Wasp (CV-7) USS Wasp was a United States Navy aircraft carrier. The eighth Navy ship of that name, she was the sole ship of her class. Built to use up the remaining tonnage allowed to the U.S. for aircraft carriers under the treaties of the time, she was built on a reduced-size version of the Yorktown-class... , lead ship |
Sunk, 15 September 1942 during the Guadalcanal campaign Guadalcanal campaign The Guadalcanal Campaign, also known as the Battle of Guadalcanal and codenamed Operation Watchtower by Allied forces, was a military campaign fought between August 7, 1942 and February 9, 1943 on and around the island of Guadalcanal in the Pacific theatre of World War II... |
| CV-8 | Hornet USS Hornet (CV-8) USS Hornet CV-8, the seventh ship to carry the name Hornet, was a of the United States Navy. During World War II in the Pacific Theater, she launched the Doolittle Raid on Tokyo and participated in the Battle of Midway and the Buin-Faisi-Tonolai Raid... |
1941 | Yorktown-class | Sunk, 27 October 1942 in the Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands The Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands, 26 October 1942, sometimes referred to as the Battle of Santa Cruz or in Japanese sources as the , was the fourth carrier battle of the Pacific campaign of World War II and the fourth major naval engagement fought between the United States Navy and the Imperial... |
| CV-9 a,c,d | Essex USS Essex (CV-9) USS Essex was an aircraft carrier, the lead ship of the 24-ship built for the United States Navy during World War II. She was the fourth US Navy ship to bear the name. Commissioned in December 1942, Essex participated in several campaigns in the Pacific Theater of Operations, earning the... |
1942 | Essex-class Essex class aircraft carrier The Essex class was a class of aircraft carriers of the United States Navy, which constituted the 20th century's most numerous class of capital ships with 24 vessels built in both "short-hull" and "long-hull" versions. Thirty-two were originally ordered; however as World War II wound down, six were... , lead ship |
Decommissioned: 30 June 1969. Scrapped Ship breaking Ship breaking or ship demolition is a type of ship disposal involving the breaking up of ships for scrap recycling. Most ships have a lifespan of a few decades before there is so much wear that refitting and repair becomes uneconomical. Ship breaking allows materials from the ship, especially... 1975 |
| CV-10 a,c,d | Yorktown USS Yorktown (CV-10) USS Yorktown is one of 24 s built during World War II for the United States Navy. She is named after the Battle of Yorktown of the American Revolutionary War, and is the fourth U.S. Navy ship to bear the name... |
1943 | Essex-class | Decommissioned: 27 June 1970. Preserved, Patriot's Point Naval & Maritime Museum Patriot's Point Patriots Point Naval & Maritime Museum is located in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, at the mouth of the Cooper River on the Charleston Harbor, across from Charleston.-Museum ships and exhibits:... —Mount Pleasant, South Carolina Mount Pleasant, South Carolina Mount Pleasant is a large affluent suburban town in Charleston County, South Carolina, United States. It is a member of the Charleston–North Charleston–Summerville Metropolitan Statistical Area, for statistical purpose only, as designated by the U.S. Office of Management and Budget.... , USA |
| CV-11 b,c,d | Intrepid USS Intrepid (CV-11) USS Intrepid , also known as The Fighting "I", is one of 24 s built during World War II for the United States Navy. She is the fourth US Navy ship to bear the name. Commissioned in August 1943, Intrepid participated in several campaigns in the Pacific Theater of Operations, most notably the Battle... |
1943 | Essex-class | Decommissioned: 15 March 1974. Preserved, Intrepid Sea-Air-Space Museum Intrepid Sea-Air-Space Museum The Intrepid Sea-Air-Space Museum is a military and maritime history museum with a collection of museum ships in New York City. It is located at Pier 86 at 46th Street on the West Side of Manhattan. The museum showcases the World War II aircraft carrier USS Intrepid, the submarine , a Concorde... —New York, New York, USA |
| CV-12 a,c,d | Hornet USS Hornet (CV-12) USS Hornet is a United States Navy aircraft carrier of the Essex class. Construction started in August 1942; she was originally named , but was renamed in honor of the , which was lost in October 1942, becoming the eighth ship to bear the name.Hornet was commissioned in November 1943, and after... |
1943 | Essex-class | Decommissioned: 26 June 1970. Preserved, USS Hornet Museum USS Hornet Museum The USS Hornet Museum is a museum ship in Alameda, California, USA.It is composed of the aircraft carrier, exhibits from the NASA Apollo moon exploration missions, and several retired aircraft from the Second World War and the transonic and early supersonic jet propulsion period... —Alameda, California Alameda, California Alameda is a city in Alameda County, California, United States. It is located on Alameda Island and Bay Farm Island, and is adjacent to Oakland in the San Francisco Bay. The Bay Farm Island portion of the city is adjacent to the Oakland International Airport. At the 2010 census, the city had a... , USA |
| CV-13 | Franklin USS Franklin (CV-13) The USS Franklin , nicknamed "Big Ben," was one of 24 s built during World War II for the United States Navy, and the fifth US Navy ship to bear the name. Commissioned in January 1944, she served in several campaigns in the Pacific Theater of Operations, earning four battle stars... |
1944 | Essex-class | Decommissioned: 17 February 1947. Scrapped Ship breaking Ship breaking or ship demolition is a type of ship disposal involving the breaking up of ships for scrap recycling. Most ships have a lifespan of a few decades before there is so much wear that refitting and repair becomes uneconomical. Ship breaking allows materials from the ship, especially... 1966 |
| CV-14 b,c,d | Ticonderoga USS Ticonderoga (CV-14) USS Ticonderoga was one of 24 s built during World War II for the United States Navy. The ship was the fourth US Navy ship to bear the name, and was named for historic Fort Ticonderoga, which played a role in the American Revolutionary War... |
1944 | Long hull Essex-class | Decommissioned: 1 September 1973. Scrapped Ship breaking Ship breaking or ship demolition is a type of ship disposal involving the breaking up of ships for scrap recycling. Most ships have a lifespan of a few decades before there is so much wear that refitting and repair becomes uneconomical. Ship breaking allows materials from the ship, especially... 1975 |
| CV-15 a,c,d | Randolph USS Randolph (CV-15) USS Randolph was one of 24 s built during World War II for the United States Navy. The second US Navy ship to bear the name, she was named for Peyton Randolph, president of the First Continental Congress. Randolph was commissioned in October 1944, and served in several campaigns in the Pacific... |
1944 | Long hull Essex-class | Decommissioned: 13 February 1969. Scrapped Ship breaking Ship breaking or ship demolition is a type of ship disposal involving the breaking up of ships for scrap recycling. Most ships have a lifespan of a few decades before there is so much wear that refitting and repair becomes uneconomical. Ship breaking allows materials from the ship, especially... 1975 |
| CV-16 b,c,f | Lexington USS Lexington (CV-16) USS Lexington , known as "The Blue Ghost", is one of 24 s built during World War II for the United States Navy. The ship, the fifth US Navy ship to bear the name, is named in honor of the Revolutionary War Battle of Lexington... |
1943 | Essex-class | Decommissioned: 8 November 1991. Preserved, USS Lexington Museum On the Bay— Corpus Christi, Texas Corpus Christi, Texas Corpus Christi is a coastal city in the South Texas region of the U.S. state of Texas. The county seat of Nueces County, it also extends into Aransas, Kleberg, and San Patricio counties. The MSA population in 2008 was 416,376. The population was 305,215 at the 2010 census making it the... , USA |
| CV-17 | Bunker Hill USS Bunker Hill (CV-17) USS Bunker Hill was one of 24 s built during World War II for the United States Navy. The ship, the second US Navy ship to bear the name, was named for the Battle of Bunker Hill. Bunker Hill was commissioned in May 1943, and served in several campaigns in the Pacific Theater of Operations, earning... |
1943 | Essex-class | Decommissioned: 9 January 1947. Scrapped Ship breaking Ship breaking or ship demolition is a type of ship disposal involving the breaking up of ships for scrap recycling. Most ships have a lifespan of a few decades before there is so much wear that refitting and repair becomes uneconomical. Ship breaking allows materials from the ship, especially... 1973 |
| CV-18 a,c,d | Wasp USS Wasp (CV-18) USS Wasp was one of 24 s built during World War II for the United States Navy. The ship, the ninth US Navy ship to bear the name, was originally named Oriskany, but was renamed while under construction in honor of the previous , which was sunk 15 September 1942... |
1943 | Essex-class | Decommissioned: 1 July 1972. Scrapped Ship breaking Ship breaking or ship demolition is a type of ship disposal involving the breaking up of ships for scrap recycling. Most ships have a lifespan of a few decades before there is so much wear that refitting and repair becomes uneconomical. Ship breaking allows materials from the ship, especially... 1973 |
| CV-19 b,c | Hancock USS Hancock (CV-19) USS Hancock was one of 24 s built during World War II for the United States Navy. The ship was the fourth US Navy ship to bear the name, and was named for John Hancock, president of the Second Continental Congress and first governor of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts... |
1944 | Long hull Essex-class | Decommissioned: 30 January 1976. Scrapped Ship breaking Ship breaking or ship demolition is a type of ship disposal involving the breaking up of ships for scrap recycling. Most ships have a lifespan of a few decades before there is so much wear that refitting and repair becomes uneconomical. Ship breaking allows materials from the ship, especially... 1976 |
| CV-20 a,c,d | Bennington USS Bennington (CV-20) USS Bennington was one of 24 s built during World War II for the United States Navy. The ship was the second US Navy ship to bear the name, and was named for the Revolutionary War Battle of Bennington... |
1944 | Essex-class | Decommissioned: 15 January 1970. Scrapped Ship breaking Ship breaking or ship demolition is a type of ship disposal involving the breaking up of ships for scrap recycling. Most ships have a lifespan of a few decades before there is so much wear that refitting and repair becomes uneconomical. Ship breaking allows materials from the ship, especially... 1994 |
| CV-21 e | Boxer USS Boxer (CV-21) USS Boxer was one of 24 s built during World War II for the United States Navy. She was the fifth US Navy ship to bear the name, and was named for a British ship captured by the Americans during the War of 1812... |
1945 | Long hull Essex-class | Decommissioned: 1 December 1969. Scrapped Ship breaking Ship breaking or ship demolition is a type of ship disposal involving the breaking up of ships for scrap recycling. Most ships have a lifespan of a few decades before there is so much wear that refitting and repair becomes uneconomical. Ship breaking allows materials from the ship, especially... 1971 |
| CVL-22 | Independence USS Independence (CVL-22) The fourth USS Independence was a United States Navy light aircraft carrier, lead ship of her class.-Construction and deployment:... |
1943 | Independence-class Independence class aircraft carrier The Independence class aircraft carriers were a class of light carriers built for the United States Navy that served during World War II.This class were a result of President Franklin D. Roosevelt's interest in Navy shipbuilding plans... light carrier Light aircraft carrier A light aircraft carrier is an aircraft carrier that is smaller than the standard carriers of a navy. The precise definition of the type varies by country; light carriers typically have a complement of aircraft only ½ to ⅔ the size of a full-sized or "fleet" carrier.-History:In World War II, the... , lead ship Lead ship The lead ship or class leader is the first of a series or class of ships all constructed according to the same general design. The term is applicable military ships and larger civilian craft.-Overview:... |
Nuclear test target in Operation Crossroads Operation Crossroads Operation Crossroads was a series of nuclear weapon tests conducted by the United States at Bikini Atoll in mid-1946. It was the first test of a nuclear weapon after the Trinity nuclear test in July 1945... , July 1946. Decommissioned: 28 August 1946. Scuttled 29 January 1951 |
| CVL-23 | Princeton USS Princeton (CVL-23) The fourth USS Princeton was a United States Navy lost at the battle of Leyte Gulf in 1944.-Construction and deployment:The ship was laid down as the Tallahassee by the New York Shipbuilding Corporation, Camden, New Jersey, 2 June 1941... |
1943 | Independence-class | Sunk, 24 October 1944, Battle of Leyte Gulf Battle of Leyte Gulf The Battle of Leyte Gulf, also called the "Battles for Leyte Gulf", and formerly known as the "Second Battle of the Philippine Sea", is generally considered to be the largest naval battle of World War II and, by some criteria, possibly the largest naval battle in history.It was fought in waters... |
| CVL-24 | Belleau Wood USS Belleau Wood (CVL-24) USS Belleau Wood was a United States Navy active during World War II in the Pacific Theater, from 1943 to 1945. The ship also served in the First Indochina War under French Navy temporary service as Bois Belleau.... |
1943 | Independence-class | Transferred to France France The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France... as Bois Belleau (R97) (1953-1960). Returned to U.S. Scrapped Ship breaking Ship breaking or ship demolition is a type of ship disposal involving the breaking up of ships for scrap recycling. Most ships have a lifespan of a few decades before there is so much wear that refitting and repair becomes uneconomical. Ship breaking allows materials from the ship, especially... 1960 |
| CVL-25 | Cowpens USS Cowpens (CVL-25) USS Cowpens , nicknamed The Mighty Moo, was an 11,000-ton that served the United States Navy from 1943 to 1947.... |
1943 | Independence-class | Decommissioned: 13 January 1947. Scrapped Ship breaking Ship breaking or ship demolition is a type of ship disposal involving the breaking up of ships for scrap recycling. Most ships have a lifespan of a few decades before there is so much wear that refitting and repair becomes uneconomical. Ship breaking allows materials from the ship, especially... 1960 |
| CVL-26 | Monterey USS Monterey (CVL-26) USS Monterey was an Independence-class light aircraft carrier of the United States Navy, in service during World War II and used in training for several years thereafter.... |
1943 | Independence-class | Decommissioned: 16 January 1956. Scrapped Ship breaking Ship breaking or ship demolition is a type of ship disposal involving the breaking up of ships for scrap recycling. Most ships have a lifespan of a few decades before there is so much wear that refitting and repair becomes uneconomical. Ship breaking allows materials from the ship, especially... 1971 |
| CVL-27 | Langley USS Langley (CVL-27) USS Langley was an 11,000-ton that served the United States Navy from 1943 to 1947, and French Navy as the La Fayette from 1951 to 1963. Named for Samuel Pierpont Langley, American scientist and aviation pioneer, Langley received nine battle stars for World War II service... |
1943 | Independence-class | Transferred to France France The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France... as La Fayette (R96) (1951-1963). Returned to U.S. Scrapped Ship breaking Ship breaking or ship demolition is a type of ship disposal involving the breaking up of ships for scrap recycling. Most ships have a lifespan of a few decades before there is so much wear that refitting and repair becomes uneconomical. Ship breaking allows materials from the ship, especially... 1964 |
| CVL-28 | Cabot USS Cabot (CVL-28) USS Cabot was an in the United States Navy, the second ship to carry the name. Cabot was commissioned in 1943 and served until 1947. She was recommissioned as a training carrier from 1948 to 1955. From 1967 to 1989, she served in Spain as '... |
1943 | Independence-class | Transferred to Spain Spain Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula... as Dédalo (R-01) (1967-1989). Returned to the U.S. Scrapped Ship breaking Ship breaking or ship demolition is a type of ship disposal involving the breaking up of ships for scrap recycling. Most ships have a lifespan of a few decades before there is so much wear that refitting and repair becomes uneconomical. Ship breaking allows materials from the ship, especially... 2002 |
| CVL-29 | Bataan USS Bataan (CVL-29) USS Bataan , originally planned as USS Buffalo and also classified as CV-29, was an 11,000 ton Independence class light aircraft carrier which was commissioned in the United States Navy during World War II.... |
1943 | Independence-class | Decommissioned: 9 April 1954. Scrapped Ship breaking Ship breaking or ship demolition is a type of ship disposal involving the breaking up of ships for scrap recycling. Most ships have a lifespan of a few decades before there is so much wear that refitting and repair becomes uneconomical. Ship breaking allows materials from the ship, especially... 1961 |
| CVL-30 | San Jacinto USS San Jacinto (CVL-30) The second USS San Jacinto of the United States Navy was an Independence-class light aircraft carrier that served during World War II. She was named for the Battle of San Jacinto during the Texas Revolution. U.S. President George H.W... |
1943 | Independence-class | Decommissioned: 1 March 1947. Scrapped Ship breaking Ship breaking or ship demolition is a type of ship disposal involving the breaking up of ships for scrap recycling. Most ships have a lifespan of a few decades before there is so much wear that refitting and repair becomes uneconomical. Ship breaking allows materials from the ship, especially... 1972 |
| CV-31 b,c | Bon Homme Richard | 1944 | Essex-class Essex class aircraft carrier The Essex class was a class of aircraft carriers of the United States Navy, which constituted the 20th century's most numerous class of capital ships with 24 vessels built in both "short-hull" and "long-hull" versions. Thirty-two were originally ordered; however as World War II wound down, six were... |
Decommissioned: 2 July 1971. Scrapped Ship breaking Ship breaking or ship demolition is a type of ship disposal involving the breaking up of ships for scrap recycling. Most ships have a lifespan of a few decades before there is so much wear that refitting and repair becomes uneconomical. Ship breaking allows materials from the ship, especially... 1992 There is another USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD 6) that looks like a carrier with number "6", but is classified otherwise. |
| CV-32 d | Leyte USS Leyte (CV-32) USS Leyte was one of 24 s built during and shortly after World War II for the United States Navy. The ship was the third US Navy ship to bear the name. Leyte was commissioned in April 1946, too late to serve in World War II... |
1946 | Long hull Essex-class | Decommissioned: 15 May 1959. Scrapped Ship breaking Ship breaking or ship demolition is a type of ship disposal involving the breaking up of ships for scrap recycling. Most ships have a lifespan of a few decades before there is so much wear that refitting and repair becomes uneconomical. Ship breaking allows materials from the ship, especially... 1970 |
| CV-33 a,c,d | Kearsarge USS Kearsarge (CV-33) USS Kearsarge was one of 24 s completed during or shortly after World War II for the United States Navy. The ship was the third US Navy ship to bear the name, and was named for a Civil War-era steam sloop. Kearsarge was commissioned in March 1946... |
1946 | Long hull Essex-class | Decommissioned: 13 February 1970. Scrapped Ship breaking Ship breaking or ship demolition is a type of ship disposal involving the breaking up of ships for scrap recycling. Most ships have a lifespan of a few decades before there is so much wear that refitting and repair becomes uneconomical. Ship breaking allows materials from the ship, especially... 1974 |
| CV-34 a,b,c | Oriskany USS Oriskany (CV-34) USS Oriskany – nicknamed Mighty O, The O-boat, and Toasted O – was one of 24 s completed during or shortly after World War II for the United States Navy. The ship was the third US Navy ship to bear the name, and was named for the Revolutionary War Battle of Oriskany.The history of... |
1950 | Long hull Essex-class | Decommissioned: 30 September 1976. Scuttled as an artificial reef, May 2006 in the Gulf of Mexico |
| CV-35 | Reprisal USS Reprisal (CV-35) The second USS Reprisal of the United States Navy would have been an Essex-class fleet carrier. Her keel was laid down on 1 July 1944 at the New York Naval Shipyard of New York, New York; however, on 12 August 1945, when Reprisal was about half complete, construction was cancelled due to an... |
Canceled (August 12, 1945) |
Long hull Essex-class | Canceled while under construction. Hulk launched in 1946 and used for experiments and explosive tests. Scrapped Ship breaking Ship breaking or ship demolition is a type of ship disposal involving the breaking up of ships for scrap recycling. Most ships have a lifespan of a few decades before there is so much wear that refitting and repair becomes uneconomical. Ship breaking allows materials from the ship, especially... 1949 |
| CV-36 d | Antietam USS Antietam (CV-36) USS Antietam was one of 24 s built during and shortly after World War II for the United States Navy. The ship was the second US Navy ship to bear the name, and was named for the American Civil War Battle of Antietam . Antietam was commissioned in January 1945, too late to actively serve in World... |
1945 | Long hull Essex-class | Decommissioned: 8 May 1963. Scrapped Ship breaking Ship breaking or ship demolition is a type of ship disposal involving the breaking up of ships for scrap recycling. Most ships have a lifespan of a few decades before there is so much wear that refitting and repair becomes uneconomical. Ship breaking allows materials from the ship, especially... 28 February 1974 |
| CV-37 e | Princeton USS Princeton (CV-37) USS Princeton was one of 24 s built during and shortly after World War II for the United States Navy. The ship was the fifth US Navy ship to bear the name, and was named for the Revolutionary War Battle of Princeton... |
1945 | Long hull Essex-class | Decommissioned: 30 January 1970. Scrapped Ship breaking Ship breaking or ship demolition is a type of ship disposal involving the breaking up of ships for scrap recycling. Most ships have a lifespan of a few decades before there is so much wear that refitting and repair becomes uneconomical. Ship breaking allows materials from the ship, especially... 1971 |
| CV-38 b,c,d | Shangri-la USS Shangri-La (CV-38) USS Shangri-La was one of 24 s completed during or shortly after World War II for the United States Navy.Commissioned in 1944, Shangri-La participated in several campaigns in the Pacific Theater of Operations in World War II, earning two battle stars... |
1944 | Long hull Essex-class | Decommissioned: 30 July 1971. Scrapped Ship breaking Ship breaking or ship demolition is a type of ship disposal involving the breaking up of ships for scrap recycling. Most ships have a lifespan of a few decades before there is so much wear that refitting and repair becomes uneconomical. Ship breaking allows materials from the ship, especially... 1988 |
| CV-39 a,d | Lake Champlain USS Lake Champlain (CV-39) USS Lake Champlain was one of 24 s completed during or shortly after World War II for the United States Navy. She was the second US Navy ship to bear the name, and was named for the Battle of Lake Champlain in the War of 1812.... |
1945 | Long hull Essex-class | Decommissioned: 2 May 1966. Scrapped Ship breaking Ship breaking or ship demolition is a type of ship disposal involving the breaking up of ships for scrap recycling. Most ships have a lifespan of a few decades before there is so much wear that refitting and repair becomes uneconomical. Ship breaking allows materials from the ship, especially... 1972 |
| CV-40 d | Tarawa USS Tarawa (CV-40) USS Tarawa was one of 24 s built during and shortly after World War II for the United States Navy. The ship was the first US Navy ship to bear the name, and was named for the bloody 1943 Battle of Tarawa. Tarawa was commissioned in December 1945, too late to serve in World War II. After serving a... |
1945 | Long hull Essex-class | Decommissioned: 13 May 1960. Scrapped Ship breaking Ship breaking or ship demolition is a type of ship disposal involving the breaking up of ships for scrap recycling. Most ships have a lifespan of a few decades before there is so much wear that refitting and repair becomes uneconomical. Ship breaking allows materials from the ship, especially... 1968 |
| CVB-41 b,c | Midway | 1945 | Midway-class Midway class aircraft carrier The Midway class aircraft carrier was one of the longest lived carrier designs in history. First commissioned in late 1945, the lead ship of the class, was not decommissioned until 1992, shortly after service in Operation Desert Storm in 1991.-History:... , lead ship Lead ship The lead ship or class leader is the first of a series or class of ships all constructed according to the same general design. The term is applicable military ships and larger civilian craft.-Overview:... |
Decommissioned: 11 April 1992. Preserved, USS Midway Museum—San Diego, California San Diego, California San Diego is the eighth-largest city in the United States and second-largest city in California. The city is located on the coast of the Pacific Ocean in Southern California, immediately adjacent to the Mexican border. The birthplace of California, San Diego is known for its mild year-round... , USA |
| CVB-42 b,c | Franklin D. Roosevelt | 1945 | Midway-class | Decommissioned: 30 September 1977. Scrapped Ship breaking Ship breaking or ship demolition is a type of ship disposal involving the breaking up of ships for scrap recycling. Most ships have a lifespan of a few decades before there is so much wear that refitting and repair becomes uneconomical. Ship breaking allows materials from the ship, especially... 1978 |
| CVB-43 b,c | Coral Sea | 1947 | Midway-class | Decommissioned: 26 April 1990. Scrapped Ship breaking Ship breaking or ship demolition is a type of ship disposal involving the breaking up of ships for scrap recycling. Most ships have a lifespan of a few decades before there is so much wear that refitting and repair becomes uneconomical. Ship breaking allows materials from the ship, especially... 2000 |
| CVB-44 | Canceled | Midway-class | Canceled | |
| CV-45 e | Valley Forge USS Valley Forge (CV-45) USS Valley Forge was one of 24 s built during and shortly after World War II for the United States Navy. The ship was the first US Navy ship to bear the name, and was named for Valley Forge, the 1777–1778 winter encampment of General George Washington's Continental Army... |
1946 | Long hull Essex-class | Decommissioned: 15 January 1970. Scrapped Ship breaking Ship breaking or ship demolition is a type of ship disposal involving the breaking up of ships for scrap recycling. Most ships have a lifespan of a few decades before there is so much wear that refitting and repair becomes uneconomical. Ship breaking allows materials from the ship, especially... 1971 |
| CV-46 | Iwo Jima USS Iwo Jima (CV-46) Iwo Jima , a "long hull" , was under construction by Newport News Shipbuilding & Dry Dock Co., Newport News, Virginia, but was canceled 12 August 1945. Her partially completed hull was scrapped.-See also:* List of aircraft carriers... |
Canceled (August 12, 1945) |
Long hull Essex-class | Canceled while under construction. Scrapped Ship breaking Ship breaking or ship demolition is a type of ship disposal involving the breaking up of ships for scrap recycling. Most ships have a lifespan of a few decades before there is so much wear that refitting and repair becomes uneconomical. Ship breaking allows materials from the ship, especially... 1946 |
| CV-47 d | Philippine Sea USS Philippine Sea (CV-47) USS Philippine Sea was one of 24 s built during and shortly after World War II for the United States Navy. The ship was the first US Navy ship to bear the name, and was named for the 1944 Battle of the Philippine Sea. Philippine Sea was commissioned in May 1946, too late to serve in World War II... |
1946 | Long hull Essex-class | Decommissioned: 28 December 1958. Scrapped Ship breaking Ship breaking or ship demolition is a type of ship disposal involving the breaking up of ships for scrap recycling. Most ships have a lifespan of a few decades before there is so much wear that refitting and repair becomes uneconomical. Ship breaking allows materials from the ship, especially... 1971 |
| CVL-48 | Saipan USS Saipan (CVL-48) The first USS Saipan was a light aircraft carrier of the United States Navy, the lead ship of her class of carrier. She was later selected for conversion into a command ship in 1963-1964, but instead of becoming a command ship instead was converted to the Major Communications Relay Ship Arlington ... |
1946 | Saipan-class Saipan class aircraft carrier The Saipan class aircraft carriers were a class of two light carriers [ and ] built for the United States Navy during World War II. Like the nine Independence- class light carriers, they were based on cruiser hulls... , lead ship |
Converted to USS Arlington (AGMR-2) 1966. Decommissioned: 14 January 1970. Scrapped Ship breaking Ship breaking or ship demolition is a type of ship disposal involving the breaking up of ships for scrap recycling. Most ships have a lifespan of a few decades before there is so much wear that refitting and repair becomes uneconomical. Ship breaking allows materials from the ship, especially... 1976 |
| CVL-49 | Wright USS Wright (CVL-49) The USS Wright was a Saipan-class light aircraft carrier of the United States Navy, later converted to the command ship CC-2. It is the second ship named "Wright"... |
1947 | Saipan-class | Converted to USS Wright (CC-2) 1963. Decommissioned: 27 May 1970. Scrapped Ship breaking Ship breaking or ship demolition is a type of ship disposal involving the breaking up of ships for scrap recycling. Most ships have a lifespan of a few decades before there is so much wear that refitting and repair becomes uneconomical. Ship breaking allows materials from the ship, especially... 1980 |
| CV-50 | Canceled | Long hull Essex-class | Canceled | |
| CV-51 | Canceled | Long hull Essex-class | Canceled | |
| CV-52 | Canceled | Long hull Essex-class | Canceled | |
| CV-53 | Canceled | Long hull Essex-class | Canceled | |
| CV-54 | Canceled | Long hull Essex-class | Canceled | |
| CV-55 | Canceled | Long hull Essex-class | Canceled | |
| CVB-56 | Canceled | Midway-class Midway class aircraft carrier The Midway class aircraft carrier was one of the longest lived carrier designs in history. First commissioned in late 1945, the lead ship of the class, was not decommissioned until 1992, shortly after service in Operation Desert Storm in 1991.-History:... |
Canceled | |
| CVB-57 | Canceled | Midway-class | Canceled | |
| CVA-58 | United States USS United States (CVA-58) USS United States , the third ship of the United States Navy named for the nation, but canceled during construction, was to be the lead ship of a new design of aircraft carrier. On 29 July 1948 President Harry Truman approved construction of five "supercarriers", for which funds had been provided... |
Canceled (April 23, 1949) |
United States-class USS United States (CVA-58) USS United States , the third ship of the United States Navy named for the nation, but canceled during construction, was to be the lead ship of a new design of aircraft carrier. On 29 July 1948 President Harry Truman approved construction of five "supercarriers", for which funds had been provided... supercarrier Supercarrier Supercarrier is an unofficial descriptive term for the largest type of aircraft carrier, usually displacing over 70,000 long tons.Supercarrier is an unofficial descriptive term for the largest type of aircraft carrier, usually displacing over 70,000 long tons.Supercarrier is an unofficial... , lead ship Lead ship The lead ship or class leader is the first of a series or class of ships all constructed according to the same general design. The term is applicable military ships and larger civilian craft.-Overview:... |
Canceled five days after the ship's keel Keel In boats and ships, keel can refer to either of two parts: a structural element, or a hydrodynamic element. These parts overlap. As the laying down of the keel is the initial step in construction of a ship, in British and American shipbuilding traditions the construction is dated from this event... was laid down |
| CV-59 | Forrestal | 1955 | Forrestal-class Forrestal class aircraft carrier The Forrestal-class aircraft carriers were a four-ship class designed and built for the United States Navy in the 1950s. It was the first class of so-called supercarriers, combining high tonnage, deck-edge elevators and an angled deck... supercarrier Supercarrier Supercarrier is an unofficial descriptive term for the largest type of aircraft carrier, usually displacing over 70,000 long tons.Supercarrier is an unofficial descriptive term for the largest type of aircraft carrier, usually displacing over 70,000 long tons.Supercarrier is an unofficial... , lead ship |
Decommissioned 11 September 1993. Awaiting disposal, docked at NISMF Naval Inactive Ship Maintenance Facility A Naval Inactive Ship Maintenance Facility is a facility owned by the U.S. Navy as a holding facility for decommissioned naval vessels, pending determination of their final fate... Pier 4, Philadelphia, PA |
| CV-60 | Saratoga USS Saratoga (CV-60) USS Saratoga , was one of four Forrestal- class supercarriers built for the US Navy in the 1950s. Saratoga was the sixth US Navy ship, and the second aircraft carrier, to be named for the Battle of Saratoga in the American Revolutionary War.Commissioned in 1956, she spent most of her career in... |
1956 | Forrestal-class supercarrier | Decommissioned 20 August 1994. To be dismantled at NS Newport, RI Naval Station Newport The Naval Station Newport is a United States Navy base located in the towns of Newport and Middletown, Rhode Island. Naval Station Newport is home to the Naval War College and the Naval Justice School... |
| CV-61 | Ranger USS Ranger (CV-61) The seventh USS Ranger is one of four Forrestal-class supercarriers built for the US Navy in the 1950s. Commissioned in 1957, she served extensively in the Pacific, especially the Vietnam War, for which she earned 13 battle stars. Near the end of her career she also served in the Indian Ocean and... |
1957 | Forrestal-class supercarrier | Decommissioned 10 July 1993. On donation Donation A donation is a gift given by physical or legal persons, typically for charitable purposes and/or to benefit a cause. A donation may take various forms, including cash, services, new or used goods including clothing, toys, food, and vehicles... hold ,docked at NISMF, Bremerton Bremerton, Washington Bremerton is a city in Kitsap County, Washington, United States. The population was 38,790 at the 2011 State Estimate, making it the largest city on the Olympic Peninsula. Bremerton is home to Puget Sound Naval Shipyard and the Bremerton Annex of Naval Base Kitsap... , WA |
| CV-62 | Independence USS Independence (CV-62) The fifth USS Independence is a of the United States Navy. It was the fourth and final member of the Forrestal-class conventional-powered Supercarrier... |
1959 | Forrestal-class supercarrier | Decommissioned 30 September 1998. Awaiting disposal, docked at NISMF, Bremerton, WA |
| CV-63 | Kitty Hawk USS Kitty Hawk (CV-63) The supercarrier USS Kitty Hawk , formerly CVA-63, was the second naval ship named after Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, the site of the Wright brothers' first powered airplane flight... |
1961 | Kitty Hawk-class Kitty Hawk class aircraft carrier The Kitty Hawk-class supercarriers of the United States Navy were an incremental improvement on the Forrestal-class vessels. Four were built, all in the 1960s, , , and... supercarrier, lead ship |
Decommissioned 12 May 2009. In reserve until 2015, docked at NISMF, Bremerton, WA |
| CV-64 | Constellation USS Constellation (CV-64) USS Constellation , a Kitty Hawk-class supercarrier, was the third ship of the United States Navy to be named in honor of the "new constellation of stars" on the flag of the United States and the only naval vessel ever authorized to display red, white, and blue designation numbers... |
1961 | Kitty Hawk-class supercarrier | Decommissioned 6 August 2003. Awaiting disposal, docked at NISMF, Bremerton, WA |
| CVN-65 | Enterprise USS Enterprise (CVN-65) USS Enterprise , formerly CVA-65, is the world's first nuclear-powered aircraft carrier and the eighth US naval vessel to bear the name. Like her predecessor of World War II fame, she is nicknamed the "Big E". At , she is the longest naval vessel in the world... |
1961 | Enterprise-class USS Enterprise (CVN-65) USS Enterprise , formerly CVA-65, is the world's first nuclear-powered aircraft carrier and the eighth US naval vessel to bear the name. Like her predecessor of World War II fame, she is nicknamed the "Big E". At , she is the longest naval vessel in the world... supercarrier, lead ship |
Active |
| CV-66 | America USS America (CV-66) The USS America was one of four Kitty Hawk-class super carriers built for the United States Navy in the 1960s. Commissioned in 1965, she spent most of her career in the Atlantic and Mediterranean, but did make three Pacific deployments serving in the Vietnam War. She also served in operations... |
1965 | Kitty Hawk-class supercarrier | Decommissioned 9 August 1996. Scuttled in 2005 as a live-fire test platform |
| CV-67 | John F. Kennedy USS John F. Kennedy (CV-67) USS John F. Kennedy is a John F. Kennedy class aircraft carrier, the last conventionally powered carrier built for the United States Navy. The ship is named after the 35th President of the United States, John F... |
1968 | Kennedy-class USS John F. Kennedy (CV-67) USS John F. Kennedy is a John F. Kennedy class aircraft carrier, the last conventionally powered carrier built for the United States Navy. The ship is named after the 35th President of the United States, John F... supercarrier, lead ship |
Decommissioned 1 August 2007. On donation hold, docked at NISMF, Philadelphia, PA |
| CVN-68 | Nimitz | 1975 | Nimitz-class Nimitz class aircraft carrier The Nimitz-class supercarriers are a class of ten nuclear-powered aircraft carriers in service with the United States Navy. With an overall length of and full-load displacements of over 100,000 long tons, they are the largest capital ships in the world... supercarrier, lead ship |
Active |
| CVN-69 | Dwight D. Eisenhower USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN-69) USS Dwight D. Eisenhower is an aircraft carrier currently in service with the United States Navy. Commissioned in 1977, the ship is the second of the ten Nimitz-class supercarriers currently in service, and is the first ship named after the thirty-fourth President of the United States, Dwight D.... |
1977 | Nimitz-class supercarrier | Active |
| CVN-70 | Carl Vinson USS Carl Vinson (CVN-70) The USS Carl Vinson is the third United States Navy Nimitz class supercarrier and is named after Carl Vinson, a Congressman from Georgia. Carl Vinson's callsign is "Gold Eagle". It played host to the first NCAA basketball game on an aircraft carrier on 11/11/11 between the University of North... |
1981 | Nimitz-class supercarrier | Active |
| CVN-71 | Theodore Roosevelt USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71) USS Theodore Roosevelt is the fourth Nimitz-class supercarrier. Her radio call sign is Rough Rider, the name of President Theodore Roosevelt's volunteer cavalry unit during the Spanish-American War... |
1986 | Nimitz-class supercarrier | Active |
| CVN-72 | Abraham Lincoln USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72) USS Abraham Lincoln , is the fifth Nimitz-class supercarrier in the United States Navy. She is the second Navy ship named after former president Abraham Lincoln. Her home port is Everett, Washington.-Construction:... |
1989 | Nimitz-class supercarrier | Active |
| CVN-73 | George Washington USS George Washington (CVN-73) USS George Washington is an American nuclear-powered supercarrier, the sixth ship in the Nimitz class and the fourth United States Navy ship to be named after George Washington, the first President of the United States... |
1992 | Nimitz-class supercarrier | Active |
| CVN-74 | John C. Stennis USS John C. Stennis (CVN-74) USS John C. Stennis is the seventh Nimitz-class nuclear-powered supercarrier in the United States Navy, named for Senator John C. Stennis of Mississippi. She was commissioned on 9 December 1995... |
1995 | Nimitz-class supercarrier | Active |
| CVN-75 | Harry S. Truman USS Harry S. Truman (CVN-75) USS Harry S. Truman is the eighth Nimitz-class supercarrier of the United States Navy, named after the 33rd President of the United States, Harry S. Truman. HSTs callsign is Lone Warrior and is currently homeported at Naval Station Norfolk, Virginia.Harry S... |
1998 | Nimitz-class supercarrier | Active |
| CVN-76 | Ronald Reagan USS Ronald Reagan (CVN-76) USS Ronald Reagan is a Nimitz-class nuclear-powered supercarrier in the service of the United States Navy. The ninth ship of her class, she is named in honor of former President Ronald Reagan, President of the United States from 1981 to 1989... |
2003 | Nimitz-class supercarrier | Active |
| CVN-77 | George H.W. Bush | 2009 | Nimitz-class supercarrier | Active |
| CVN-78 | Gerald R. Ford | 2015 | Ford-class supercarrier Supercarrier Supercarrier is an unofficial descriptive term for the largest type of aircraft carrier, usually displacing over 70,000 long tons.Supercarrier is an unofficial descriptive term for the largest type of aircraft carrier, usually displacing over 70,000 long tons.Supercarrier is an unofficial... , lead ship Lead ship The lead ship or class leader is the first of a series or class of ships all constructed according to the same general design. The term is applicable military ships and larger civilian craft.-Overview:... |
Keel laid |
| CVN-79 | John F. Kennedy | 2019 | Ford-class supercarrier | First steel cut |
| CVN-80 | unnamed | 2023 | Ford-class supercarrier | Planned |
- a): converted for jets, hydraulic catapults, 1950-54
- b): converted for jets, steam catapults, 1954-59
- c): converted to angled deck, 1956-59
- d): retasked to ASW (CVS), 1953-69
- e): converted to amphibious assault ship, LPHLanding Platform, HelicopterLPH is the hull classification used by a number of the world's navies to designate a type of amphibious warfare ship designed primarily to operate as a launch and recovery platform for helicopters and other VTOL aircraft...
, 1959 - f): converted for training, CVT, 1969
Training ships
During World War II, the United States Navy purchased two Great LakesGreat Lakes
The Great Lakes are a collection of freshwater lakes located in northeastern North America, on the Canada – United States border. Consisting of Lakes Superior, Michigan, Huron, Erie, and Ontario, they form the largest group of freshwater lakes on Earth by total surface, coming in second by volume...
side-wheel paddle steamer
Paddle steamer
A paddle steamer is a steamship or riverboat, powered by a steam engine, using paddle wheels to propel it through the water. In antiquity, Paddle wheelers followed the development of poles, oars and sails, where the first uses were wheelers driven by animals or humans...
s and converted them into freshwater aircraft carrier training ships. Both vessels were designated with the hull classification symbol IX and lacked hangar decks
Hangar
A hangar is a closed structure to hold aircraft or spacecraft in protective storage. Most hangars are built of metal, but other materials such as wood and concrete are also sometimes used...
, elevators or armament
Weapon
A weapon, arm, or armament is a tool or instrument used with the aim of causing damage or harm to living beings or artificial structures or systems...
s. The role of these ships was for the training of pilots for carrier take-offs and landings. Together the Sable and Wolverine trained 17,820 pilots in 116,000 carrier landings. Of these, 51,000 landings were on Sable alone.
| # | Name | Commissioned | Class | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| IX-64 | Wolverine USS Wolverine (IX-64) USS Wolverine was a freshwater aircraft carrier of the United States Navy during World War II. She had been converted from a paddlewheeler coal-burning steamer to be used for advanced training for naval aviators in carrier take-offs and landings.... |
1942 | Training ship | Decommissioned: 7 November 1945. Scrapped Ship breaking Ship breaking or ship demolition is a type of ship disposal involving the breaking up of ships for scrap recycling. Most ships have a lifespan of a few decades before there is so much wear that refitting and repair becomes uneconomical. Ship breaking allows materials from the ship, especially... 1947 |
| IX-81 | Sable USS Sable (IX-81) USS Sable was a training ship of the United States Navy during World War II. Originally built as the Greater Buffalo, a sidewheel excursion steamer, she was converted in 1942 to a freshwater aircraft carrier to be used on the Great Lakes. She was used for advanced training for naval aviators in... |
1943 | Training ship | Decommissioned: 7 November 1945. Scrapped Ship breaking Ship breaking or ship demolition is a type of ship disposal involving the breaking up of ships for scrap recycling. Most ships have a lifespan of a few decades before there is so much wear that refitting and repair becomes uneconomical. Ship breaking allows materials from the ship, especially... 1948 |
Active
Active Enterprise-class carriers:
Active Nimitz-class carriers:
See also
- List of aircraft carrier classes of the United States Navy
- List of aircraft carriers
- List of aircraft carriers by country
- Naval Inactive Ship Maintenance FacilityNaval Inactive Ship Maintenance FacilityA Naval Inactive Ship Maintenance Facility is a facility owned by the U.S. Navy as a holding facility for decommissioned naval vessels, pending determination of their final fate...