List of aircraft carriers of the United States Navy

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Ships of the United States Navy
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Ships in current service
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Ships grouped by type
USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN-78), foreground, alongside USS Harry S. Truman (CVN-75), rear, in 2020 USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN-78) and USS Harry S. Truman (CVN-75) underway in the Atlantic Ocean on 4 June 2020 (200604-N-BD352-0199).JPG
USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN-78), foreground, alongside USS Harry S. Truman (CVN-75), rear, in 2020
USS Enterprise (CVN-65), foreground, and USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN-69), rear, in 2011 US Navy 110714-N-YC446-145 The aircraft carriers USS Enterprise (CVN 65) and USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) pass as Enterprise returns to homepo.jpg
USS Enterprise (CVN-65), foreground, and USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN-69), rear, in 2011
USS Saratoga (CV-60), top, with USS John F. Kennedy (CV-67), center, in 1990 USS John F Kennedy (CV-67) and USS Saratoga (CV-60) underway crop.jpg
USS Saratoga (CV-60), top, with USS John F. Kennedy (CV-67), center, in 1990

Aircraft carriers are warships that act as airbases for carrier-based aircraft. In the United States Navy, these ships are designated with hull classification symbols such as CV (Aircraft Carrier), CVA (Attack Aircraft Carrier), CVB (Large Aircraft Carrier), CVL (Light Aircraft Carrier), CVE (Escort Aircraft Carrier), CVS (Antisubmarine Aircraft Carrier) and CVN (Aircraft Carrier (Nuclear Propulsion)). Beginning with the Forrestal class, (CV-59 to present) all carriers commissioned into service are classified as supercarriers.

Contents

The U.S. Navy has also used escort aircraft carriers (CVE, previously AVG and ACV) and airship aircraft carriers (ZRS). In addition, various amphibious warfare ships (LHA, LHD, LPH, and to a lesser degree LPD and LSD classes) can operate as carriers; two of these were converted to mine countermeasures support ships (MCS), one of which carried minesweeping helicopters. All of these classes of ships have their own lists and so are not included here.

Historical overview

The first aircraft carrier commissioned into the U.S. Navy was USS Langley (CV-1) on 20 March 1922. The Langley was a converted Proteus-class collier, originally commissioned as USS Jupiter (AC-3). [1] It was soon followed by the other pre-World War II classes: the Lexington class; USS Ranger, the first U.S. purpose-built carrier; theYorktown class, and USS Wasp. [2]

As World War II loomed, two more classes of carriers were commissioned under President Franklin Roosevelt: the Essex class, which is informally divided into regular bow and extended bow sub-classes, and the Independence-class ships, which are classified as light aircraft carriers. [3] Between these two classes, 35 ships were completed.[ citation needed ] The Navy also purchased two training vessels, USS Wolverine and USS Sable, which were given the unclassified miscellaneous (IX) hull designation. [4]

The Midway class and the Saipan class were built later in World War II, but entered service too late to serve in the war. The Midway class would serve during the entire Cold War. [5]

At the start of the Cold War, the first supercarriers, the United States class, were canceled due to the Truman administration's policy of shrinking the United States Navy and in particular, the Navy's air assets. The policy was revised after a public outcry and Congressional hearings sparked by the Revolt of the Admirals.[ citation needed ]

Later in the Cold War, supercarrier construction began with the Forrestal class, [6] followed by the Kitty Hawk class; Enterprise (CVN-65), the first nuclear-powered carrier; and John F. Kennedy (CV-67), the last conventionally powered carrier. These were followed by the Nimitz class and the modern-day post-cold war Gerald R. Ford-class nuclear supercarriers, the only two classes of supercarriers that are currently in active-duty service. [7] With the ten-ship Nimitz-class complete by 2009, October 2013 saw the launch of Gerald R. Ford, lead ship of the planned ten-ship Gerald R. Ford class. This was followed by the launch of John F. Kennedy (CVN-79) in October 2019, while construction is underway on Enterprise (CVN-80) and Doris Miller (CVN-81). [12]

List

Keys
List of aircraft carriers of the United States Navy
Hull no.NameImageClassCommissionedDecommissionedService lifeStatusRef.
CV-1 Langley USS Langley (CV-1) underway in June 1927 (520809).jpg Langley (lead ship)20 March 192227 February 194219 years, 344 days Sunk near Cilacap, Java in 1942 [13] [14] [15]
CV-2 Lexington USS Lexington (CV-2) leaving San Diego on 14 October 1941.jpg Lexington (lead ship)14 December 19278 May 194214 years, 145 daysSunk in the Battle of the Coral Sea in 1942 [15] [16]
CV-3 Saratoga USS Saratoga (CV-3) landing planes on 6 June 1935 (80-G-651292).jpg Lexington16 November 192726 July 194618 years, 254 daysSunk as target ship near Bikini Atoll during Operation Crossroads in 1946 [15] [17]
CV-4 Ranger USS Ranger (CV-4) underway at sea during the later 1930s.jpg Ranger (lead ship)4 June 193418 October 194612 years, 136 days Scrapped in 1947 [18]
CV-5 Yorktown USS Yorktown (CV-5) Jul1937.jpg Yorktown (lead ship)30 September 19377 June 19424 years, 250 daysSunk in the Battle of Midway in 1942 [19]
CV-6 Enterprise USS Enterprise (CV-6) in Puget Sound, September 1945.jpg Yorktown12 May 193817 February 19478 years, 281 daysScrapped in 1960 [20]
CV-7 Wasp USS Wasp (CV-7).jpg Wasp (lead ship)25 April 194015 September 19422 years, 143 daysSunk during the Guadalcanal campaign in 1942 [21]
CV-8 Hornet USS Hornet (CV-8).jpg Yorktown20 October 194127 October 19421 year, 7 daysSunk in the Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands in 1942 [22] [23]
CV-9 Essex USS Essex (CV-9) in Hampton Roads on 1 February 1943 (NNAM.1996.488.242.078).jpg Essex (lead ship)31 December 194220 June 196926 years, 171 daysScrapped in 1975 [24]
CV-10 Yorktown USS Yorktown (CVS-10) underway at sea on 10 March 1963.jpg Essex15 April 194327 June 197027 years, 73 daysPreserved at the Patriot's Point Naval & Maritime MuseumMount Pleasant, South Carolina, USA [25]
CV-11 Intrepid USS Intrepid 1944;021125.jpg Essex16 August 194315 March 197430 years, 211 daysPreserved at the Intrepid Sea-Air-Space MuseumNew York City, New York, USA [26]
CV-12 Hornet USS Hornet (CVS-12) underway in the Gulf of Tonkin on 5 September 1967.jpg Essex29 November 194326 May 197026 years, 187 daysPreserved at USS Hornet MuseumAlameda, California, USA [27]
CV-13 Franklin USS Franklin (CV-13) approaching New York, April 1945.jpg Essex31 January 194417 February 19472 years, 351 daysScrapped in 1966 [28]
CV-14 Ticonderoga USS Ticonderoga (CVA-14) refueling from USS Ashtabula (AO-51) off Vietnam c1966.jpg Essex (extended bow) 8 May 19441 September 197329 years, 116 daysScrapped in 1975 [29]
CV-15 Randolph USS Randolph (CVS-15) underway in the Atlantic Ocean on 27 February 1962.jpg Essex (extended bow)9 October 194413 February 196924 years, 127 daysScrapped in 1975 [30]
CV-16 Lexington USS Lexington (CVS-16) underway in the 1960s.JPEG Essex17 February 19438 November 199148 years, 264 daysPreserved at USS Lexington Museum on the BayCorpus Christi, Texas, USA [31]
CV-17 Bunker Hill USS Bunker Hill (CV-17) at sea in 1945 (NH 42373).jpg Essex25 May 19439 July 19474 years, 45 daysScrapped in 1973 [32] [33] [34]
CV-18 Wasp USS Wasp (CVS-18) underway at sea, circa in early 1967 (NH 97509).jpg Essex24 November 19431 July 197228 years, 220 daysScrapped in 1973 [35]
CV-19 Hancock USS Hancock (CVA-19) off Pearl Harbor 1968.jpg Essex (extended bow)15 April 194430 January 197631 years, 290 daysScrapped in 1976 [36]
CV-20 Bennington USS Bennington (CVS-20) underway at sea on 5 March 1965 (NH 97581).jpg Essex6 August 194415 January 197025 years, 162 daysScrapped in 1994 [37]
CV-21 Boxer USS Boxer (CVA-21) underway off Korea in July 1953.jpg Essex (extended bow)16 April 19451 December 196924 years, 229 daysScrapped in 1971 [38]
CVL-22 Independence USS Independence CVL-22.jpg Independence (lead ship)14 January 194328 August 19463 years, 226 daysSunk as target ship near the Farallon Islands in 1951 [39]
CVL-23 Princeton USS Princeton (CVL-23) underway in Puget Sound on 3 January 1944 (NH 95651).jpg Independence25 February 194324 October 19441 year, 242 daysSunk in the Battle of Leyte Gulf in 1944 [11]
CVL-24 Belleau Wood Uss belleau wood cvl-24.jpg Independence31 March 194313 January 19473 years, 288 daysScrapped in 1960 [11]
CVL-25 Cowpens USS Cowpens (CVL-25) underway at sea in 1945 (80-G-468977).jpg Independence28 May 194313 January 19473 years, 230 daysScrapped in 1960 [11]
CVL-26 Monterey USS Monterey (CVL-26) at anchor in Ulithi Atoll on 24 November 1944.jpg Independence17 June 194316 January 195612 years, 213 daysScrapped in 1971 [11]
CVL-27 Langley USS Langley (CVL-27) underway off Cape Henry on 6 October 1943 (80-G-87113).jpg Independence31 August 194311 February 19473 years, 164 daysScrapped in 1964 [11]
CVL-28 Cabot USS Cabot (CVL-28).jpg Independence24 July 194321 January 195511 years, 181 daysScrapped in 2002 [11]
CVL-29 Bataan USS Bataan.jpg Independence17 November 19439 April 195410 years, 143 daysScrapped in 1961 [40]
CVL-30 San Jacinto USS San Jacinto (CVL-30) underway at sea on 23 January 1944 (80-G-212799).jpg Independence15 December 19431 March 19473 years, 76 daysScrapped in 1972 [11]
CV-31 Bon Homme Richard USS Bon Homme Richard (CVA-31) underway at sea c1965.jpg Essex26 November 19442 July 197126 years, 218 daysScrapped in 1992 [41]
CV-32 Leyte USS Leyte (CV-32) with F9Fs.jpg Essex (extended bow)11 April 194615 May 195913 years, 34 daysScrapped in 1970 [11]
CV-33 Kearsarge USS Kearsarge (CVA-33) underway c1957.jpeg Essex (extended bow)2 May 194615 January 197023 years, 258 daysScrapped in 1974 [42]
CV-34 Oriskany USS Oriskany (CVA-34) near Midway Atoll 1967.jpeg Essex (extended bow)25 September 195020 September 197928 years, 360 daysScuttled as artificial reef in the Gulf of Mexico in 2006 [11]
CV-35 Reprisal CV-35 Reprisal.jpg Essex (extended bow)Cancelled during construction. Scrapped in 1949 [43]
CV-36 Antietam USS Antietam (CVS-36) operating training aircraft on 19 April 1961 (KN-4834).jpg Essex (extended bow)28 January 19458 May 196318 years, 100 daysScrapped in 1974 [44]
CV-37 Princeton Uss princeton lph-5.jpg Essex (extended bow)18 November 194530 January 197024 years, 73 daysScrapped in 1971[ citation needed ]
CV-38 Shangri-La USS Shangri-La (CV-38) underway in the pacific, 1946.jpg Essex (extended bow)15 September 194430 July 197126 years, 318 daysScrapped in 1988 [45]
CV-39 Lake Champlain Uss lake champlain cvs-39.jpg Essex (extended bow)3 July 19452 May 196620 years, 303 daysScrapped in 1972[ citation needed ]
CV-40 Tarawa USS Tarawa (CVA-40) underway at sea on 18 December 1952.jpg Essex (extended bow)8 December 194513 May 196014 years, 157 daysScrapped in 1968[ citation needed ]
CVB-41 Midway USS Midway (CVA-41) after SCB-110 modernization in 1958.jpg Midway (lead ship)10 September 194511 April 199246 years, 214 daysPreserved at the USS Midway MuseumSan Diego, California, USA [46]
CVB-42 Franklin D. Roosevelt USS Franklin D. Roosevelt (CVA-42) Sep 1967.jpeg Midway27 October 19451 October 197731 years, 339 daysScrapped in 1978 [47]
CVB-43 Coral Sea USS Coral Sea (CVA-43) underway in the Pacific Ocean, circa in 1972 (NNAM.1996.488.120.058).jpg Midway1 October 194726 April 199042 years, 207 daysScrapped in 2000 [48]
CV-44No name assigned(no image available)MidwayCancelled before construction began. [49]
CV-45 Valley Forge Uss valley forge lph-8.jpg Essex (extended bow)3 November 194615 January 197023 years, 73 daysScrapped in 1971[ citation needed ]
CV-46 Iwo Jima CV-46 Iwo Jima.jpg Essex (extended bow)Cancelled during construction. Scrapped in 1949 [50]
CV-47 Philippine Sea USS Philippine Sea (CVA-47) underway off Korea on 3 May 1953 (80-G-629442).jpg Essex (extended bow)11 May 194628 December 195812 years, 231 daysScrapped in 1971[ citation needed ]
CVL-48 Saipan USS Saipan CVL-48 1956.jpg Saipan (lead ship)14 July 194614 January 197023 years, 184 daysScrapped in 1976[ citation needed ]
CVL-49 Wright USS Wright (CVL-49) underway in the early 1950s.jpg Saipan9 February 194715 March 19569 years, 35 daysScrapped in 1980 [11]
CV-50 – CV-55No names assigned(no images available)EssexThese hulls were all cancelled before construction began. [49]
CVB-56, CVB-57Midway
CVA-58 United States Artist's impression of the US Navy aircraft carrier USS United States (CVA-58) in October 1948.jpg United States (lead ship)Cancelled during construction. Scrapped on slip in 1949 [51]
CV-59 Forrestal USS Forrestal (CVA-59) underway at sea in 1957.jpg Forrestal (lead ship)1 October 195530 September 199337 years, 364 daysScrapped in 2015 [52]

[53] [54]

CV-60 Saratoga USS Saratoga (CV-60) underway in the Adriatic Sea on 29 July 1992 (6480624).jpg Forrestal14 April 195620 August 199438 years, 128 daysScrapped in 2019 [55]
CV-61 Ranger USS Ranger (CV-61) departing San Diego, in February 1987 (NH 97689-KN).jpg Forrestal10 August 195710 July 199335 years, 334 daysScrapped in 2017 [56]
CV-62 Independence USS Independence (CV-62) at sea during the later 1980s or early 1990s (NH 97715).jpg Forrestal10 January 195930 September 199839 years, 263 daysScrapped in 2019 [57]
CV-63 Kitty Hawk US Navy 050517-N-0120R-127 The conventionally powered aircraft carrier USS Kitty Hawk (CV 63) sails past a small group of Japanese fishing vessels and heads toward Sagami Bay.jpg Kitty Hawk (lead ship)29 April 196112 May 200948 years, 13 daysUndergoing scrapping [58] [59]

[60] [61]

CV-64 Constellation USS Constellation (CV-64) off Perth, Australia, on 29 April 2003.jpg Kitty Hawk27 October 19617 August 200341 years, 284 daysScrapped in 2017 [62]
CVN-65 Enterprise USS Enterprise (CVN-65).jpg Enterprise (lead ship)25 November 19613 February 201755 years, 70 daysStruck, to be scrapped [63]
CV-66 America USS America (CV-66) underway in the Indian Ocean on 24 April 1983.jpg Kitty Hawk23 January 19659 August 199631 years, 199 daysSunk as target ship in the Atlantic Ocean in 2005 [64]
CV-67 John F. Kennedy USS John F. Kennedy (CV-67) departs Naval Station Mayport on 11 November 2003.jpg John F. Kennedy (lead ship)7 September 196823 March 200738 years, 197 daysSold for scrap in 2021 [65]

[61]

CVN-68 Nimitz USS Nimitz (CVN-68).jpg Nimitz (lead ship)3 May 197548 years, 342 daysStationed at Naval Base Kitsap, Bremerton, Washington [66]
CVN-69 Dwight D. Eisenhower US Navy 060617-N-0490C-010 The Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) conducts a turn in the Atlantic Ocean. Eisenhower is underway conducting routine carrier operations.jpg Nimitz18 October 197746 years, 174 daysStationed at Naval Station Norfolk, Norfolk, Virginia [67]
CVN-70 Carl Vinson USS Carl Vinson (CVN-70) underway in the Pacific Ocean on 31 May 2015.JPG Nimitz13 March 198242 years, 27 daysStationed at Naval Air Station North Island, San Diego, California [68]

[69]

CVN-71 Theodore Roosevelt 200125-N-LH674-1073 USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71).jpg Nimitz25 October 198637 years, 167 daysStationed at Naval Air Station North Island, San Diego, California [70]

[71]

CVN-72 Abraham Lincoln USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72) underway in the Atlantic Ocean on 30 January 2019 (190130-N-PW716-1312).JPG Nimitz11 November 198934 years, 150 daysStationed at Naval Air Station North Island, San Diego, California [72]
CVN-73 George Washington US Navy 101206-N-5538K-395 The aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN 76) transits the East China Sea.jpg Nimitz4 July 199231 years, 280 daysStationed at Naval Air Station North Island, San Diego, California [73]
CVN-74 John C. Stennis USS John C. Stennis, 2007May11.jpg Nimitz9 December 199528 years, 122 daysStationed at Naval Station Norfolk, Norfolk, Virginia

(Undergoing Maintenance)

[74]
CVN-75 Harry S. Truman USS Harry S. Truman (CVN-75) underway in the Atlantic Ocean on 11 September 2018 (180911-N-EA818-2106).JPG Nimitz25 July 199825 years, 259 daysStationed at Naval Station Norfolk, Norfolk, Virginia [75]
CVN-76 Ronald Reagan USSRONALDREAGANgoodshot.jpg Nimitz12 July 200320 years, 272 daysStationed at Yokosuka Naval Base, Yokosuka, Japan [76]
CVN-77 George H.W. Bush US Navy 110129-N-3885H-158 USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77) is underway in the Atlantic Ocean.jpg Nimitz10 January 200915 years, 90 daysStationed at Naval Station Norfolk, Norfolk, Virginia [77]
CVN-78 Gerald R. Ford USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN-78) underway on 8 April 2017.JPG Gerald R. Ford (lead ship)22 July 20176 years, 262 daysStationed at Naval Station Norfolk, Norfolk, Virginia [78] [79]
CVN-79 John F. Kennedy Illustration of USS John F. Kennedy (CVN-79) (110623-N-ZZ999-203).jpg Gerald R. Fordc.2025Fitting out [8] [80] [81]
CVN-80 Enterprise USS Enterprise (CVN-80) artist depiction.jpg Gerald R. Fordc.2028Under construction [8] [82] [9]
CVN-81 Doris Miller Bow view of USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN-78) underway on 8 April 2017.JPG Gerald R. Fordc.2032Under construction [8] [83] [84]
CVN-82TBA Bow view of USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN-78) underway on 8 April 2017.JPG Gerald R. Fordc.2034Ordered [8]

Training ships

During World War II, the United States Navy purchased two Great Lakes side-wheel paddle steamers 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 armaments. The role of these ships was for the training of pilots for carrier take-offs and landings.[ citation needed ] Together the Sable and Wolverine trained 17,820 pilots in 116,000 carrier landings. Of these, 51,000 landings were on Sable. [85]

#NameImageClassCommissionedDecommissionedService lifeStatusRef.
IX-64 Wolverine USS Wolverine (IX-64) Lake Michigan 1943.jpg n/a
(converted side-wheel steamer)
12 August 19427 November 19453 years, 2 months and 26 daysScrapped in 1947 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States [10] [11]
IX-81 Sable USS Sable (IX-81).jpg n/a
(converted side-wheel steamer)
8 May 19437 November 19452 years, 5 months and 30 daysScrapped in 1948 in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada [10] [11]

Aircraft carrier museums

See also

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References

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  4. "Western New York Heritage Press". wnyheritagepress.org. Archived from the original on 5 October 2008. Retrieved 22 June 2015.
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  6. "CV-59 Forrestal class - Navy Ships". fas.org. Archived from the original on 5 October 2015. Retrieved 22 June 2015.
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Museum ships