An F/A-18C Hornet launches in full afterburner from one of four steam-powered catapults aboard USS Constellation (CV 64).

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An F/A-18C Hornet launches in full afterburner from one of four steam-powered catapults aboard USS Constellation (CV 64).

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Summary

Arabian Gulf (Apr. 10, 2003) An F/A-18C Hornet assigned to the "Kestrels" of Strike Fighter Squadron One Three Seven (VFA-137) launches in full afterburner from one of four steam-powered catapults aboard USS Constellation (CV 64). Constellation and embarked Carrier Air Wing Two (CVW-2) are on a regularly scheduled deployment in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF), the multinational coalition effort to liberate the Iraqi people, eliminate Iraq's weapons of mass destruction and end the regime of Saddam Hussein. U.S. Navy photo by Photographer's Mate 2nd Class Daniel J. McLain File# 030410-N-0295M-004

Carriers

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.