Flight deck crew members stand by as an Attack Squadron 35 (VA-35) A-6E Intruder aircraft taxis on the flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS SARATOGA (CV-60) as the vessel is underway in support of Operation Desert Shield

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.