On the pier at Yokosuka, Japan, US Navy (USN) Photographer's Mate AIRMAN (PHAN) Benjamin Dennis prepares to set a tray of hamburgers onto the grill during a fundraiser barbeque sponsored by the Moral, Welfare and Recreation (MWR) Department, from the USN Aircraft Carrier, USS KITTY HAWK (CV 63). The KITTY HAWK is currently in port conducting repairs and maintenance during a ship's restricted availability period, at Yokosuka, Japan

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.