List of aircraft carriers

Encyclopedia : L : LI : LIS : List of aircraft carriers

The list of aircraft carriers contains all aircraft carriers listed alphabetically by name.

For listings by other methods, see:

A - B - C - D - E - F - G - H - I - J - K - L - M - N - O - P - R - S - T - U - V - W - Y - Z - Fictional - References

A

Abraham Lincoln (USA): 104,000-ton Nimitz class nuclear-powered supercarrier. Commissioned 11 November 1989 and currently in service with the United States Navy.
Activity (UK): 11,420-ton escort aircraft carrier, converted from a cargo ship hull. Served in World War II.
Admiral Gorshkov (USSR): 42,000-ton Kiev class hybrid aircraft-carrying cruiser. Commissioned in 1982 as Baku, renamed 4 October 1990, and retired in 1996. Sold to India to become INS Vikramaditya.
Admiral Flota Svetskogo Soyuza Kuznetsov (Russia): 43,000 ton Kuznetsov class STOBAR aircraft carrier. Launched in 1985 as Tiblisi, renamed and operational from 1995, currently in service. (formerly Tbilisi)
Akagi (Japan): 42,000 ton fleet carrier. Originally laid down as an Amagi class battlecruiser, commissioned 27 March 1927 and sunk on 4 June 1942.
Akitsu Maru (Japan)
Albatross (Australia): 4800-ton seaplane carrier. Commissioned 21 December 1928, decommissioned 26 April 1933, transferred to the United Kingdom in 1938, broken up in the 1950s.
Altamaha (USA): 14,400-ton Bogue class escort carrier, commissioned 31 October 1942 and immediately transferred to the United Kingdom as HMS Battler.
Amagi (Japan): 17,150-ton Unryu class light fleet carrier. Built in 1944 and sunk 27 July 1945.
America (USA): 62,000 ton Kitty Hawk class supercarrier, commissioned 23 January 1965 through 9 August 1996.
Antietam (USA): 27,100 ton Ticonderoga class fleet carrier, commissioned 28 January 1945 through 8 May 1963.
Aquila (Italy): 23,500-ton aircraft carrier. Conversion from liner Roma begun 1941, construction stopped 1943, never completed. BU 1951-1952.
Aragón (Spain): 27,000-ton aircraft carrier. Construction started in May 2005 simultaneously in Ferrol (with the cut of the first plate corresponding to Block 320) and in Fene (with the cut of the first plate corresponding to Block 330). Will be launched in November 2007 and it will be given to the Navy in December 2008.
Archer (UK): 8,200 ton Long Island class escort aircraft carrier. Commissioned 17 November 1941, became Empire Lagan aircraft ferry 3 August 1944, and returned to the United States 8 January 1946.
Ark Royal (UK): Fleet carrier in service from 1939, and sunk in 1941
Ark Royal (UK): Audacious class aircraft carrier in service from 1955 to 1978
Ark Royal (UK): Invincible class aircraft carrier in service from 1985
Arromanches (France): 13,400 ton Colossus class light aircraft carrier. Acquired as HMS Colossus in 1946 from the United Kingdom, BU 1978.
Attacker (UK): 14,400 ton Bogue class escort carrier, former USS Barnes, commissioned 30 September 1942 through 5 January 1946 when returned.
Avenger (UK): 8,200 ton aircraft carrier, sunk November 15, 1942

B

Baku (USSR): 42,000 ton Kiev class hybrid aircraft-carrying cruiser. Commissioned in 1982 and renamed Admiral Gorshkov on 4 October 1990.
Barnes (USA): 14,400 ton Bogue class escort carrier, commissioned 30 September 1942 and immediately transferred to the United Kingdom as HMS Attacker.
Bataan (USA): 11,000 Independence class light carrier, commissioned 17 November 1943 through 9 April 1954.
Battler (UK): 14,400 ton Bogue class escort carrier, former USS Altamaha, commissioned 31 October 1942 through 12 February 1946 when returned to the United States.
Béarn (France): 22,146 ton aircraft carrier converted from a Normandie class battleship hull. Commissioned in 1927, decommissioned 1945, broken up 1967.
Belleau Wood (USA): 11,000 ton Independence class light carrier, commissioned 31 March 1943 through 13 January 1947, later transferred to France as Bois Belleau.
Bennington (USA): 27,100 ton Essex class fleet carrier, commissioned 6 August 1944 through 15 January 1970.
Block Island (USA): 9800 ton Bogue class escort aircraft carrier. Commissioned 8 March 1943 and sunk 29 May 1944.
Bogue (USA): 9800 ton Bogue class escort carrier. Commissioned 26 September 1942.
Bon Homme Richard (USA): 27,100 ton Essex class fleet carrier, commissioned 26 November 1941 through 2 July 1971.
Bonaventure (Canada): 16,000 ton Majestic class light aircraft carrier. Acquired from the United Kingdom as the incomplete HMS Powerful after 1950, commissioned 15 January 1957, decommissioned 3 July 1970, and broken up in 1971.
Boxer (USA): 27,100 ton Ticonderoga class fleet carrier, commissioned 16 April 1945 through 1 December 1969.
Bunker Hill (USA): 27,100 ton Essex class fleet carrier, commissioned 24 May 1943 through 9 January 1947.

C

Cabot (USA): 11,000 ton Independence class light carrier, commissioned 24 July 1943 through 21 January 1955, later transferred to Spain as Dédalo.
Campania (UK): 11,420 ton aircraft carrier
Campinas (France): (1896) (merchantman converted to seaplane carrier) fate unknown
Carl Vinson (USA): 104,000 ton Nimitz class nuclear-powered supercarrier. Commissioned 13 March 1982 and in current service.
Casablanca (USA): 7800 ton Casablanca class escort carrier. Commissioned from 8 July 1943 to 10 June 1946.
Cavour (Italy): 26,660 ton V/STOL aircraft carrier. Planned for commissioning in 2008. Formerly named Andrea Doria.
Chakri Nareubet (Thailand): 10,000 ton V/STOL aircraft carrier. Commissioned 10 August 1997.
Charles De Gaulle (France): (1994) (nuclear powered)
Chitose (Japan)
Chiyoda (Japan)
Chuyo (Japan)
Clemenceau (France) (1957) - Sold to breakers in 2003, currently in Brest (France) awaiting scrapping
Colossus (UK): 13,200 ton aircraft carrier, class of 10
Commandante Teste (1929) (aviation transport) - Scuttled at Toulon 1942, refloated 1946, BU 1950s?
Commencement Bay (USA): 10,900 ton aircraft carrier, class of 11
Constellation (USA): 62,000 ton Kitty Hawk class supercarrier, commissioned 27 October 1961 through August 7, 2003.
Courageous (UK): 22,500 ton aircraft carrier, sunk September 17, 1939.
Coral Sea (USA): 45,000 ton Midway class fleet carrier, commissioned 1 October 1947 through 26 April 1990.
Cowpens (USA): 11,000 ton Independence class light carrier, commissioned 28 May 1943 through 13 January 1947.

D

Dasher (UK): 8200 ton aircraft carrier, sunk March 27, 1943
Dedalo (Spain, 1918): (ex-British merchantman Neuenfels converted to seaplane carrier, sold to Spain 22 October 1918) - Sunk 18 July 1937
Dédalo (Spain, 1967): 11,000 ton Independence class light carrier, former USS Cabot, served from 1967 through August 1989.
Dixmude (France) (1940): ex HMS Biter built in USA. Transferred to France in 1945.
Dwight D. Eisenhower (USA): 104,000 ton Nimitz class nuclear-powered supercarrier in active service, commissioned 18 October 1977.

E

Eagle (UK) (1918): 22,600 ton aircraft carrier, sunk August 11, 1942
Eagle (UK) (1951): Audacious class aircraft carrier built in 1942-1951 and decommissioned in 1972
Empire MacAlpine (UK): 7,950 ton Merchant Aircraft Carrier converted from a grain hauler
Enterprise (USA): 25,100 ton Yorktown class fleet carrier, commissioned 12 May 1938 through 17 February 1947 then sold for scrap.
Enterprise (USA): 85,600 ton unique nuclear-powered supercarrier in active service, commissioned 25 November 1961. First nuclear-powered aircraft carrier in service.
Essex (USA): 27,100 ton Essex class aircraft carrier. Commissioned 31 December 1942 through 30 June 1969.
Europa (Italy): (1895) (merchantman converted to seaplane carrier) stricken 1920

F

Foch (France) (1959) - Sold to Brazil 2001 and renamed São Paulo
Forrestal (USA): 81,000 ton Forrestal class supercarrier, commissioned 1 October 1955 through 11 September 1993.
Foudre (France): (1895) (seaplane carrier) stricken December 1 1921
Franklin (USA): 27,100 ton Essex class fleet carrier, commissioned 31 January 1944 through 17 February 1947.
Franklin D. Roosevelt (USA): 45,000 ton Midway class fleet carrier, commissioned 27 October 1945 through 30 September 1977.
Furious (UK): 14,000 ton aircraft carrier

G

George H. W. Bush (USA): 104,000 ton Nimitz class nuclear-powered supercarrier under construction, laid down 6 December 2005.
George Washington (USA): 104,000 ton Nimitz class nuclear-powered supercarrier in active service, commissioned 4 July 1992.
Georges Pompidou (France): (tentative name) modified version of UK CVF design
Giuseppe Garibaldi (Italy): (1983) - Fleet flagship
Giuseppe Miraglia (Italy): (1923) (seaplane carrier) BU 1950
Glorious (UK): 22,500 ton aircraft carrier, sunk June 8, 1940
Graf Zeppelin (Germany): (1938) (not completed) - Captured by the USSR August 1947 but not used as carrier, sank 1947

H

Hancock (USA): 27,100 ton Ticonderoga class fleet carrier, commissioned 15 April 1944 through 30 January 1976.
Harry S. Truman (USA): 104,000 ton Nimitz class nuclear-powered supercarrier in active service, commissioned 25 July 1998.
Hermes (UK): 10,850 ton aircraft carrier, sunk April 9, 1942
Hermes (UK) (1959): Centaur class aircraft carrier built in 1944-1959. In service until 1984 with Royal Navy, and then transferred to India as Viraat
Hiyo (Japan)
Hiryu (Japan)
Hornet CV-8 (USA): 25,600 ton Yorktown class fleet carrier, commissioned 20 October 1941 and sunk 27 October 1942.
Hornet CV-12 (USA): 27,100 ton Hornet class fleet carrier, commissioned 29 November 1943 through 26 June 1970.
Hosho (Japan)

I

Illustrious (UK): 23,000 ton Illustrious class aircraft carrier, decommissioned 1954.
Illustrious (UK): 20,600 ton Invincible class aircraft carrier commissioned 20th June 1982.
Independence (USA): 11,000 ton Independence class light carrier, commissioned 14 January 1943 through 28 August 1946.
Independence (USA): 81,100 ton Forrestal class supercarrier, commissioned 10 January 1959 through 30 September 1998.
Independencia (Argentina): 18,300 ton Colossus class aircraft carrier. Purchased as HMS Warrior from the United Kingdom in 1958 and decommissioned 1970, broken up.
Intrepid (USA): 27,100 ton Essex class fleet carrier, commissioned 16 August 1943 through 15 March 1974.
Invincible (UK): 20,600 ton Invincible class aircraft carrier commissioned 11th July 1980. Decommissioned 3rd August 2005.
Iwo Jima (USA): 27,100 ton Ticonderoga class fleet carrier, construction cancelled 12 August 1945 and scrapped.

J

Joffre (France) (-) (not completed)
John C. Stennis (USA): 104,000 ton Nimitz class nuclear-powered supercarrier in active service, commissioned 9 December 1995.
John F. Kennedy (USA): 75,000 ton modified Kitty Hawk class supercarrier in active service, commissioned 7 September 1968.
Junyo (Japan)

K

Kaga (Japan)
Kaiyo (Japan)
Hr.Ms. Karel Doorman (Netherlands): (ex-British HMS Nairana, transferred in 1946) - Returned to Royal Navy for disposal in 1948 and replaced by HMS Venerable
Katsuragi (Japan)
Kearsarge (USA): 27,100 ton Ticonderoga class fleet carrier, commissioned 2 March 1946 through 13 February 1970.
Kiev (USSR): (1972) BU 2000 India
Kitty Hawk (USA): 60,000 ton Kitty Hawk class supercarrier in active service, commissioned 21 April 1961.
Kumano Maru (Japan)

L

La Fayette (France): 11,000 ton Independence class light carrier, former USS Langley, serving from 1951 through 1963.
Lake Champlain (USA): 27,100 ton Ticonderoga class fleet carrier, commissioned 3 June 1945 through 2 May 1966.
Langley (USA): 11,500 ton light aircraft carrier and seaplane tender, commissioned from 20 March 1922 through 27 February 1942 when sunk.
Langley (USA): 11,000 ton Independence class light carrier, commissioned 31 August 1943 through 11 February 1947, later transferred to France as La Fayette.
Leningrad (USSR)
Lexington (USA): 33,000 ton Lexington class fleet carrier, commissioned from 14 December 1927 through 8 May 1942 when sunk.
Lexington (USA): 27,100 ton Essex class fleet carrier, commissioned from 17 February 1943 through 8 November 1991.
Leyte (USA): 27,100 ton Ticonderoga class fleet carrier, commissioned 11 April 1946 through 15 May 1959.
Long Island (USA): 13,500 ton Long Island class escort carrier, commissioned 2 June 1941 through 26 March 1946.

M

Magnificent (Canada): (1944) - Returned to Britain 14 June 1957, BU 1960s
Melbourne (Australia): (1945, ex-British Majestic) - Retired 1982, sold to China 1985, used for testing
Midway (USA): 59,900 ton Midway class aircraft carrier, commissioned 10 September 1945 through 11 April 1992, now a museum ship.
Minas Gerais (Brazil): (ex-British HMS Vengeance, purchased 13 December 1956) - Decommissioned 2001
Minsk (USSR): (1975) Towed to People's Republic of China 1998 for use as casino
Monterey (USA): 11,000 ton Independence class light carrier, commissioned 17 June 1943 through 16 January 1956.
Moskva (USSR)

N

HMCS Nabob (Canada): (1943) - BU in Taiwan around 1977
Nairana (UK): 11,420 ton aircraft carrier
Nigitsu Maru (Japan)
Nimitz (USA): 104,000 ton Nimitz class nuclear-powered supercarrier in active service, commissioned 3 May 1975.
Nord (1898) (merchantman converted to seaplane carrier) fate unknown
Novorossysk (USSR): (1978) BU 1997 South Korea

O

Onuyo (Japan): 17,830 ton aircraft carrier
Oriskany (USA): 27,100 ton Essex class fleet carrier, commissioned 25 September 1950 through 30 September 1975, scuttled as reef 17 May 2006, Florida.

P

Painleve (France) (-) (not completed)
Pas-de-Calais (1898) (merchantman converted to seaplane carrier) fate unknown
Peter Strasser (Germany): (planned launch in 1940, not completed) - BU 1940
Philippine Sea (USA): 27,100 ton Ticonderoga class fleet carrier, commissioned 11 May 1946 through 28 December 1958.
Powerful (UK): 16,000 ton aircraft carrier, not completed during World War II and sold to Canada in the 1950s as the HMCS Bonaventure.
Princeton (USA): 11,000 ton Independence class light carrier, commissioned 25 February 1943 and sunk 24 October 1944.
Princeton (USA): 27,100 ton Ticonderoga class aircraft carrier, commissioned 18 November 1945 through 30 January 1970.
Principe de Asturias (Spain): 13,400 ton unique STOL carrier in active service, commissioned 30 May 1988.
HMCS Puncher (Canada): (1943) - BU in Taiwan 1970s

R

Randolph (USA): 27,100 ton Ticonderoga class fleet carrier, commissioned 9 October 1944 through 13 February 1969.
Ranger (USA): 14,500 ton aircraft carrier, commissioned 4 June 1934 through 18 October 1946, sold for scrap.
Ranger (USA): 81,100 ton Forrestal class supercarrier, commissioned 10 August 1957 through 10 July 1993.
Reprisal (USA): 27,100 ton Ticonderoga class fleet carrier, laid down 1 July 1944 but cancelled 12 August 1945.
Ronald Reagan (USA): 104,000 ton Nimitz class nuclear-powered aircraft carrier in active service, commissioned 12 July 2003.
Rouen (1912) (merchantman converted to seaplane carrier) captured by Germany 1940s
Ruler class (UK): 11,420 ton aircraft carrier class of 24
Ryuho (Japan)
Ryujo (Japan)

S

Saipan (USA): 14,500 ton Saipan class light carrier, commissioned 14 July 1946 through 8 April 1965, when renamed USS Arlington (AGMR-2).
San Jacinto (USA): 11,000 ton Independence class light carrier, commissioned 15 November 1943 through 1 March 1947.
São Paulo (Brazil): (ex-French FS Foch, purchased 2001
Saratoga (USA): 33,000 ton Lexington class fleet carrier, commissioned 16 November 1927 through 25 July 1946 when sunk as a target.
Saratoga (USA): 81,000 ton Forrestal class supercarrier, commissioned 14 April 1946 through 20 August 1994.
Shangri-La (USA): 27,100 ton Ticonderoga class fleet carrier, commissioned 15 September 1944 through 30 July 1971.
Shimane Maru (Japan)
Shinano (Japan)
Shinyo (Japan)
Shoho (Japan)
Shokaku (Japan)
Soryu (Japan)
Sparviero (Italy): (1927) (converted liner Augustus, not completed as carrier) Sunk 5 October 1944
HMAS Sydney (Australia): (1944, ex-British HMS Terrible) - Sold 30 October 1975, BU

T

Taiho (Japan)
Taiyo (Japan)
Tarawa (USA): 27,100 ton Ticonderoga class fleet carrier, commissioned 8 December 1945 through 13 May 1960.
Theodore Roosevelt (USA): 104,000 ton Nimitz class nuclear-powered supercarrier in active service, commissioned 25 October 1986.
Tbilisi (USSR): Original name for the Admiral Kuznetsov.
Ticonderoga (USA): 27,100 ton Ticonderoga class fleet carrier. Commissioned 8 May 1944 through 1 September 1973.

U

Ulyanovsk (USSR) (-) (not completed) BU 1992. A sister ship was probably planned.
United States (USA): 68,000 ton unique super-heavy aircraft carrier, laid down 18 April 1949, but cancelled 23 April 1949.
Unryu (Japan)
Unyo (Japan)

V

Valley Forge (USA): 27,100 ton Ticonderoga class fleet carrier, commissioned 3 November 1946 through 16 January 1970.
Varyag (Russia/China) (1988) (formerly named Riga) later owned by Ukraine and sold to the People's Republic of China for use as entertainment complex and transferred there in 2002.
Veinticinco de Mayo (Argentina): Colossus class aircraft carrier. Acquired from the Netherlands (as HNLMS Karel Doorman in 1968, decommissioned 1997, towed to Alang, India, for BU January 1999.
Hr.Ms. Karel Doorman (Netherlands) (ex-British HMS Venerable, purchased 1948) - Sold to Argentina 1968 and renamed Veinticinco de Mayo, BU
HMAS Vengeance (Australia): (1944, ex- British HMS Vengeance) - Returned to Britain 13 August 1955, sold to Brazil 13 December 1956 as Minas Gerais
INS Vikramaditya (India): (ex-Russian Admiral Gorshkov) - To enter service in 2008
INS Vikrant (India): (1945, ex-British HMS Hercules, purchased January 1957) - Decommissioned 31 January 1997. To be preserved at a museum at Mumbai
HMS Vindex (UK): 11,420 ton aircraft carrier
INS Viraat (India): (1953, ex-British HMS Hermes (R12), purchased 19 April 1986)

W

HMCS Warrior (Canada): (1944) - Returned to Britain 1948, sold to Argentina 1958 and renamed Independencia, BU 1971
Wasp (USA): 14,700 ton unique aircraft carrier, commissioned 25 May 1940 through 15 September 1942 when sunk.
Wasp (USA): 27,100 ton Essex class fleet carrier, commissioned 24 November 1943 through 1 July 1972.
Wright (USA): 14,500 ton Saipan class light carrier, commissioned 9 February 1947 through 27 May 1970.
USS Wolverine (IX 64) Aug. 12, 1942 commissioned at Buffalo, N.Y., Cmdr. G. R. Fairlamb, commanding. Wolverine and USS Sable (IX 81), commissioned May 1943, were Great Lakes excursion ships converted for aviation training . Sailing Lake Michigan, they provided flight decks on which hundreds of student aviators qualified for carrier landings and many flight deck crews received their first practical experience in handling aircraft aboard ship.

Y

Yamashiro Maru (Japan)
Yorktown (CV-5) (USA): 19,900 ton Yorktown class aircraft carrier, commissioned 30 September 1937 through 7 June 1942 when sunk.
Yorktown (CV-10) (USA): 27,500 ton Essex class aircraft carrier, commissioned 15 April 1943 through 27 June 1970, became a museum ship.

Z

Zuiho (Japan)
Zuikaku (Japan)

Fictional

USS Bennington - CVN-78 - JAG
USS Thomas Jefferson - in Nimitz Class by Patrick Robinson

References

[Haze Gray & Underway World Aircraft Carrier Lists]
Warrilow, Betty. Nabob, the first Canadian-manned aircraft carrier Owen Sound, Ont. : Escort Carriers Association, 1989.

From Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. Original article here. Support Wikipedia by contributing or donating.
All text is available under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License See Wikipedia Copyrights for details.