A Strike Fighter Squadron 147 (VFA-147) F/A-18C Hornet aircraft refuels from a KC-135R Stratotanker aircraft during Operation Southern Watch, a multinational effort establishing a no-fly zone for Iraqi aircraft south of the 32nd parallel in Iraq. Standing by is an F-14A Tomcat aircraft of Fighter Squadron 24 (VF-24). The squadrons are embarked aboard the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS NIMITZ (CVN-68)

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.