U.S. Navy Sailors assigned to the U.S. Navy Nimitz Class Aircraft Carrier USS CARL VINSON (CVN 70) spread mulch at area parks in Newport News, Va. With the Sailors support, the city saved more than 50 man-hours per park. Aug. 15 2006. (U.S. Navy PHOTO by Mass Communication SPECIALIST 1ST Class Lorin Sawyer) (Released)

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.