List of aircraft carriers

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

Those listed in Bold are currently in active service.

For listings by other methods, see:

Contents: Top - 0–9 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

A

Abraham Lincoln ( United States Navy): Nimitz class nuclear-powered supercarrier; commissioned in 1989; currently in service
Activity ( Royal Navy): Escort aircraft carrier; converted cargo ship hull; served in World War II
Admiral Gorshkov ( Soviet Navy - Russian Navy): Kiev class hybrid aircraft-carrying cruiser; commissioned in 1982 as Baku, renamed in 1990, and retired in 1996; sold to India to become INS Vikramaditya
Admiral Flota Sovetskovo Soyuza Kuznetsov ( Russian Navy): Admiral Kuznetsov class STOBAR aircraft carrier; launched in 1985 as Tblisi; renamed and operational from 1995; currently in service
Akagi ( Imperial Japanese Navy): Fleet carrier; converted Amagi class battlecruiser; commissioned in 1927; sunk in 1942
Akitsu Maru ( Imperial Japanese Navy) launched 24 Nov. 1941 sunk by USS Hake 12 Jan. 1944
Albatross ( Royal Australian Navy): Seaplane carrier commissioned from 1928 to 1933
Albion ( Royal Navy): Centaur class aircraft carrier; launched in 1947; converted into a commando carrier in 1962; sold in 1973
Altamaha ( United States Navy): Bogue class escort carrier; commissioned in 1942 and immediately transferred to the United Kingdom as HMS Battler
Amagi ( Imperial Japanese Navy): Fleet carrier; converted Amagi class battlecruiser; destroyed in 1923 Great Kantō earthquake;
Amagi ( Imperial Japanese Navy): Unryū class light fleet carrier; built in 1944; sunk in 1945
America ( United States Navy): Kitty Hawk class supercarrier; commissioned from 1965 to 1996
Antietam ( United States Navy): Essex class fleet carrier, commissioned from 1945 to 1963
Aquila ( Marina Militare): Converted liner Roma begun in 1941; construction stopped in 1943; broken up in the 1950s
Archer ( Royal Navy): Long Island class escort aircraft carrier; commissioned in 1941; became Empire Lagan aircraft ferry in 1944; returned to the United States in 1946
Ark Royal ( Royal Navy): Fleet carrier in service from 1939; sunk in 1941
Ark Royal ( Royal Navy): Audacious class carrier in service from 1955 to 1978
Ark Royal ( Royal Navy): Invincible class STOVL carrier in service from 1985
Arromanches: ( French Navy): Colossus class light carrier in service from 1946 to 1974
Attacker ( Royal Navy): Bogue class escort carrier; former USS Barnes; commissioned from 1942 to 1946 when returned
Avenger ( Royal Navy): Sunk in 1942

B

Baku ( Soviet Navy): 42,000 ton Kiev class hybrid aircraft-carrying cruiser. Commissioned in 1982 and renamed Admiral Gorshkov on 4 October 1990.
Barnes ( United States Navy): 14,400 ton Bogue class escort carrier, commissioned 30 September 1942 and immediately transferred to the United Kingdom as HMS Attacker.
Bataan ( United States Navy): 11,000 Independence class light carrier, commissioned 17 November 1943 through 9 April 1954.
Battler ( Royal Navy): 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 ( French Navy): Converted Normandie class battleship in service from 1927 to 1948
Belleau Wood ( United States Navy): 11,000 ton Independence class light carrier, commissioned 31 March 1943 through 13 January 1947, later transferred to France as Bois Belleau.
Bennington ( United States Navy): 27,100 ton Essex class fleet carrier, commissioned 6 August 1944 through 15 January 1970.
Bismarck Sea ( United States Navy): 7800 ton Casablanca class escort aircraft carrier. Commissioned 20 May 1944 and sunk 21 Feb 1945 by kamikaze attack off Iwo Jima.
Biter ( Royal Navy): Charger class escort carrier in service from 1940 to 1945
Block Island ( United States Navy): 9800 ton Bogue class escort aircraft carrier. Commissioned 8 March 1943 and sunk 29 May 1944 off the Canary Islands by U-549.
Bogue ( United States Navy): 9800 ton Bogue class escort carrier. Commissioned 26 September 1942.
Bon Homme Richard (( United States Navy): 27,100 ton Essex class fleet carrier, commissioned 26 November 1941 through 2 July 1971.
Bonaventure ( Royal Canadian Navy): 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 ( United States Navy): 27,100 ton Essex class fleet carrier, commissioned 16 April 1945 through 1 December 1969.
Bulwark ( Royal Navy): Centaur class aircraft carrier; launched in 1948; converted into a commando carrier in 1960
Bunker Hill ( United States Navy): 27,100 ton Essex class fleet carrier, commissioned 24 May 1943 through 9 January 1947.

C

Cabot ( United States Navy): Independence class light carrier; commissioned from 1943 to 1955; transferred to Spain as Dédalo
Campania ( Royal Navy)
Campinas ( French Navy): Seaplane carrier; launched 1896 and converted from merchant ship in 1915; fate unknown
Carl Vinson ( United States Navy): Nimitz class nuclear-powered supercarrier; commissioned in 1982; currently in active service
Casablanca ( United States Navy): Casablanca class escort carrier; commissioned from 1943 to 1946
Cavour ( Marina Militare): V/STOL aircraft carrier; former Andrea Doria; planned for commissioning in 2008
Chakri Naruebet ( Royal Thai Navy): Modified Principe de Asturias V/STOL aircraft carrier; commissioned 10 August 1997; currently in active service
Charles De Gaulle ( French Navy): Nuclear powered aircraft carrier commissioned 2001
Chitose ( Imperial Japanese Navy): sunk in 1944.
Chiyoda ( Imperial Japanese Navy)
Chuyo ( Imperial Japanese Navy)
Clemenceau ( French Navy): Clemenceau class carrier commissioned from 1961 to 1997
Colossus ( Royal Navy): Colossus class aircraft carrier
Commandant Teste ( French Navy): Seaplane tender and aircraft transport commissioned from 1932 to 1942
Commencement Bay ( United States Navy): Commencement Bay class escort carrier
Constellation ( United States Navy): Kitty Hawk class supercarrier; commissioned from 1961 to 2003
Courageous ( Royal Navy): Sunk in 1939
Coral Sea ( United States Navy): Midway class fleet carrier; commissioned from 1947 to 1990
Cowpens ( United States Navy): Independence class light carrier; commissioned from 1943 to 1947

D

Dasher ( Royal Navy): 8200 ton aircraft carrier, sunk March 27, 1943
Dedalo ( Spanish Navy, 1918): (ex-British merchantman Neuenfels, converted to seaplane carrier in Spain 22 October 1918) - Sunk 18 July 1937
Dédalo ( Spanish Navy, 1967): 11,000 ton Independence class light carrier, former USS Cabot, served from 1967 through August 1989.
Dixmude ( French Navy): Charger class light carrier in service from 1945 to 1966
Dwight D. Eisenhower ( United States Navy): 104,000 ton Nimitz class nuclear-powered supercarrier in active service, commissioned 18 October 1977.

E

Eagle ( Royal Navy): Aircraft carrier sunk in 1942
Eagle ( Royal Navy): Audacious class aircraft carrier in service from 1951 to 1972
Empire MacAlpine ( Royal Navy): Merchant Aircraft Carrier converted from a grain hauler
Enterprise ( United States Navy): Yorktown class fleet carrier commissioned from 1938 to 17 February 1947
Enterprise ( United States Navy): Unique nuclear-powered supercarrier in service since 1961
Essex ( United States Navy): Essex class aircraft carrier commissioned from 1942 to 1969
Europa ( Kriegsmarine): Converted merchant cancelled during conversion in 1942
Europa ( Marina Militare): (1895) (merchantman converted to seaplane carrier) stricken 1920

F

Flugzeugträger B ( Kriegsmarine): Graf Zeppelin class aircraft carrier; laid down in 1938; cancelled in 1939 and scrapped in 1940
Foch ( French Navy): Clemenceau class carrier; commissioned from 1963 to 2000; sold to Brazil as NAeL São Paulo
Forrestal ( United States Navy): Forrestal class supercarrier, commissioned from 1955 to 1993
Foudre ( French Navy): Seaplane carrier; stricken in 1921
Franklin ( United States Navy): Essex class fleet carrier, commissioned from 1944 to 1947
Franklin D. Roosevelt ( United States Navy): Midway class fleet carrier, commissioned from 1945 to 1977
Furious ( Royal Navy)

G

George H. W. Bush ( United States Navy): 104,000 ton Nimitz class nuclear-powered supercarrier under construction, laid down 6 December 2005.
George Washington ( United States Navy): 104,000 ton Nimitz class nuclear-powered supercarrier in active service, commissioned 4 July 1992.
Georges Pompidou ( French Navy): (tentative name) modified version of UK Queen Elizabeth class design
Giuseppe Garibaldi ( Marina Militare): (1983) - Fleet flagship
Giuseppe Miraglia ( Marina Militare): (1923) (seaplane carrier) BU 1950
Glorious ( Royal Navy): 22,500 ton aircraft carrier, sunk June 8, 1940
Graf Zeppelin ( Kriegsmarine): (1938) (not completed) - Captured by the USSR April 1945 but not used as a carrier. Sank after used as bomb & torpedo target by USSR, August 1947.

H

Hancock ( United States Navy): 27,100 ton Essex class fleet carrier, commissioned 15 April 1944 through 30 January 1976.
Harry S. Truman ( United States Navy): 104,000 ton Nimitz class nuclear-powered supercarrier in active service, commissioned 25 July 1998.
Hermes ( Royal Navy): 10,850 ton aircraft carrier, sunk April 9, 1942
Hermes ( Royal Navy) (1959): Centaur class aircraft carrier built in 1944-1959. In service until 1984 with Royal Navy, and then transferred to India as Viraat
Hiyō ( Imperial Japanese Navy) launched 24 June 1941 and commissioned 31 July 1942 sunk 21 June 1944
Hiryū ( Imperial Japanese Navy)
Hornet CV-8 ( United States Navy): 25,600 ton Yorktown class fleet carrier, commissioned 20 October 1941 and sunk 27 October 1942.
Hornet CV-12 ( United States Navy): 27,100 ton Essex class fleet carrier, commissioned 29 November 1943 through 26 June 1970.
Hōshō ( Imperial Japanese Navy)

I

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

J

Joffre ( French Navy): Joffre class fleet carrier never launched
John C. Stennis ( United States Navy): Nimitz class nuclear-powered supercarrier in service since 1995
John F. Kennedy ( United States Navy): Modified Kitty Hawk class supercarrier in service from 1968-2007
Juan Carlos I ( Spanish Navy): Amphibious assault carrier; construction started in 2005; planned launch in 2007; planned commissioning in 2008
Junyō ( Imperial Japanese Navy)

K

Kaga ( Imperial Japanese Navy): 38,200 ton converted Tosa-class fast battleship hull, commissioned 17 November 1921. Sunk 4 June 1942, Battle of Midway.
Kaiyo ( Imperial Japanese Navy): ex-liner Argentina Maru, converted to 13,600 ton escort carrier in 1943. Scrapped 1946 to 1948.
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 ( Imperial Japanese Navy): 28,300 ton Unryū-class carrier, commisioned August 10, 1944. Scrapped 1947.
Kearsarge ( United States Navy): 27,100 ton Essex class fleet carrier, commissioned 2 March 1946 through 13 February 1970.
Kiev ( Soviet Navy): (1972) BU 2000 India
Kitty Hawk ( United States Navy): 60,000 ton Kitty Hawk class supercarrier in active service, commissioned 21 April 1961.
Kumano Maru ( Imperial Japanese Navy)

L

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

M

Magnificent ( Royal Canadian Navy): Commissioned 1946 to 1956 and returned to the Royal Navy in 1957 and placed in reserve; stricken in 1965 and scrapped
Melbourne ( Royal Australian Navy): Majestic class aircraft carrier commissioned 1955 to 1982
Midway ( United States Navy): Midway class aircraft carrier, commissioned 1945 to 1992; now a museum ship
Minas Gerais ( Brazilian Navy): Colossus class light carrier, commissioned from 1960 to 2001
Minsk ( Soviet Navy): Commissioned from 1975; towed to People's Republic of China in 1998 for use as casino
Mistral ( French Navy): Amphibious assault helicopter carrier; commissioned in 2005
Monterey ( United States Navy): Independence class light carrier; commissioned 1943 to 1956
Moskva ( Soviet Navy)
Myoho ( Imperial Japanese Navy)

N

HMCS Nabob ( Royal Canadian Navy): (1943) - BU in Taiwan around 1977
Nairana ( Royal Navy): 11,420 ton aircraft carrier
Nigitsu Maru ( Imperial Japanese Navy)
Nimitz ( United States Navy): 104,000 ton Nimitz class nuclear-powered supercarrier in active service, commissioned 3 May 1975.
Nord (1898) (merchantman converted to seaplane carrier) fate unknown
Novorossiysk ( Soviet Navy): (1978) BU 1997 South Korea

O

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

P

Painleve ( French Navy): Planned Joffre class fleet carrier never laid down
Pas-de-Calais (1898) (merchantman converted to seaplane carrier) fate unknown
Peter Straßer ( Kriegsmarine): Graf Zeppelin class carrier never launched
PH 75 ( French Navy): Planned nuclear-powered amphibious assault ship never laid down
Philippine Sea ( United States Navy): Essex class fleet carrier, commissioned from 1946 to 1958
Powerful ( Royal Navy): Majestic class carrier
Princeton ( United States Navy): Independence class light carrier, commissioned in 1943 and sunk in 1944
Princeton ( United States Navy): Essex class aircraft carrier, commissioned from 1945 to 1970
Principe de Asturias ( Spanish Navy): STOL carrier in service since 1988
Puncher ( Royal Navy): Bogue class escort carrier commissioned from 1944 to 1946

R

Randolph ( United States Navy): 27,100 ton Essex class fleet carrier, commissioned 9 October 1944 through 13 February 1969.
Ranger ( United States Navy): 14,500 ton aircraft carrier, commissioned 4 June 1934 through 18 October 1946, sold for scrap.
Ranger ( United States Navy): 81,100 ton Forrestal class supercarrier, commissioned 10 August 1957 through 10 July 1993.
Reprisal ( United States Navy): 27,100 ton Essex class fleet carrier, laid down 1 July 1944 but cancelled 12 August 1945.
Ronald Reagan ( United States Navy): 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 ( Royal Navy): 11,420 ton aircraft carrier class of 24
Ryuho ( Imperial Japanese Navy)
Ryūjō ( Imperial Japanese Navy)

S

Saipan ( United States Navy): Saipan class light carrier commissioned from 1946 to 1965
San Jacinto ( United States Navy): Independence class light carrier commissioned from 1943 to 1947
São Paulo ( Brazilian Navy): Clemenceau class carrier, commissioned since 2000
Saratoga ( United States Navy): Lexington class fleet carrier, commissioned from 1927 to 1946
Saratoga ( United States Navy): Forrestal class supercarrier, commissioned from 1946 to 1994
Seydlitz ( Kriegsmarine): Converted Admiral Hipper class cruiser, cancelled during conversion in 1943
Shangri-La ( United States Navy): Essex class fleet carrier, commissioned from 1944 to 1971
Shimane Maru ( Imperial Japanese Navy)
Shinano ( Imperial Japanese Navy)
Shinyo ( Imperial Japanese Navy)
Shōhō ( Imperial Japanese Navy)
Shōkaku ( Imperial Japanese Navy)
Sōryū ( Imperial Japanese Navy)
Sparviero ( Marina Militare): Converted liner Augustus sunk during construction in 1944
Surcouf ( French Navy): Aircraft carrying submarine in service from 1934 to 1942
Sydney ( Royal Australian Navy): Majestic class carrier commissioned from 1948 to 1973

T

Taihō ( Imperial Japanese Navy)
Taiyō ( Imperial Japanese Navy)
Tarawa ( United States Navy): Essex class fleet carrier commissioned from 1945 to 1960
Terrible ( Royal Navy): Majestic class aircraft carrier completed as HMAS Sydney
Theodore Roosevelt ( United States Navy): Nimitz class nuclear-powered supercarrier commissioned since 1986
Tbilisi ( Soviet Navy): Original name for Admiral Kuznetsov
Ticonderoga ( United States Navy): Essex class fleet carrier commissioned 1944 to 1973
Tonnerre ( French Navy): Mistral class power projection ship planned to enter service in 2006

U

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

V

Valley Forge ( United States Navy): Essex class fleet carrier; commissioned 1946 to 1970
Varyag ( Soviet Navy - Ukraine - People's Liberation Army Navy): Admiral Kuznetsov class STOBAR aircraft carrier; Former Riga; launched in 1988; 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 ( Argentine Navy): Colossus class aircraft carrier commissioned from 1968 to 1997
Vengeance ( Royal Navy - Royal Australian Navy): Colossus class light carrier commissioned 1945 to 1955
Verdun ( French Navy): Planned attack carrier cancelled during development in 1961
Vikramaditya ( Indian Navy): Former Admiral Gorshkov planned to enter service in 2008
Vikrant ( Indian Navy): Former HMS Hercules; commissioned 1957 to 1997 for preservation at a museum at Mumbai.
Vikrant (Indigenous Aircraft Carrier (Project 71) ( Indian Navy): 37,500 ton aircraft carrier Under construction; planned commissioning in 2012. Two will be built.
Vindex ( Royal Navy)
Viraat ( Indian Navy): Former HMS Hermes; purchased in 1986

W

HMCS Warrior ( Royal Canadian Navy): (1944) - Returned to Britain 1948, sold to Argentina 1958 and renamed Independencia, BU 1971
Wasp ( United States Navy): 14,700 ton unique aircraft carrier, commissioned 25 May 1940 through 15 September 1942 when sunk.
Wasp ( United States Navy): 27,100 ton Essex class fleet carrier, commissioned 24 November 1943 through 1 July 1972.
Wright ( United States Navy): 14,500 ton Saipan class light carrier, commissioned 9 February 1947 through 27 May 1970.
Wolverine ( United States Navy): 7,200 ton unique aircraft carrier, commissioned 12 August 1942 through 1945.

Y

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

Z

Zuihō ( Imperial Japanese Navy): sunk in 1944.
Zuikaku ( Imperial Japanese Navy): sunk in 1944.

References

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

Categories: Aircraft carriers | Lists of aircraft carriers