Aircraft carrier Facts for Kids

Russian aircraft carrier Admiral Kuznetsov, flagship of the Russian navy

Aircraft carriers are warships that carry airplanes and other aircraft like helicopters. They are used by navies to allow aircraft to fight along with naval warships. Aircraft carriers are usually very large, carrying hundreds or thousands of sailors and tens or hundreds of aircraft.

The top of an aircraft carrier is called the flight deck and looks like a very small airport. Old aircraft carriers carried airplanes that could takeoff and land in the short distance of the flight deck without help. Similarly, small modern aircraft carriers only carry helicopters or specially designed airplanes such as the Harrier that can take off and land straight up and down or in the short distance of the flight deck.

The flight deck of a large, modern aircraft carrier has a landing area and a take-off area. The landing area is in the back and has a short runway. Airplanes stop by using a hook on the back of the airplane to grab wires stretched across the runway. In the front, the flight deck has a steam-powered catapult that connects to the front wheel of an airplane. The catapult pulls and throws the airplane off the deck, helping it take off quickly. So, aircraft carriers are basically small, floating, mobile airports.

Because they are big ships and need much electric power, big modern aircraft carriers have on-board nuclear power plants. Others are powered by oil-burning engines.

Except for their airplanes, aircraft carriers usually have few weapons, so other warships escort them. Together, the aircraft carrier and these warships form a carrier group.

Images for kids

Four modern aircraft carriers of various types—USS John C. Stennis, Charles de Gaulle (French Navy), USS John F. Kennedy, helicopter carrier HMS Ocean—and escort vessels, 2002
Comparison of aircraft carriers
French aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle (rear), and US Navy carrier USS Ronald Reagan conducting joint operations in the Persian Gulf; both with the CATOBAR configuration.
USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72) a United States Navy fleet carrier, also often referred to as a supercarrier, seen here underway in 2019 crossing the Atlantic.
The Royal Navy's HMS Ark Royal in 1939, with Swordfish biplane bombers passing overhead. The British aircraft carrier was involved in the crippling of the German battleship Bismarck in May 1941
The Japanese seaplane carrier Wakamiya conducted the world's first naval-launched air raids in 1914
USS Enterprise, the most decorated US warship of World War II
The Japanese carrier Shinano was the biggest carrier in World War II, and the largest ship sunk by a submarine.
An F6F-5 landing on the French Arromanches in the Tonkin Gulf, 1953.
USS Tripoli, a U.S. Navy Iwo Jima-class helicopter carrier
USS Enterprise (CVN-65), "The Big E", the world's first nuclear-powered carrier, commissioned in 1961
The first carrier landing and take-off of a jet aircraft: Eric "Winkle" Brown landing on HMS Ocean in 1945
Catapult launches aboard USS Ronald Reagan
Island control structure of USS Enterprise
The command bridge of the aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle
HMAS Canberra, a Canberra-class landing helicopter dock
Liaoning, a Type 001 aircraft carrier
The aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle of the French Navy
INS Vikrant (IAC-1) at sea during her maiden sea trials
Helicopter carrier Izumo (DDH-183) at sea
Russian aircraft carrier Admiral Kuznetsov
Spanish Juan Carlos I with Harrier II
The aircraft carrier HTMS Chakri Naruebet of the Royal Thai Navy
TCG Anadolu at the Sedef Shipyard in Istanbul, 9 January 2020
HMS Queen Elizabeth, a Royal Navy aircraft carrier and lead ship of her class
USS Nimitz (CVN-68), the lead of her class, seen here in 2009, was commissioned into service in 1975.
USS Enterprise (CVN-80), the third US Navy carrier to bear the name, is a Gerald R. Ford-class carrier currently under construction and expected to enter service in 2028. (artist's impression)

Aircraft carrier facts for kids

Images for kids

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