The 33 Aircraft Carriers That Shaped U.S. Naval Power

It has been 12 years since an American aircraft carrier last visited Malaysia. But the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) reached port in Malaysia for a launch on November 23, 2024. Over 4,200 military personnel stationed aboard the naval vessel had the opportunity to explore Malaysian culture. According to U.S. Ambassador to Malaysia Edgard D. Kagan, this visit was an opportunity for the United States to reaffirm its close partnership with Malaysia. The vessel then set out to embark on its routine operations. (Check out 15 planes and helicopters that fly on American aircraft carriers.)

Aircraft carriers are warships that can carry, arm, deploy, and recover aircraft. This strongly supports military operations, allowing the military to quickly respond to potential crises or conflicts. Aircraft carriers also allow more ease, since we don’t have to rely on local military bases. Modern aircraft carriers are undoubtedly more technologically advanced than past ships, and contain more equipment. But the aircraft carriers of the American past did contribute to significant victories during major conflicts, especially during World War II. Here, 24/7 Wall St. identified all 33 aircraft carriers from our Navy’s early history using U.S. naval archives and other sources. We also included when these ships were commissioned and how long they remained in service. Carriers are listed in order of hull classification symbols.

Why We’re Covering American Naval History

Prior to, and throughout, World War II, the United States used naval power to gain a strategic advantage over enemies. The Navy aircraft carriers allowed for farther-reaching attacks. Soon, the entire world saw the power of the U.S. Navy, positioning us as a world leader in armed forces. Navy aircraft carriers have evolved over time but remain important for shaping military strategy – and even addressing humanitarian needs worldwide.

Check out the 33 aircraft carriers that kickstarted US naval history:

1. CV-1 Langley

Class: Langley
Commissioned: March 20, 1922
Service Life: 19 years, 11 months, and seven days
Status: Scuttled and sunk south of Java

2. CV-2 Lexington

Class: Lexington
Commissioned: December 14, 1927
Service life: 14 years, 4 months, and 24 days
Status: Sunk in the Battle of the Coral Sea

3. CV-3 Saratoga

Class: Lexington
Commissioned: November 16, 1927
Service life: 18 years, 8 months, and 12 days
Status: Sunk in nuclear test target near Bikini Atoll

4. CV-4 Ranger

Class: Ranger
Commissioned: June 4, 1934
Service life: 12 years, 4 months, and 14 days
Status: Scrapped in 1947

5. CV-5 Yorktown

Class: Yorktown
Commissioned: September 30, 1937
Service life: 4 years, 8 months, and 8 days
Status: Sunk in the Battle of Midway

6. CV-6 Enterprise

Class: Yorktown
Commissioned: May 12, 1938
Service life: 8 years, 9 months, and 5 days
Status: Scrapped in 1960

7. CV-7 Wasp

- Class: Wasp
- Commissioned: April 25, 1940
- Service life: 2 years, 4 months, and 21 days

Status: Sunk during the Guadalcanal campaign

8. CV-8 Hornet

Class: Yorktown
Commissioned: October 20, 1941
Service life: 1 year and 6 days
Status: Sunk in the Battle of Santa Cruz Islands

9. CV-9 Essex

Class: Essex
Commissioned: December 31, 1942
Service life: 26 years, 5 months, and 20 days
Status: Scrapped in 1975

10. CV-10 Yorktown

Class: Essex
Commissioned: April 15, 1943
Service life: 27 years, 2 months, and 12 days
Status: Preserved at the Patriot’s Point Naval & Maritime Museum–Mount Pleasant, South Carolina

11. CV-11 Intrepid

Class: Essex
Commissioned: August 16, 1943
Service life: 30 years, 6 months, and 27 days
Status: Preserved at the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum–New York, New York