An aircraft carrier is truly a unique and remarkable ship. It is a ship that is capable of projecting power from any part of the world. When an aircraft carrier enters an area, allies feel more secure, and enemies fear it. What is the main purpose of it? The aircraft carrier's job is to launch aircraft without the necessity of an air base.
The history of the aircraft carrier began just a couple of years after the Wright Brothers first took on the skies. In 1910, the United States Navy used the cruiser USS Birmingham and successfully launched the first plane from this ship. There were several challenges that engineers and innovators faced when it comes to launching, landing, and storing aircraft in a ship. By 1918, the British Navy found a way to launch and land airplanes to a ship. The HMS Argus officially became the first aircraft carrier was ever built and sailed the world.
As the world entered into World War II, the importance of aircraft carriers were not really on top of the list. Aircraft carriers were only seen as support ships to the mighty and colossal battleships that ruled the seas. Then on the fateful day of December 7, 1942, the United States was attacked by Japanese Imperial Forces at Pearl Harbor. The base was devastated. All eight of the battleships in the Pacific Fleet were damaged. Four of the battle ships were sunk because of enemy fire. Who was the main culprit? The attacking forces were 350 plus airplanes launched from six aircraft carriers. As World War II progressed, the significance and value of the aircraft carrier was truly highlighted. With the battleships badly damaged, the US Navy managed to turn the tide of the war against Japan with its aircraft carriers.
Years of warfare and innovation have led to advances in aircraft carrier technology. Today's aircraft carriers make the aircraft carriers of World War II look puny. The largest aircraft carriers of World War II were about 824ft and 9 inches long. Their tonnages were about 25,500 tons when fully loaded. Today's Nimitz and Gerald Ford Class carriers are bigger, pack more firepower, and nuclear. They are about 1,902 ft. long and are 106,300 long tons heavy. They have an unlimited range because their nuclear engines do not need refueling. They are absolutely magnificent and colossal. These are the main ships that protect our freedom and the nation's interests. With these ships currently under our arsenal, American superiority on the high seas is secured.
Sources:
"The Pearl Harbor Attack, 7 December 1941." The Pearl Harbor Attack, 7 December 1941. Web. 20 May 2014.
The history of the aircraft carrier began just a couple of years after the Wright Brothers first took on the skies. In 1910, the United States Navy used the cruiser USS Birmingham and successfully launched the first plane from this ship. There were several challenges that engineers and innovators faced when it comes to launching, landing, and storing aircraft in a ship. By 1918, the British Navy found a way to launch and land airplanes to a ship. The HMS Argus officially became the first aircraft carrier was ever built and sailed the world.
As the world entered into World War II, the importance of aircraft carriers were not really on top of the list. Aircraft carriers were only seen as support ships to the mighty and colossal battleships that ruled the seas. Then on the fateful day of December 7, 1942, the United States was attacked by Japanese Imperial Forces at Pearl Harbor. The base was devastated. All eight of the battleships in the Pacific Fleet were damaged. Four of the battle ships were sunk because of enemy fire. Who was the main culprit? The attacking forces were 350 plus airplanes launched from six aircraft carriers. As World War II progressed, the significance and value of the aircraft carrier was truly highlighted. With the battleships badly damaged, the US Navy managed to turn the tide of the war against Japan with its aircraft carriers.
Years of warfare and innovation have led to advances in aircraft carrier technology. Today's aircraft carriers make the aircraft carriers of World War II look puny. The largest aircraft carriers of World War II were about 824ft and 9 inches long. Their tonnages were about 25,500 tons when fully loaded. Today's Nimitz and Gerald Ford Class carriers are bigger, pack more firepower, and nuclear. They are about 1,902 ft. long and are 106,300 long tons heavy. They have an unlimited range because their nuclear engines do not need refueling. They are absolutely magnificent and colossal. These are the main ships that protect our freedom and the nation's interests. With these ships currently under our arsenal, American superiority on the high seas is secured.
Sources:
"The Pearl Harbor Attack, 7 December 1941." The Pearl Harbor Attack, 7 December 1941. Web. 20 May 2014.