Aircraft carriers are the largest warships ever built. Carriers serve as mobile bases for many kinds of aircraft. Some carriers are designed for conventional aircraft, which would normally require a long runway. Conventional aircraft are launched from a carrier deck with the aid of a catapult. When the aircraft land, a device called a tail hook lowered from the rear of the plane catches one of the steel cables stretched across the deck. Only the Brazilian, French, Russian and U.S. navies had conventional aircraft carriers in the mid- 1990's.

This aircraft is rounding up to land on the short
runway. The long stick under the engine is the tail hook.

Other carriers can serve as abase only for V/STOL aircraft stands for vertical/ short take-off and landing. Several navies have V/STOL carriers. Helicopters fly from both types of carriers.

Most carriers are armed with guns and missiles for short-range defence, but they depend on their depend on their aircraft and other warships for protection. Russian carriers are more heavily armed than carriers in other fleets.