Jan. 28, 2019

The First Test of an Independent Carrier Task Force

Editor's note: "Why We Do What We Do" is an initiative CNO Richardson asked the Naval History and Heritage Command to help share with the fleet. Each month, our historians will dissect a seminal moment in our Navy's past and then highlight the lessons we learned. The purpose, is to ground today's Sailors in their history and heritage by explaining

April 12, 2015

Evolution of the Aircraft Carrier

Aircraft carriers are often revered as the "powerhouse of the fleet" because of their size, strength, capabilities and importance to our national security. For nearly 100 years, the aircraft carrier has continued to evolve alongside the technological advancements of our Navy.The U.S. Navy's first aircraft carrier, USS Langley (CV 1), was converted

July 12, 2014

U.S. Navy Catapult Anniversary Highlights Strides in Carrier Aviation

On this day in 1916, the first catapult designed for shipboard use successfully completed calibration launching a Curtiss AB-3 from the deck of the armored cruiser North Carolina making the ship the first to be equipped to carry aircraft. Since then, U.S. Navy aircraft carrier launching technology has evolved, from hydraulics to steam-powered

March 20, 2014

America's First Aircraft Carrier - USS Langley (CV 1)

The aircraft carrier. Without a doubt, one of the most impressive ships to sail the sea, a floating city loaded with aircraft that can be launched to attack ships or shore, from nearly anywhere in the world. As with many great things, the origins of the aircraft carrier came from a more humble beginning. When the keel was laid for the