The very first aircraft carrier in the world. The largest aircraft carrier in the world

The Navy is one of the main constituent parts armies of any power that has access to the seas and oceans. Many empires, such as Great Britain, built their power on a strong fleet capable of responding to any threat many thousands of kilometers from their native land.

Of course, modern warships are very different from their ancestors. The flagship of any flotilla today is an aircraft carrier group, which allows attacking and defending not only with the help of installed guns, but also with air groups placed on the decks.

The presence of aircraft imposes requirements on the size of ships. All aircraft carriers boast impressive volumes, but some of them stand out even against this background. In this article, we will talk about just such ships, and also answer the question: “What is the most large aircraft carrier in the world?".

First Place - Enterprise (United States of America)

This ship is the first representative of the aircraft carriers with a nuclear-powered engine. It was launched back in 1961, but still remains the largest ship in the world in its class. The cost of building the Enterprise cost the state $450 million. The high price was one of the reasons why this series of ships is limited to just one aircraft carrier, although several more such ships were originally planned.

The length of the ship is as much as 342 meters. It accommodates about 80 aircraft. The total crew of the aircraft carrier is more than three thousand people. Enterprise has 4 steam catapults. Half is located in front of the ship, and the other half - on the landing strips. With the help of catapults, the Enterprise is able to lift one plane into the air in a quarter of a minute.

On the contrary, the landing of air groups is carried out with the help of an arrester, which consists of four cables that are stretched in the underdeck and help the operation of special brake cylinders. In addition, the aircraft carrier has a nylon net that is capable of catching an aircraft if, due to unforeseen circumstances, it flies over the arresting position.

Runners-up - Nimitz (United States of America)

A more modern American aircraft carrier that also has a powerful nuclear engine. The first ship was launched in 1975. Production continued until 2009 when the last vessel entered service. In total, 10 such ships were created during this time. The length of the ship is 330 meters. These ships were actively used during several military conflicts, including in Yugoslavia and Iraq.

The cost of one ship is four and a half billion US dollars. The aircraft carrier carries 66 ships for various purposes (48 of them are multirole fighters). The nuclear reactor, which is installed in the ship, allows it to operate for about 25 years without replacement. The state spends about 160 million US dollars per year on the maintenance of one aircraft carrier.

Nimitz can be operated for more than 50 years. To date, all 10 ships carry military service.

Third place - Kitty Hawk (United States of America)

The aircraft carrier was launched in 1955. Its length is 325 meters. These are the first ships of their class that do not have a rich arsenal of artillery, instead of which missile systems are installed. Moreover, these are the last American aircraft carriers on which nuclear reactors were not installed. The aircraft carrier at the time of launching had all the modern electronics and sonar. The last ship of this line (there were four in total) was decommissioned in 2007.

Fourth place - Forrestal (United States of America)

Another American aircraft carrier, one of the largest. Its length is 320 meters. Forrestal was created for the needs of jet aircraft after the end of World War II, whose experience was taken into account when creating the ship. The first ship of the line was launched in 1955. Interestingly, this aircraft carrier was considered unlucky among American sailors and received many derisive nicknames due to the greater number of accidents associated with fires on the ship. As a result of one of them, about 135 people died.
The last ship in the line was decommissioned in 1993. It was sold at auction for one center, since there was no one willing to buy it, except for one single company.

Fifth place - John F. Kennedy (United States of America)

Named after the famous American President, this ship was launched in 1968. Its length is 320 meters. This ship belongs to the Kitty Hawk class. Just like other ships, he did not have nuclear engine(although the installation was originally planned). Instead, gas turbine equipment was used.

Most of the time, the aircraft carrier was in the Mediterranean Sea, performing various tasks there during the Cold War. The ship served for about 40 years and during this time has undergone several major repairs. In the fleet, the ship was not known as the most successful, as it experienced several collisions during its operation.

The largest accident occurred in 1975 as a result of a collision between a ship and a cruiser, which was almost completely destroyed by the impact.
John F. Kennedy was removed from service in 2007, a whole ceremony was organized to send him off.
The aircraft carrier also became a movie star. It is he who is depicted in the 2012 film falling on the White House.

6th place - Midway (United States of America)

This is not only a large aircraft carrier produced in the year of the end of World War II, but also the first heavy aircraft carrier in the US Navy. The ship was in operation for 50 years. During this time, he took part in several military operations of the country, including the Vietnamese and Iraqi.

He left the Midway service in 1992, and five years later a huge fleet museum was created on its basis. The length of the ship is 305 meters.

In addition, the ship participated in the famous rescue operation at the end of the Vietnam War, when the Viet Cong captured the capital of the southerners. In order to land a plane loaded with refugees fleeing the imminent massacre and the totalitarian regime, the crew of the aircraft carrier dropped the helicopters on board into the water, total cost over 10 million dollars. This operation entered the pages of US military glory.

Seventh place - Admiral Kuznetsov (USSR, Russian Federation)

The most powerful aircraft carrier in the USSR and in Russia. The ship was created in Nikolaev and received the name of the famous Soviet admiral. After the collapse of the USSR, he became part of the Russian Navy. Today he serves in the Northern Fleet. It houses fighter jets and anti-submarine helicopters.

The ship was laid down in 1982, and it was launched in 1985. It is interesting that at the time of the laying it was given the name "Riga", and at the time of the first descent - "Leonid Brezhnev". After the descent, work continued on the construction of the ship on the water. In 1989, the ship, still unfinished, went to sea for tests with aircraft. In 1990, construction was completed and the ship was renamed again.

It is currently passing overhaul. Already in the summer of this year, the ship is planned to sail to the Mediterranean Sea, most likely to the shores of the Syrian Arab Republic. The length of the ship is 300 meters.

Eighth place - Lexington (United States of America)

The oldest aircraft carrier on this list. In total, two ships of this type were produced, both took an active part in the beginning (for the USA) of World War II. One of the aircraft carriers was destroyed in the spring of 1942 during heavy fighting with the Japanese. The second ship, despite numerous damages, survived the wars and was sunk after participating in a nuclear test in 1946.

Lexington was able to accommodate 63 aircraft. Most of them were fighters, as well as reconnaissance aircraft. The aircraft carriers of this series appeared as a result of heated debates between American military experts. At that time there was a conflict between two opinions about the future of naval battles. One part of the specialists advocated the creation of coastal airfields and powerful battleships, as they believed that aircraft were not good enough at destroying ships. The other part insisted on the creation of powerful aircraft carrier groups, giving them a decisive role in future battles. As a result of the tests carried out with the help of captured German ships, the second point of view won, and, as confirmed by the Second World War, quite reasonable.

Ninth place - Varyag (USSR, Ukraine, China)

Another long aircraft carrier belonging to the Soviet Union. The history of the Varyag is indeed of interest. Its construction began in Nikolaev in 1986. Two years later, he was already launched, after which work continued on him already on the water. After the USSR ceased to exist, the ship went to the Ukrainian Navy, but since then it has not been used, cash injections into it have ceased, and the necessary repairs have not been carried out, so the ship has slowly degraded.

As a result, the Varyag was sold to a Chinese company for US$20 million, far below its actual value. The buyers said they planned to create on its basis Entertainment Center. However, later the ship was completed as a warship. It was renamed "Liaoning" and is now successfully performing combat missions as part of the Chinese Navy.

Tenth place - Shinano (Japan)

The longest Japanese aircraft carrier during World War II. Initially, it was built as a battleship, but after the first serious defeat against the American fleet in 1941, the Japanese command decided to rely on aircraft carrier groups, seeing the advantage American aircraft carriers had on the water.

The ship was completed after one year. At that time it was the most protected aircraft carrier. Particularly well protected were containers for storing aviation fuel, which, if hit by an enemy projectile, could destroy the entire ship.

Modern armed forces must be mobile - months-long campaigns on war elephants and half-year military galley expeditions are a thing of the past. Now, when the bill goes not even for days, but for hours, there is nothing more effective for armies than aircraft carriers. And the only thing better than an aircraft carrier is a large, very large aircraft carrier. In this material, "RG" will talk about ships that cause envy even among blue whales.

"Shinano"

The Japanese giant can hardly be attributed to the modern one, because in 1944 he sank safely during his first assignment. But what you should not doubt is its colossal, especially for that time, size. Its length was 266 meters, and its displacement was 68,060 tons. In order for you to realize the size of this hulk, imagine the Titanic. So this legendary liner was only three meters longer than the Sinano, and in terms of displacement it lost 10 thousand tons.

Initially, the Japanese was supposed to be the fourth in a series of Yamato-class battleships, but the designers' plans were redrawn by the Battle of Midway, where the Imperial Japanese Navy lost four brand new aircraft carriers and a whole group of smaller ships. The half-finished "Sinano" was decided to be converted as soon as possible into a vessel capable of carrying aircraft.

Haste made itself felt during the first and last battle of the giant. In November 1944, she was torpedoed by an American submarine. The watertight bulkheads had been installed incorrectly and were leaking, and the crew was inexperienced.

"Sinano" sank 7 hours after the attack and 17 hours after leaving the port.

"Varyag" or "Liaoning"

A giant with a very interesting and somewhat sad fate was laid down at a shipyard in Nikolaev in 1985, and launched already in 1988. Most technical devices was absent on the ship, and the overall readiness of the combat ship could be estimated at no higher than 60 percent. After the collapse of the USSR, it went to Ukraine, which until 1998 invested in it exactly as much money as was necessary to keep it afloat, no more.

In 1998, a giant with a length of 304.5 meters and a displacement of 59,500 tons was sold by official Kiev for a ridiculous amount of $ 20 million. The buyer was a private Chinese firm that announced its intention to turn the unfinished aircraft carrier into an amusement park and casino. But if there were such plans, then they were abandoned almost immediately: 20 million for the crown of the creation of Soviet designers is an insignificant price, so the PRC government nationalized the ship and completed it. Thus, by 2011, the People's Republic of China entered the pool of countries that have aircraft carriers in service.

"Admiral Kuznetsov"

The largest and most powerful aircraft carrier cruiser Europe and Asia began to be built in the same Nikolaev in 1982. Named after Nikolai Gerasimovich Kuznetsov, Admiral Soviet Union.

According to all its characteristics, the aircraft carrier was advanced: the deck was lengthened to allow the take-off and landing of the Su-25, Su-27 and MiG-29, and the hull was built in a unique way from blocks weighing up to 1400 tons. Aerofinishers, the optical landing system "Luna" and the side lifts of the aircraft first appeared on it. The length of the "Admiral" is more than three football fields, it is like the Eiffel Tower without a spire - 306 meters. At the same time, a whole small air army can be on such a colossus - 25 aircraft and 25 helicopters.

Unlike most standard aircraft carriers, the armament of the Admiral Kuznetsov is far from modest: 12 launchers 4K80 SCRC "Granit", 8 launchers "Kortik" with an arsenal of 256 missiles, 6 six-barreled 30-mm artillery mounts AK-630M for 48 thousand shells and 4 six-barrel launchers of the Kinzhal air defense system. Radar is also on top - the Beysur complex, Buran-2 and the Rezistor flight control radar station, and the Kuznetsov crew is almost 2000 sailors and officers. "Kuznetsov" is a real beauty and pride of Russia.

By 2015, the ship will replace all carrier-based Su-33 fighters with multifunctional MiG-29K. Until 2017, the ship will undergo a major overhaul.

"Nimitz"

This American Gulliver is named after Chester W. Nimitz, Commander-in-Chief of the US Pacific Fleet during World War II. The Nimitz aircraft carrier was laid down back in 1968 and became one of the first nuclear-powered ships of this type. power plant. Participated in the infamous failed special operation "Eagle's Claw" in 1980. In May 1981, an incident occurred on board: a landing Prowler fighter crashed, killing 14 people, and about 50 were injured.

The aircraft carrier has gigantic dimensions - 332 meters in length and a displacement of almost 100,000 tons. But these figures did not bring him success in 2008, when two Russian Tu-95MS teased the "floating fortress" as part of a training flight. One of them flew at an altitude of only 600 meters above the Nimitz, and even the F / A-18 fighters raised up in alarm did not embarrass our pilots.

"Enterprise"

More than half a century ago, in 1960, the CVN-65 Enterprise was launched, which still remains the longest warship of all time - 342 meters! Also, "Big E" became the world's first nuclear aircraft carrier, and the crew of this big man was a little less than 5,000 people. In total, it was planned to create 6 such ships, but the release of the first Enterprise, which cost $ 451 million, shook the US economy, so the rest of the ships in the project were abandoned.

The aircraft carrier has always been positioned as the pinnacle of the country's naval development and took part in all conflicts and wars of the Stars and Stripes. From the Caribbean crisis to the Vietnam War, from the confrontation between the North and South Korea to Yugoslavia and Iraq. Unpleasant incidents did not bypass him either, on January 14, 1969, due to the negligence of the crew, a rocket spontaneously exploded on one of the Phantom aircraft. The ensuing fire destroyed 15 more fighters, killing 27 people and injuring 349. In total, more than 100,000 people served on the aircraft carrier in 52 years.

The ship was decommissioned in 2012 and will be scrapped by 2015, despite numerous protests from former sailors who urged the government to turn the legendary ship into a floating museum.

10

It was built in 1994-1997 by the Spanish company Basan and is similar in design to the aircraft carrier Principe de Asturias, built earlier by the same company for the Spanish Navy.

It is used for patrolling the exclusive economic zone and search and rescue operations. Also among its tasks is the provision of air support, but in general, the combat capability of the ship is assessed as low due to lack of funding and rare access to the sea.

According to the media of both Thailand and many other countries, "Chakri Narubet" can be considered the largest royal yacht in the world, since during short trips to the sea, as a rule, members of the royal family are present on the ship, for which the aircraft carrier provides extensive apartments.

9

Electronic weapons include: AMS / Selex EMPAR multifunctional phased array radar, a long-range three-coordinate radar for detecting airborne targets, a radar for detecting air and surface targets of short and medium range, two 76-mm AU fire control radars, an aviation control radar, a navigation Radar, hydroacoustic station for navigation and mine detection, infrared lighting system, infrared system of all-round visibility, instrumental landing system aircraft on deck.

In addition to aircraft and helicopters, it can carry troops: 415 people, up to 100 units of wheeled vehicles, or 24 main battle tanks, or 50 heavy armored combat vehicles.

8

The aircraft carrier of the Brazilian Navy, the former aircraft carrier "Foch" type "Clemenceau" of the French Navy. It was laid down on February 15, 1957, launched on July 23, 1960, joined the French Navy on July 15, 1963. On November 15, 2000, it was transferred to the Brazilian Navy and, after repairs in February 2001, arrived in Brazil.

The power plant is a twin-shaft steam turbine. It consists of six Laval steam boilers and two Alstom turbines.

Total power - 126,000 liters. With.

7

The aircraft carrier was built on the basis of the heavy aircraft-carrying cruiser "Admiral Gorshkov" through a deep modernization. After a complete reconstruction, the ship changed its purpose: instead of an aircraft-carrying anti-submarine cruiser, the ship became a full-fledged aircraft carrier.

In November 2013, the solemn transfer of the Vikramaditya aircraft carrier (the former heavy aircraft carrier Admiral Gorshkov) to the Indian Navy took place in Severodvinsk. From November 26, the ship made the transition from Severomorsk to the Indian naval base Karwar. On January 8, 2014, the aircraft carrier Vikramaditya, without weapons and aircraft, arrived at the coast of Karnataka. The integration of the new ship into the Indian Navy took about four months. All this time, Russian warranty service specialists worked on the ship.

The composition of the air group has been determined: these are 14-16 MiG-29K aircraft, 4 MiG-29KUB aircraft (transferred to India on February 12, 2009), up to 8 Ka-28 helicopters, 1 Ka-31 helicopter, up to 3 HAL Dhruv (instead of 2 Ka-28) . Initially, pilots will be trained on an electronic simulator for naval aviation, and after a similar complex is put into operation, in India.

6

"Charles de Gaulle" - the flagship of the French Navy, the only operating aircraft carrier of the French Navy, the first French surface warship with a nuclear power plant. Among the aircraft carriers of other countries, excluding the United States, this is the second largest (after the Russian heavy aircraft carrier Admiral Kuznetsov) and the most combat-ready aircraft carrier.

Maximum capacity - up to 100 aircraft for up to 7 days. Launches can be made every 30 s. However, simultaneous takeoffs and landings are not provided for by the design.

Supports the L16 tactical radio standard for data exchange between military units, which can act as a command post. In this case, he can control fighter aircraft, send them target designation data, and assign combat missions.

5

The Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carriers are British aircraft carriers, also known under the code name CVF, being built to replace the current Invincible-class light aircraft carriers. There are currently two aircraft carriers under construction (HMS Queen Elizabeth and HMS Prince of Wales).

The development of the ship's mechanical structures was fully automated. The computer simulation tools were developed by QinetiQ. The design of the hull proceeded from the required 50-year service life of the ship. A feature of the hull was the presence of a springboard used for aircraft with a short takeoff. Since the service life of the F-35 aircraft is 20 years, it was decided to leave the possibility of converting the aircraft carrier into a smooth-deck, designed for horizontal take-off aircraft. The hull has nine decks, not counting the flight deck. The 85,000 tons of steel, worth the £65 million needed to build two aircraft carriers, are being supplied by Corus.

These ships are to be the largest ships ever built for the Royal Navy.

4

The Liaoning is the PLA's first and only aircraft carrier. It was laid down in 1985 at the shipyard in Nikolaev for the Soviet Navy as the second aircraft carrier of Project 1143.6. After the collapse of the USSR in 1992, the ship went to Ukraine and construction was stopped in 1998. Bought by China for $ 25 million officially for the purpose of organizing a floating entertainment center. Towed to China and completed as an aircraft carrier. September 25, 2012 joined the PLA Navy.

The design of the ship is close to the same type "Admiral of the Fleet of the Soviet Union Kuznetsov", most of the differences are in the used systems of combat and electronic weapons. According to reports, the launchers of the P-700 Granit anti-ship missiles in the bow of the aircraft carrier were dismantled, and the deck shafts for them were closed up to make more space for placing spare parts for aircraft and helicopters of the ship's air group.

3

"Admiral of the Fleet of the Soviet Union Kuznetsov" is a Project 1143.5 heavy aircraft-carrying cruiser, the only one in its class in the Navy of the Russian Federation. Designed to destroy large surface targets, protect naval formations from attacks by a potential enemy using aircraft carriers and a large number of submarines. "Admiral Kuznetsov" also has the task of supporting landing operations.

The aircraft carrier carries 12 4K-80 launchers for Granit heavy missiles. The aircraft carrier "Admiral Kuznetsov" is the only aircraft carrier in the world that can be in the Black Sea, since under the Montreux Convention the passage of "clean" aircraft carriers through the Bosporus and Dardanelles is prohibited, and the "Admiral Kuznetsov" has serious missile weapons and therefore is declared as " aircraft carrier cruiser.

On November 12, 2016, the carrier group began maneuvers in the eastern Mediterranean off the coast of Syria. On November 15, 2016, from the aircraft carrier, for the first time in the history of the Russian Navy, Su-33 aircraft began to strike at the positions of ISIS and Jabhat al-Nusra terrorists in the provinces of Idlib and Homs in Syria.

2 "Nimitz" (mustache)

In 1981, during discussions both within Congress and the Pentagon, it was decided to produce an improved Nimitz. In the end, 7 aircraft carriers of this type were built.

The first improved Nimitz aircraft carrier is considered to be Theodore Roosevelt, commissioned in 1986. In 1999 he participated in the NATO war against Yugoslavia.

1

The Gerald R. Ford-class aircraft carriers are a series of US multi-purpose nuclear aircraft carriers that have been under construction since 2009. Created as an improved version of the Nimitz-class aircraft carriers and differ from them, with comparable sizes and aircraft armament, reduced due to high degree automation, crew and, as a result, lower operating costs. In addition, the new aircraft carriers are distinguished by the introduction of a number of new technologies and design solutions, in particular, elements of stealth technology. The lead ship was laid down on November 14, 2009; it is planned to be commissioned in 2016. In addition to it, the construction of at least two ships is planned, as the Gerald R. Ford aircraft carriers are put into service, they will replace the Nimitz aircraft carriers.

As a means of air defense of self-defense, the ship is armed with Raytheon ESSM missiles with two 8-container launchers for 32 missiles each. The missiles are designed to deal with high-speed highly maneuverable anti-ship missiles. Short range systems include RAM anti-aircraft missiles manufactured by Raytheon and Ramsys GmbH.

The ship will use an improved system for storing and supplying ammunition and consumables with double-height storage facilities. The aircraft carrier's ammunition consists of missiles, artillery rounds, bombs and air-to-ground missiles for attack aircraft, torpedoes and depth charges for anti-submarine aircraft.

The largest warships can be safely called aircraft carriers. Already from the name it is clear why such a ship is needed - along with a large number of stationary weapons and military equipment it accommodates various types of combat aircraft and helicopters. Planes need a large area for acceleration - the runway, which is why all powerful aircraft carriers are huge. Every strong power strives to have at least one such ship in service to ensure independence on the world stage and respect from other countries. To date, only ten countries have such vessels in their composition.

The history of the creation and development of aircraft carriers

In 1910, for the first time, an American pilot was able to lift an aircraft from a cruiser. This year is considered the beginning of the birth of aircraft carriers. On the ship Birmingham, a special wooden elevation was installed, from which it was possible to accelerate and take off. One year later, the same pilot managed to land the aircraft on the ship, again equipped with a temporary enlarged platform. V next years the British joined in the development of such ships, they began to experiment with taking off from a moving ship. Initially, naval aviation was to be used only in reconnaissance expeditions.

The main difficulty for the engineers was to create a sufficient length of the runway. In 1915, American officers developed a special steam catapult to launch aircraft from a ship. Thanks to this, it became possible to launch aircraft equipped with military equipment. Later, electromagnetic ones were created, which made it possible to increase the size of aircraft and the volume of weapons. In addition to takeoff, there was a problem with landing, and the point here was not only in the skills of the pilots, but also in the length of the runway. During World War I, Britain began converting its merchant ships into ships with an enlarged deck. To slow down the aircraft, special devices began to be used, which have hardly changed to this day. This is on the ship for which the plane clung when it landed.

In 1922, Japan launched the first ship for the first time, originally designed as an aircraft-carrying cruiser, and not a conversion of another ship to an analogue. After 5 years, the United States was included in the list of countries with new warships with aircraft on board. In the same period, floating stations for seaplanes were actively used. Aviation took off and landed from the water, and with the help of special devices, the planes were raised or lowered on board the ship.

Period of the Great Patriotic War

During the Second World War, Great Britain had 7 aircraft carriers, France had 1 aircraft carrier, the USA had 8 and Japan had 6 units. This war is rightfully considered a war of naval battles. Japan and America already had full-fledged combat equipped aircraft carriers at that time. These countries have determined that the key to victory over the enemy will be not ordinary warships, but aviation. Sending a plane across the entire Pacific Ocean did not make sense. The cruisers described above served as an excellent way out. In February 1942, Japan was the first in the world to sink an American aircraft carrier. During the same period, in response to aggression, the US military launched aircraft from the Hornet and attacked Tokyo during Operation Doolittle Raid. This story formed the basis of the plot of the popular film "Pearl Harbor".

For the first time in the world in naval battles, ships were placed at long distances from each other and did not even see the enemy. Military operations were carried out with the help of an aircraft from an aircraft carrier. It was truly a war of two sea titans. At the end of the battles, the military power of the victorious countries did not stop the development of naval weapons. So, in 1945, for the first time, Great Britain landed a jet aircraft on board a ship. This led to a new push in the construction of aircraft carriers - a new sloping deck and a more powerful steam launch catapult were born. At that moment, the United States, England and France were considered the leading countries in the field of shipbuilding. In the post-war period, they also began to design ships for naval battles, where combat aircraft and helicopters were based, which were necessary for carrying out rescue operations.

Submarine aircraft carriers

During the years of World War II, Japan used submarines with an aircraft inside, which was disassembled there. It was a rather inconvenient weapon that required lengthy assembly and disassembly. However, in the third year of the war, the plane took off from a submersible and dropped two incendiary bombs on the Oregon region of America, hoping to start massive fires in the forest area. The tragedy was avoided, but the very appearance of the aggressor was sudden and seriously frightened the American authorities because it was not clear how an enemy plane could quietly enter American airspace. Similar submarines were also in service with England and France.

The next stage in the development of military developments was the war in Korea. The fighter jets that rose from the ship attacked ground targets in North Korea for the first time. In 1960, America launched the first aircraft carrier with a nuclear reactor. And just two months later, she informed the world about the second such vessel. The next important experiment was the circumnavigation of cruisers without refueling ashore. Today, aircraft carriers can make many years of autonomous stay in the ocean without the need to enter ports for refueling.

Russia also tried to keep up with other countries in terms of military equipment. Back in 1904, the ship "Rus", purchased from the Germans, was equipped with 8 balloons hot air balloon. However, the ship was not used in any and subsequent battles. After that, various developments of aircraft carriers were created, but none of these projects was ever implemented. During the First World War, several steamships were converted into hydro-aircraft carriers, but this technique could not be compared with the naval weapons of Britain and the United States.

In the Soviet Union, aircraft carriers were considered a weapon of aggression - in their opinion, a very vulnerable aggression. The main blows during combat clashes were applied precisely to them. The first was launched only in 1985 and entered service in Russia in 1991.

The modern carrier fleet of the world includes about 1250 aircraft and even more helicopters. At the same time, a significant part of them is based on American courts. In addition to aviation, the ships are equipped with multiple missile technology and air defense systems. The length of all aircraft carriers is from 182 to 342 meters. The hull of the ship is made of steel, its thickness reaches several centimeters. Under the runway are large hangars for storing planes and helicopters, as well as carrying out repairs. Aircraft are moved from deck to deck with the help of special cranes. Under the bottom of the hangars are engine rooms and other service premises. Considering that the main purpose of such ships is to ensure the takeoff and landing of aircraft, the command post, radar devices and antennas are located on a small so-called "island", which is almost always located on the starboard side. This is due to the fact that back in the early 20th century, British military researchers proved that in the event of an unsuccessful landing, all pilots automatically turn the plane to the left when trying to get to the second approach.

How many aircraft carriers are there in the world?

At the moment, there are only 22 ships of this class in the world. Let's take a closer look at the active types:

1. The first place in terms of the number of ships in service is, they include 11 aircraft carriers. As mentioned above, they include about 1000 aircraft, the length of each ship is from 250 to 331 meters, the speed is from 31 knots, the crew of each ship is from 2000 to 5000 people.
2. Further, in terms of the number of aircraft carriers, Italy and Spain are occupied - they each have 2 units of weapons in their composition;
3. The third place is occupied by countries with one such vessel. These are Russia, China, Brazil, France, Thailand, India and the UK.

In service with Russia is one heavy aircraft-carrying cruiser "Admiral Kuznetsov", its displacement is 70,500 tons, length - 304 meters. The vessel has 24 aircraft and 42 helicopters in its composition, the speed reaches 32 knots.

Quantity by country

• USA (11 ships) - Ford type (1 Gerald R. Ford ship) - in service since May 2017. Start of production - 2005, 8 years later launched with subsequent testing and completion. The predecessor of this ship was the legendary Enterprise, which served for over 40 years and participated in many military missions carried out by America. Now it is the largest aircraft carrier in the world, it took about 13 billion dollars to build it - accordingly Gerald R. Ford is also the most expensive aircraft carrier in the world.
  Type "" (10 ships) - ships with a nuclear reactor, also owned by the United States. In 1975, the first copy was put into operation, and by 2009 the tenth. Ships of this class were widely used in armed clashes in the territory of the former Yugoslavia and in Iraq. The cost of each such aircraft carrier cruiser is about $4.5 billion.
• Italy (2 ships) - "Cavour" - has been in the fleet since 2007, has 8 aircraft and 12 helicopters on board, the length of the vessel is 244 m, the speed is 30 knots.
  "Giusepe Garibaldi" - another flagship of the Italian fleet, launched in 1983, has a length of 180 m, a speed of 30 knots.
• India (1 ship) - The Indian aircraft carrier Vikramaditya was purchased from Russia in 2013. Former name "Admiral Gorshkov". The length is 274m, the maximum speed is 32 knots, it can accommodate up to 20 aircraft and about 10 helicopters. In 2018 and 2023, 2 more aircraft-carrying cruisers are planned to be commissioned into the country's Navy.
• China (1 ship) - The Chinese aircraft carrier Liaoning was purchased from Ukraine in 2012 for $20 million. Former name "Varangian". Its length is 304 m, aviation includes 24 fighters and 12 helicopters.
• Spain (2 ships) - The aircraft carrier "Juan Carlos" is in service with the Spanish Navy, has been in service since 2010, is 230 meters long, has up to 30 aircraft and helicopters.
• France (1 ship) - The nuclear-powered aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle is the flagship of the French military forces. It was put into operation in 2001, the dimensions are 261m in length, it includes up to 40 aircraft.
• Brazil (1 ship) - "Sao Paulo" - the aircraft carrier has been in operation since 2001, the length is 265 meters, includes 14 aircraft and 11 helicopters;
• Thailand (1 ship) - represented by the Chakri Narubet aircraft carrier - has the smallest size among existing analogues, the length is 182 meters, the aviation group consists of 14 aircraft and 12 helicopters. Operated since 1997.
• Great Britain (1 ship) - type "Illastries" - one of the oldest active aircraft carriers, participated in the Second World War. Length 205 m, armed with 33 aircraft. Currently, new aircraft carriers are being prepared for launch, which should replace the current copy.
• Russia (1 ship) "Admiral Kuznetsov", the last in the list, but not in terms of importance and power. Used since 1991, length 270m, number of aircraft: 50 aircraft and helicopters. Below we consider it in more detail.

Comparison of the best aircraft carriers in the world

Consider the ten most powerful and largest aircraft carriers in the world in the entire history of the existence of these ships. Let's take a closer look at each of them.

• Enterprise (USA) - this large nuclear aircraft carrier rightfully takes first place. It was put into operation back in 1961, over the next 50 years there was no replacement for this fighting monster. In the middle of the 20th century, it was planned to build five more of the same ships, however, given the too high cost of the ship, it was decided to leave it in a single copy. Thanks to nuclear fuel, it can be autonomous in the ocean for up to 13 years. The largest aircraft carrier in the world has a length of 342.3 meters, can accommodate up to 80 aircraft, the crew consists of 3,000 people. The nuclear-powered ship includes four steam catapults, which allow you to launch aircraft one after another in 15 seconds each. Four cables were installed on the runway to help the brake cylinders function. Also, the ship is equipped with a special nylon mesh, which, if there are problems when braking the aircraft, will be able to catch it and prevent an accident. The ship took part in the wars with Cuba, Vietnam and Iraq. In 2012, he was withdrawn from the US Navy. After another 5 years, the legendary aircraft carrier Enterprise was decommissioned. Instead, he received a new ship, Gerald R. Ford, who plans to enter service with the US Navy by 2020. Before this period, the ship will make several trips to the open sea to confirm its combat readiness. The ship cost the country about 13 billion dollars, it is the most expensive aircraft carrier in the world. In terms of its armament, the ship does not differ from its predecessor, however, it significantly exceeds it in terms of automation, which makes it possible to reduce the number of crew. New technologies were also used to ensure the invisibility of the ship when it tries to detect it using radar.
• Nimitz (USA) is another example of a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, the first of which was produced in 1975. The release continued until 2009. Currently, the United States has 10 such ships in service. Its length is 330 meters. Such vessels were actively used during the period of hostilities in Yugoslavia and Iraq. The cost of the ship is about 4.5 billion dollars. Nuclear reactor allows the ship to be in autonomous navigation for about 25 years. The period of operation is 50 years.
• (USA) - the first such aircraft carrier was launched back in 1955. The length was 325 meters. To date, ships of this configuration are no longer in service with any country in the world. However, the ship still ranks third in the list of the largest aircraft carriers in the world.
• (USA) - the length of the aircraft carrier is 320 meters, the instance is known for a large number of fire accidents that occurred on board. As a result of one of these tragedies, 135 people burned to death. Withdrawn from service in 1993.
• John F. Kennedy (USA) - the aircraft carrier is also 320 meters long and was decommissioned by the US Navy in 2007. The ship served for about 40 years, carrying out tasks mainly in the Mediterranean Sea. During his service he suffered several sea collisions.
• (USA) - length is 305 meters, was produced in 1945, was the first heavy American aircraft carrier. Since 1992, it has been decommissioned, today it serves as a museum of the fleet.
• Admiral Kuznetsov (USSR-RF) - the ship was built in the city of Nikolaev in 1985, today it is in service with the Northern Fleet of the Russian Navy, the length of the aircraft carrier cruiser is 300 meters.
• Lexington (USA) - a ship during World War II, but was sunk in 1946 after nuclear tests were carried out with it.
• Cruiser Varyag / Liaoning (USSR-Ukraine-China) - was launched in 1988 in Nikolaev. During the collapse of the Union, construction continued on board. Accordingly, the ship became the property of Ukraine, but the repair work during this period was stopped. The unfinished aircraft carrier was subsequently sold to China for $20 million. Today it is in service with the Chinese Navy.
• Shinano (Japan) - was built in 1942 and participated in the war against America. The length of the ship was 266m - until the end of the 50s of the last century, it was the largest aircraft carrier in the world. In November 1944, during the battle with the American military, the ship was flooded, and with it 1,435 crew members.

Latest developments

According to experts, one of the latest innovations in the field of the Navy is the development of submarine aviation of the Russian Federation. Russia's first Project 941-bis nuclear submarine aircraft carrier is rumored to be ready by 2020. The idea of ​​such a vessel has been developed since 1991 at the Rubinovsky project of transport submarines. Today on the Internet you can find a layout of such a submarine. However, this Submarine and its device are strictly classified, it is not possible to find out the real dates of commissioning. One thing is for sure - if it is put into operation - it will be the best aircraft carrier in the world and the only nuclear submarine with fighters on board.

As can be seen from the list of the largest aircraft-carrying cruisers in the world of all time, the undeniable leading place in this type of weapon is occupied by US aircraft carriers. Aircraft carriers are an important attribute in the naval forces of any country, at the same time they are one of the most vulnerable ships in large-scale battles. Such ships are indispensable in the conduct of hostilities with countries that do not have modern nuclear weapons. In the event of aggression from a power of equal power, aircraft carriers will remain an important, but not the main component in the conduct of hostilities.

The Gerald R. Ford-class aircraft carriers are the successor to the Nimitz-class aircraft carriers. It is expected that a total of 9-10 new aircraft carriers of this class will be built. These will be the largest and most powerful warships ever built. These aircraft carriers will be the main striking force of the US Navy throughout the 21st century.

The hull design of the Ford class is similar to that of the Nimitz class. The new aircraft carriers will have a smaller, redesigned island and be equipped with more automated and efficient surveillance and control systems. It will be able to carry an air group of 85 aircraft, helicopters or unmanned aerial vehicles. It will include F-35 JSF and F/A-18E/F, EA-18g, E-2D Advanced electronic warfare aircraft, MH-60R and MH-60S helicopters.

2. Nimitz (USA)

A total of 10 aircraft carriers of this class were built, including 3 from the original design and 7 from the improved design. These were the largest warships of their time. With a nuclear power plant, they can carry 80 aircraft and helicopters, mainly F/A-18E/F, EA-6B Prowlers electronic warfare aircraft, E-2C Hawkeye early warning aircraft and MH-60R and MH-60S helicopters.

The Nimitz class have automated systems self-defense against cruise anti-ship missiles through the integration and coordination of weapons systems and electronic warfare.

3. Admiral Kuznetsov (Russia)

Commissioned by the Russian Navy in 1991, the Admiral Kuznetsov is smaller than American aircraft carriers but carries more powerful offensive weapons.

The absence of a catapult excludes the launch of aircraft with heavy strike weapons. This warship carries about 40 aircraft and helicopters, including the Su-33 and MiG-29K, various versions of the Ka-27 shipborne helicopters.

Admiral Kuznetsov is a heavy aircraft-carrying cruiser, not just an aircraft carrier. It carries a number of offensive weapons, it is worth noting 12 × PU SCRC "Granit".

4. Liaoning (China)

The Varyag was the second Kuznetsov-class ship to come off the stocks in the city of Nikolaev, now in Ukraine. It was laid down in 1985 and launched in 1988, after the collapse of the Soviet Union, funding for the construction of the ship stopped. The unfinished hull was eventually sold to China, where it was restored and refitted.

This aircraft carrier was commissioned by the Chinese Navy in 2012 under the name "Liaoning". "Liaoning" can carry up to 50 aircraft and helicopters. After repairs, the Chinese ship lost all offensive heavy weapons of the Admiral Kuznetsov class. It now only carries short-range defensive weapons.

5. Queen Elizabeth (Great Britain)

Aircraft carriers of the type "Queen Elizabeth" in the amount of 2 ships should be part of Royal Navy of Great Britain by 2020. The first aircraft carrier was laid down in 2009 and is now being completed afloat.

Sistership "Prince of Wales" is planned to be commissioned by 2020. These new aircraft carriers will be the largest warships ever built for the Royal Navy. They will be able to carry more than 40 aircraft and helicopters. Their main armament will be F-35B STOVL aircraft and CH-47 Chinook, Merlin and Lynx Wildcat helicopters.

6. Charles de Gaulle (France)

This is a relatively modern nuclear ship. It entered service with the French Navy in 2001. She is currently the flagship of the French Navy. It's the only one nuclear aircraft carrier built outside of the United States.

"Charles de Gaulle" can carry more than 40 aircraft and helicopters. The air group consists of 30 Rafale multi-role fighters, there are also E-2C Hawkeye radar warning aircraft, helicopters are represented by SA 365F Dauphin or AS 322 Cougar.

A second ship was planned, but due to a lack of funding, construction never began.

7. Vikramaditya (India)

Featured in our Top 10 Carriers of the World by the Indian Navy, Vikramaditya, this light aircraft carrier is a modified and refitted former Kiev-class aircraft carrier. One of the ships of this class, after refitting at Sevmash, was sold to India.

"Vikramaditya" can carry about 30 aircraft and helicopters, including MiG-29KU and MiG-29KUB, Ka-31 helicopters. The maximum air group consists of 30 aircraft and 6 helicopters.

8. Sao Paulo (Brazil)

Sao Paulo is a Clemenceau-class aircraft carrier. It was originally commissioned into the French Navy in 1963, under the name "Foch". The ship was sold to Brazil in 2000 where she became the new flagship of the Brazilian Navy.

Sao Paulo can carry up to 40 planes and helicopters. However, this aircraft carrier currently serves mainly for pilot training. Its offensive capabilities are limited.

9. Cavour, Italy

Cavour is a light aircraft carrier, it was commissioned in 2008. It is currently the new flagship of the Italian Navy. This modern warship is designed to operate V / STOL F-35 aircraft and helicopters, and can serve as a command center.

"Cavour" carries more than 20 aircraft and helicopters. Currently, V-8B Harrier IIs are taking off from it. In the future, they will be replaced by Lockheed Martin F-35B, helicopters are represented by O-101, NH-90 and SH-3D.

It can carry main battle tanks and amphibious vehicles in an aircraft hangar. It also accommodates a regiment of 325 Marines.

10. Chakri Narubet (Thailand)

The aircraft carrier "Chakri Narubet" was built in Spain. It was commissioned by the Royal Thai navy in 1997.

It can carry about 30 planes and helicopters. The air group includes AV-8S Matador aircraft and S-70B Seahawk, Sea King or CH-47 Chinook helicopters.

However Chakri Naruebet lacks defensive armaments. primary anti-aircraft armament was not installed including an 8-cell VLS launcher for Sea Sparrow missiles and four Vulcan Phalanx CIWS mounts. This vessel is protected by simply Mistral short-range infrared homing missiles.