Editing Aircraft carrier (section)

===Postwar era===
[[File:Arromanches (R95) with Hellcat landing c1953.jpg|alt=|thumb|An [[Grumman F6F Hellcat|F6F-5]] landing on the French ''[[French aircraft carrier Arromanches (R95)|Arromanches]]'' in the [[Tonkin Gulf]], 1953]]
[[File:USS Tripoli LPH10 a.jpg|thumb|USS ''Tripoli'', a [[United States Navy|U.S. Navy]] ''Iwo Jima''-class helicopter carrier]]
[[File:USS Enterprise (CVN-65) underway in the Atlantic Ocean on 14 June 2004 (040614-N-0119G-020).jpg|thumb|{{USS|Enterprise|CVN-65}}, the world's first nuclear-powered carrier, commissioned in 1961]]

Before World War II, international naval treaties of [[Washington Naval Treaty|1922]], [[London Naval Treaty|1930]], and [[Second London Naval Treaty|1936]] limited the size of capital ships, including carriers. Since World War II, aircraft carrier designs have increased in size to accommodate a steady increase in aircraft size. The large, modern {{sclass|Nimitz|aircraft carrier|4}} of US Navy carriers has a displacement nearly four times that of the World War II–era {{USS|Enterprise|CV-6|6}}, yet its complement of aircraft is roughly the same—a consequence of the steadily increasing size and weight of individual military aircraft over the years. Today's aircraft carriers are so expensive that some nations which operate them risk significant economic and military impact if a carrier is lost.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.japcc.org/will-the-aircraft-carrier-survive/|title=Will the Aircraft Carrier Survive?; Future Air Threats to the Carrier (and How to Defend It)|last=Cochran|first=Daniel|year=2018|publisher=Joint Air Power Competence Centre (japcc.org)|access-date=7 June 2020|archive-date=25 July 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200725013658/https://www.japcc.org/will-the-aircraft-carrier-survive/|url-status=live}}</ref>

[[File:USS Forrestal explosion 29 July 1967.jpg|thumb|Fighting the fire on board [[1967 USS Forrestal fire|USS ''Forrestal'']], 1967]]
Some changes were made after 1945 in carriers:
* The '''angled flight deck''' was invented by [[Royal Navy]] Captain (later Rear Admiral) [[Dennis Cambell]], as naval aviation jets' higher speeds required carriers be modified to fit their needs.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.denniscambell.org.uk/4663/4690.html|title=The Angled Deck Story|work=denniscambell.org.uk|year=2012|access-date=9 November 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304070012/http://www.denniscambell.org.uk/4663/4690.html|archive-date=4 March 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.fleetairarmoa.org/fleet-air-arm-oa-history|title=History of Fleet Air Arm Officers Association|work=FAAOA.org|year=2015|access-date=9 November 2015|archive-date=25 February 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210225040019/https://www.fleetairarmoa.org/fleet-air-arm-oa-history|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal|title=Innovation in Carrier Aviation|author2-link=Norman Friedman|first1=Thomas C.|last1=Hone|first2=Norman|last2=Friedman|first3=Mark D.|last3=Mandeles|journal=Newport Paper 37|publisher=Naval War College Press|year=2011}}; abridged findings published as {{cite journal|title=The Development of the Angled-Deck Aircraft Carrier|journal=Naval War College Review |date=Spring 2011|volume=64|number=2|pages=63–78}}</ref> Additionally, the angled flight deck allows for simultaneous launch and recovery.
* [[Jet blast deflector]]s became necessary to protect aircraft and handlers from [[jet blast]]. The first US Navy carriers to be fitted with them were the wooden-decked {{sclass|Essex|aircraft carrier|1}}s which were adapted to operate jets in the late 1940s. Later versions had to be water-cooled because of increasing engine power.{{sfn|Hobbs|2009|loc=Chapter 14}}
* [[Optical landing system]]s were developed to facilitate the very precise landing angles required by jet aircraft, which have a faster landing speed giving the pilot little time to correct misalignments, or mistakes. The first system was fitted to {{HMS|Illustrious|87|6}} in 1952.{{sfn|Hobbs|2009|loc=Chapter 14}}
* Aircraft carrier designs have increased in size to accommodate continuous increase in aircraft size. The 1950s saw US Navy's commission of "supercarriers", designed to operate naval jets, which offered better performance at the expense of bigger size and demanded more ordnance to be carried on-board (fuel, spare parts, electronics, etc.).
* The combination of increased carrier size, speed requirements above {{convert|30|kn|mph kph}}, and a requirement to operate at sea for long periods mean that modern large aircraft carriers often use nuclear reactors to create power for propulsion, electricity, catapulting airplanes from aircraft carriers, and a few more minor uses.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.world-nuclear.org/information-library/non-power-nuclear-applications/transport/nuclear-powered-ships.aspx|title=Nuclear-Powered Ships &#124; Nuclear Submarines|website=world-nuclear.org|access-date=11 September 2019|archive-date=25 September 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190925073832/https://www.world-nuclear.org/information-library/non-power-nuclear-applications/transport/nuclear-powered-ships.aspx|url-status=live}}</ref>

Modern navies that operate such aircraft carriers treat them as [[capital ship]]s of fleets, a role previously held by the galleons, ships-of-the-line and [[battleship]]s. This change took place during World War II in response to air power becoming a significant factor in warfare, driven by the superior range, flexibility and effectiveness of carrier-launched aircraft. Following the war, carrier operations continued to increase in size and importance, and along with, carrier designs also increased in size and ability. Some of these larger carriers, dubbed by the media as "supercarriers", displacing 75,000&nbsp;tons or greater, have become the pinnacle of carrier development. Some are powered by [[nuclear reactor]]s and form the core of a fleet designed to operate far from home. Amphibious assault ships, such as the {{sclass|Wasp|amphibious assault ship|5}} and {{sclass|Mistral| amphibious assault ship|5}} classes, serve the purpose of carrying and landing Marines, and operate a large contingent of helicopters for that purpose. Also known as "commando carriers"<ref>A number of British conversions of light fleet carriers to helicopter operations were known as commando carriers, though they did not operate landing craft</ref> or "helicopter carriers", many have the capability to operate [[VSTOL]] aircraft.

The threatening role of aircraft carriers has a place in modern [[asymmetric warfare]], like the [[gunboat diplomacy]] of the past.{{citation needed|date=November 2022}} Carriers also facilitate quick and precise projections of overwhelming military power into such local and regional conflicts.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://archive.navytimes.com/article/20110508/NEWS/105080307/Navies-expanding-use-of-aircraft-carriers|title=Navies expanding use of aircraft carriers|first=Slobodan|last=Lekic|work=Navy Times|date=8 May 2011|access-date=15 November 2015|archive-url=http://archive.wikiwix.com/cache/20151117114109/http://archive.navytimes.com/article/20110508/NEWS/105080307/Navies-expanding-use-of-aircraft-carriers|archive-date=17 November 2015}}</ref>

Lacking the firepower of other warships, carriers by themselves are considered vulnerable to attack by other ships, aircraft, submarines, or missiles. Therefore, an aircraft carrier is generally accompanied by a number of other ships to provide protection for the relatively unwieldy carrier, to carry supplies, re-supply (Many carriers are self-sufficient and will supply their escorts) and perform other support services, and to provide additional offensive capabilities. The resulting group of ships is often termed a [[carrier strike group]], battle group, carrier group, or [[carrier battle group]].

There is a view among some military pundits{{who|date=December 2020}} that modern anti-ship weapons systems, such as torpedoes and missiles, or even ballistic missiles with nuclear warheads have made aircraft carriers and carrier groups too vulnerable for modern combat.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://www.usni.org/magazines/proceedings/2011-05/twilight-uperfluous-carrier|first1=Henry J.|last1=Hendrix|first2=J. Noel|last2=Williams|title=Twilight of the $UPERfluous Carrier|magazine=[[Proceedings (magazine)|Proceedings]]|date=May 2011|volume=137|publisher=U.S. Naval Institute|access-date=15 November 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151117065242/http://www.usni.org/magazines/proceedings/2011-05/twilight-uperfluous-carrier|archive-date=17 November 2015|url-status=live}}</ref>

Carriers can also be vulnerable to diesel-electric submarines like the German ''U24'' of the conventional [[Type 206 submarine|206 class]] which in 2001 "fired" at the [[USS Enterprise (CVN-65)|''Enterprise'']] during the exercise ''JTFEX 01-2'' in the [[Caribbean Sea]] by firing [[flare]]s and taking a photograph through its [[periscope]]<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.t-online.de/nachrichten/militaer-special/id_61572852/militaer-deutsches-u-boot-fordert-us-marine-heraus-.html|publisher=t-online|title=Deutsches U-Boot fordert US-Marine heraus|date=6 January 2013|access-date=18 December 2020|language=de|archive-date=1 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201101174945/https://www.t-online.de/nachrichten/militaer-special/id_61572852/militaer-deutsches-u-boot-fordert-us-marine-heraus-.html|url-status=live}}</ref> or the Swedish [[HSwMS Gotland (Gtd)|Gotland]] which managed the same feat in 2006 during ''JTFEX 06-2'' by penetrating the defensive measures of [[Carrier Strike Group 7]] which was protecting {{USS|Ronald Reagan}}.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.knbc.com/news/10116514/detail.html?psp=news |publisher=KNBC|title=Pentagon: New Class of Silent Submarines Poses Threat|date=19 October 2006|access-date=21 July 2006|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071116120858/http://www.knbc.com/news/10116514/detail.html|archive-date=16 November 2007}}</ref>