Timeline for aircraft carrier service

Aircraft carriers have their origins during the days of World War I. The earliest experiments consisted of fitting temporary "flying off" platforms to the gun turrets of the warships of several nations, notably the United States and the United Kingdom. The first ship to be modified with a permanent flight deck was the battlecruiser , which initially had a single flying-off deck forward of the original superstructure. Subsequently, she was modified with a separate "landing on" deck aft and later with a full flush deck. Other ships, often liners, were modified to have full flush flight decks, being the first to have such modification begun. Those first faltering steps gave little indication of just how important the aircraft carrier was to prove to be. During the inter-war years (between the World Wars), Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States built up significant carrier fleets so that by the beginning of World War II, they had 18 carriers between them. The 1940 Battle of Taranto and 1941 Attack on Pearl Harbor in retrospect showed the world that the aircraft carrier was to be the most important ship in the modern fleet. Today, aircraft carriers are the capital ships of the navies they serve in, and in the case of modern US "supercarriers", they embark an air group that is effectively a small air force.

This timeline is an attempt to provide a unified chronology of key dates in carrier service. Aircraft carriers often serve their navies for many decades and this chronology enables the reader to track the progress of the carrier as it has developed alongside the evolution of aircraft for nearly a hundred years.

Pre-carrier history

1849
* On 12 July 1849, the Austrian Navy ship was used for launching incendiary balloons. A number of small Montgolfiere hot air ballons were launched with the intention of dropping bombs on Venice. Although the attempt largely failed due to contrary winds which drove the balloons back over the ship, one bomb did land on the city.

1907
* The British Admiralty, according to legend, politely refused the Wright brothers' offer to sell them one or more aircraft, by saying that they could see no place for aviation in naval circles.Australian Naval Aviation Museum (1998), p.2

1910
* 14 November – First successful launch of an aircraft from a ship, using a temporary wooden platform for a flight deck on the stationary cruiser .''The early years'', USN official web site

1911
* 18 January – First deck landing, using a temporary wooden platform on the at anchor ; first use of a tailhook-arrested landing system.

1912
* 10 January – First launch of an aircraft from a British ship, Charles Samson flies off a platform fixed to the front of the stationary battleship .Sturtivant (1990), p.8
* 2 May – First recorded flight from a moving ship, Samson flies off , steaming at 10.5 knots.Sturtivant (1990), p.215 Then in June, Samson flies off .

World War I

1914
* 28 June – Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand; World War I begins.
* 31 October – First aircraft carrying ship to be sunk in action, (former cruiser) seaplane carrier sunk by ''U-27''.Chesneau (1998), p.79
* 25 December – Attack on Cuxhaven, the first attack from the sea upon a land target using aircraft (seaplanes carried to within range to bomb the Zeppelin sheds at Cuxhaven).

1915
* 12 August – First attack using an air-launched torpedo, from a Short Type 184 seaplane flown by Flight Commander Charles H. K. Edmonds from seaplane carrier .269 Squadron History: 1914–1923
* 5 November – First catapult launch of an aircraft from a ship, .H. M. Friedman and A. K. Friedman (2006)

1916
* 31 May – First use of an aeroplane during a battle at sea, the Battle of Jutland.Fleet Air Arm Officers' Association web site
* August – Incomplete Italian liner ''Conte Rosso'' purchased by the Royal Navy for completion and conversion to an aircraft carrier, .Chesneau (1998), pp.89–90

1917
* February – Incomplete large light cruiser has its forward gun replaced with a flying-off deck.''HMS Furious 1917'', RN official web site

* 2 August – First aircraft landing aboard a moving ship, HMS ''Furious''; this ship was subsequently modified with a stern-mounted landing deck in late 1917.
* 21 August – First air-to-air kill from a ship-launched aircraft, Zeppelin L23 shot down by a Sopwith Pup from cruiser .
* 2 December – HMS ''Argus'' launched.

1918
* 15 January – laid down;Chesneau (1998), pp.92–93 ''Hermes'' was the first ship specifically designed to be built as an aircraft carrier and the first carrier to feature an island superstructure.
* 28 February – Incomplete Chilean battleship ''Almirante Cochrane'' purchased by the Royal Navy to be completed as the carrier .Chesneau (1998), pp.95–96
* 8 June – HMS ''Eagle'' launched.
* 9 July – First strike by aircraft launched from a carrier, the Tondern raid, an attack by British aircraft from ''Furious'' against a German airship base in northern Germany.
* 14 September – HMS ''Argus'' commissioned.
* 11 November – Armistice signed, signalling the end of WWI.

Between the wars

1919
* 11 July – authorised to be converted to a carrier.
* 11 September – HMS ''Hermes'' launched.
* 16 December – laid down, possibly as the tanker ''Hiryu''.Chesneau (1998), pp.157–158

1920–1929

1920

* 21 April – USS ''Jupiter'' renamed .
* 1 November – U.S. Navy sinks during an exercise testing aerial bombardment.
* 6 December – laid down as battlecruiser.Chesneau (1998), pp.159–160

1921
* 13 November – ''Hōshō'' launched.

1922
* 6 February – Washington Naval Treaty limiting naval forces signed.
* HMS ''Furious'' flush-deck conversion begun.
* Spanish seaplane carrier is commissioned in the Spanish Navy.
* 20 March – USS ''Langley'' commissioned.
* 1 July – Battlecruisers and reclassified to be completed as carriers.
* 27 December – ''Hōshō'' commissioned.

1923

* July – HMS ''Hermes'' commissioned
* August – Conversion of the French to an aircraft carrier started.Chesneau (1998), pp61-75
* and ''Akagi'' conversions from battlecruiser to aircraft carrier begun.Chesneau (1998), pp.161–162

1924
* 26 February – HMS ''Eagle'' commissioned.
* June – Light cruiser carrier conversion started.Chesneau (1998), pp.97–99

1925


* Light cruiser carrier conversion started.
* 7 April – USS ''Saratoga'' launched.
* 22 April – ''Akagi'' launched.
* 1 July – First night deck landing made by F/Lt Boyce flying a Blackburn Dart onto HMS ''Furious''
* September – HMS ''Furious'' re-enters service with flush flight deck.
* 3 October – USS ''Lexington'' launched.

1926
* 6 May – First night deck landing, aboard .Sturtivant (1990), p.12

1927
* 25 March – ''Akagi'' commissioned
* May – ''Béarn'' commissioned.
* 16 November – USS ''Saratoga'' commissioned.
* 14 December – USS ''Lexington'' commissioned.

1928

* 5 May – HMS ''Courageous'' commissioned as a carrier; first carrier to be fitted with transverse arrestor gear (friction-based).Sturtivant (1990), p.14
* 31 March – ''Kaga'' commissioned.

1929
* 26 November – laid down.Chesneau (1998), pp.163–164

1930–1939

1930
* 10 March – HMS ''Glorious'' recommissioned as an aircraft carrier.
* March – HMS ''Argus'' placed in reserve.Sturtivant (1990), p.17

1931
* 2 January – First carrier fitted with hydraulic arresting gear, HMS ''Courageous''.
* 2 April – ''Ryūjō'' launched.
* 26 September – laid down.

1933

* 25 February – USS ''Ranger'' launched.
* 9 May – ''Ryūjō'' commissioned.

1934

* 21 May – laid down.
* 4 June – USS ''Ranger'' commissioned.
* 16 July – laid down.Chesneau (1998), pp.206–210
* 20 November – laid down.Chesneau (1998), pp.165–166

1935
* 9 September – First landing of a rotary winged aircraft aboard a carrier – a Cierva autogyro onto HMS ''Furious''
* 16 September – laid down.Chesneau (1998), pp.100–103
* 21 December – ''Sōryū'' launched.

1936
* 15 January – Japan exits the Washington Naval Treaty.
* 1 April – laid down.
* 4 April – USS ''Yorktown'' launched.
* 8 July – laid down.
* 3 October – USS ''Enterprise'' launched.
* 25 October – USS ''Langley'' taken in hand for conversion to a seaplane tender.
* 28 December – ''Flugzeugträger A'' (''Graf Zeppelin'') laid down.Chesneau (1998), pp.76–77

1937

* 29 January – ''Sōryū'' commissioned.
* 26 February – USS ''Langley'' recommissioned as a seaplane tender.
* 13 April – HMS ''Ark Royal'' launched.
* 27 April – laid down.Chesneau (1998), pp.103–107
* 4 May – laid down.
* 17 June – laid down.
* 30 September – USS ''Yorktown'' commissioned.
* 10 November – laid down.
* 16 November – ''Hiryū'' launched.
* 12 December – laid down.Chesneau (1998), pp.171–172

1938

* ''Takasaki'' carrier conversion started.Chesneau (1998), pp.169–171
* ''Flugzeugträger B'' laid down.Emmerlich, R, ''Kriegsmarine Ships: Aircraft Carrier''
* 12 May – USS ''Enterprise'' commissioned.
* 25 May – laid down.
* 8 December – ''Graf Zeppelin'' launched.
* 16 December – HMS ''Ark Royal'' commissioned; first carrier with deck armour.

1939

* 21 February – laid down.Chesneau (1998), pp.128–129
* 4 April – USS ''Wasp'' launched.
* 5 April – HMS ''Illustrious'' launched.
* 1 June – ''Shōkaku'' launched.
* 26 June – laid down.Chesneau (1998), pp.117–118
* 5 July – ''Hiryū'' commissioned.
* 17 August – HMS ''Formidable'' launched.

World War II

1939

* 1 September – Germany invades Poland, World War II begins.
* 14 September – HMS ''Victorious'' launched.
* 17 September – HMS ''Courageous'' sunk in action.
* 25 September – laid down.
* 26 September – First Allied air victory in WWII, a Dornier Do 18 shot down by Blackburn Skua of 803 Squadron from HMS ''Ark Royal''.
* 27 November – ''Zuikaku'' launched.
* 3 November – laid down.

1940
* Conversion of ''Izumo Maru'' to carrier started, renamed ''Hiyō''.Chesneau (1998), pp.175–176
* ''Kashiwara Maru'' carrier conversion started, renamed ''Jun'yō''.
* HMS ''Argus'' recommissioned as training and transport carrier.
* 28 February – German ''Flugzeugträger B'' cancelled while under construction.
* 26 March – HMS ''Indomitable'' launched.
* 25 April – USS ''Wasp'' commissioned.
* May – ''Graf Zeppelin'' construction temporarily suspended.
* 25 May – HMS ''Illustrious'' commissioned; first fully armoured carrier.
* June – ''Béarn'' interned at Martinique.
* 18 June – HMS ''Glorious'' sunk in action.
* 21 June – Attack on ''Scharnhorst'', first ever torpedo attack by aircraft on a capital ship at sea.Birch
* 25 June – France falls to Germany.
* 11 November – Battle of Taranto is the first carrier-based torpedo-bomber attack.
* 24 November – HMS ''Formidable'' commissioned.
* 14 December – USS ''Hornet'' launched.
* 27 December – conversion of ''Takasaki'' completed, commissioned as ''Zuihō''.

1941
* Submarine tender ''Tsurugisaki'' carrier conversion started.
* Italian passenger liner ''Roma'' carrier conversion started, renamed ''Aquila''Chesneau (1998), p.153
* 28 April – laid down.Chesneau (1998), pp.220–231
* May – Incomplete passenger liners '' Kasuga Maru'', '' Yawata Maru'' and ''Nitta Maru'' carrier conversions started.Ireland (2007), p.119
* 1 May – laid down as light cruiser .Chesneau (1998), pp.232–236
* 26 May – German battleship ''Bismarck'' disabled by aircraft launched from . ''Bismarck'' is later sunk by battleships.
* 15 May – HMS ''Victorious'' commissioned.
* 24 June – ''Hiyō'' launched.
* 26 June – ''Junyō'' launched.

* 10 July – ''Taihō'' laid down.Chesneau (1998), pp.179–180
* 15 July – laid down.
* 8 August – ''Shōkaku'' commissioned.
* 2 September – ''Kasuga Maru'' carrier conversion completed.
* 15 September – laid down; ''Kasuga Maru'' commissioned as ''Taiyō''Chesneau (1998), pp.173
* 25 September – ''Zuikaku'' commissioned.
* 10 October – HMS ''Indomitable'' commissioned.
* 20 October – USS ''Hornet'' commissioned.
* 13 November – HMS ''Ark Royal'' sunk in action.

* 20 November – HMS ''Unicorn'' launched.
* 1 December – , laid down.
* 7 December – Japan attacks Pearl Harbor naval base in Hawaii and in Philippines; as a result United States enters World War II.
* 20 December – Submarine tender ''Taigei'' carrier conversion started.

1942
* 26 January – ''Tsurugisaki'' carrier conversion completed, commissioned as ''Shōhō''.
* February – carrier conversion started by Japan.
* 16 February – Light cruisers and reclassified for completion as carriers.''DANFS'', United States Navy
* 27 February – USS ''Langley'' sunk in action.
* 16 March – laid down as light cruiser.
* 18 March – laid down.

* 27 March – Light cruisers and reclassified for completion as carriers; ''Huntington'' renamed .
* 31 March – USS ''Tallahassee'' renamed , USS ''New Haven'' renamed , USS ''Dayton'' renamed .
* 9 April – HMS ''Hermes'' sunk in action.
* 11 April – Originally intended as light cruiser , laid down.
* May – ''Béarn'' demilitarised; ''Graf Zeppelin'' construction resumed
* 4 May – Battle of the Coral Sea commences – first carrier-to-carrier naval engagement in history, and first naval engagement where neither fleet directly fired upon nor came within sight of the other fleet.
* 5 May – ''Jun'yō'' commissioned.
* 7 May – ''Shōhō'' sunk in action.

* 8 May – USS ''Lexington'' sunk in action; Battle of the Coral Sea ends.
* 31 May – ''Yawata Maru'' carrier conversion completed, commissioned as ''Unyō''.
* June – Incomplete ''Yamato''-class battleship ''Shinano'' carrier conversion started.
* 1 June – laid down,Chesneau (1998), pp.129–133 and laid down.
* 2 June – USS ''Wilmington'' re-designated for completion as carrier.
* 4 June – Battle of Midway commenced, generally considered to be the most important naval battle in the Pacific during World War II; ''Akagi'', ''Kaga'', ''Sōryū'' severely damaged in action, with ''Kaga'' and ''Sōryū'' subsequently scuttled.
* 5 June – ''Hiryū'' sunk in action, ''Akagi'' scuttled.
* 7 June – USS ''Yorktown'' sunk in action; Battle of Midway ended.
* 16 June – USS ''Cabot'' renamed .
* 23 June – USS ''Wilmington'' renamed .

* 31 July – ''Hiyō'' commissioned; USS ''Essex'' launched.
* 1 August – laid down.Chesneau (1998), pp.182–184
* 3 August – laid down.
* 11 August – HMS ''Eagle'' sunk in action.
* 22 August – USS ''Independence'' launched.
* 24 August – ''Ryūjō'' sunk in action.
* 27 August – laid down.
* 31 August – laid down; ''Kasuga Maru'' reclassified as warship;

* 15 September – USS ''Wasp'' sunk in action.
* 26 September – USS ''Bon Homme Richard'' renamed ; USS ''Lexington'' launched.
* 1 October – laid down.
* 18 October – USS ''Princeton'' launched.
* 24 October – laid down.Chesneau (1998), pp.134–139
* 26 October – laid down.
* 27 October – USS ''Hornet'' sunk in action.
* 8 November – laid down.
* 12 November – laid down.''HMAS Vengeance'', Sea Power Centre
* 13 November – USS ''Crown Point'' renamed , USS ''Oriskany'' renamed .

* 25 November – ''Nitta Maru'' carrier conversion completed, renamed and commissioned as ''Chūyō''.
* 28 November – ''Taigei'' carrier conversion completed, renamed and commissioned as ''Ryūhō''.Chesneau (1998), pp.177–178
* 2 December – laid down, subsequently renamed HMS ''Mars''.
* 3 December – laid down.
* 6 December – USS ''Belleau Wood'' launched.
* 7 December – laid down, USS ''Bunker Hill'' launched.
* 8 December – ''Katsuragi'' laid down; HMS ''Indefatigable'' launched.
* 10 December – HMS ''Implacable'' launched; ''Argentina Maru'' carrier conversion started.
* 12 December – laid down.
* 15 December – laid down.

* 31 December – USS ''Essex'' commissioned.

1943
* 6 January – laid down.
* 14 January – USS ''Independence'' commissioned.
* 15 January – laid down.
* 17 January – USS ''Cowpens'' launched.
* 21 January – USS ''Yorktown'' launched.
* 22 January – USS ''Kearsarge'' renamed .
* 26 January – ''Chitose'' carrier conversion started; laid down.
* 27 January – laid down.
* 30 January – USS ''Reprisal'' renamed ; ''Graf Zeppelin'' construction stopped and project cancelled.
* February – SS ''Scharnhorst'' acquired to be completed as ''Shinyo''.
* 1 February – and laid down.
* 17 February – USS ''Lexington'' commissioned.

* 25 February – USS ''Princeton'' commissioned.
* 28 February – USS ''Monterey'' launched.
* March – ''Chiyoda'' carrier conversion started.
* 12 March – HMS ''Unicorn'' commissioned.
* 15 March – and laid down.
* 31 March – USS ''Belleau Wood'' commissioned.
* 4 April – USS ''Cabot'' launched.
* 7 April – ''Taihō'' launched.
* 14 April – ''Kasagi'' laid down.
* 15 April – laid down;Hall (1982), p.69 USS ''Yorktown'' commissioned.
* 19 April – laid down.''HMAS Sydney (III)'', Sea Power Centre
* 26 April – USS ''Intrepid'' launched.
* 1 May – USS ''Hancock'' renamed , USS ''Ticonderoga'' renamed .
* 3 May – laid down.
* 10 May – laid down.
* 22 May – USS ''Langley'' launched.
* 24 May – USS ''Bunker Hill'' commissioned.
* 28 May – USS ''Cowpens'' commissioned.
* 8 June – ''Aso'' laid down.

* 17 June – USS ''Monterey'' commissioned.
* 30 June – ''Béarn'' transferred to the Free French forces.
* 5 July – ''Ikoma'' laid down.
* 24 July – USS ''Cabot'' commissioned.
* 29 July – laid down.''A-Z list of the Aircraft Carriers'', fleetairarmarchive.net
* 1 August – USS ''Bataan'' launched.
* 16 August – USS ''Intrepid'' commissioned.
* 17 August – USS ''Wasp'' launched.
* 30 August – USS ''Hornet'' launched.
* 31 August – USS ''Langley'' commissioned.
* September – Incomplete carrier ''Aquila'' taken over by Germany after Italian surrender, but never completed
* 13 September – laid down.
* 14 September – laid down.
* 25 September – ''Unryū'' launched.
* 26 September – USS ''San Jacinto'' launched.
* 30 September – HMS ''Colossus'' launched.Chesneau (1998), p.134
* 12 October – laid down.
* 14 October – USS ''Franklin'' launched.
* 15 October – ''Amagi'' launched.
* 18 October – laid down.
* 27 October – laid down.
* 31 October – ''Chiyoda'' carrier conversion completed, recommissioned.Chesneau (1998), pp.167–168
* 15 November – ex-SS ''Scharnhorst'' commissioned as ''Shinyo''; USS ''San Jacinto'' commissioned.
* 17 November – USS ''Bataan'' commissioned.

* 23 November – ''Argentina Maru'' carrier conversion completed, commissioned as ''Kaiyo''.Chesneau (1998), p.178
* 24 November – USS ''Wasp'' commissioned.
* 27 November – HMS ''Glory'' launched, laid down.
* 29 November – USS ''Hornet'' commissioned.
* 1 December – laid down.Chesneau (1998), pp.255–260
* 4 December – ''Chūyō'' sunk in action.
* 30 December – HMS ''Venerable'' launched.

1944

* 1 January – ''Chitose'' carrier conversion completed, commissioned.
* 19 January – ''Katsuragi'' launched.
* 24 January – USS ''Hancock'' launched.
* 31 January – USS ''Franklin'' commissioned.
* 7 February – USS ''Ticonderoga'' launched.
* 21 February – laid down.
* 23 February – HMS ''Vengeance'' launched.
* 24 February – USS ''Shangri-La'' launched.
* 26 February – USS ''Bennington'' launched.
* 1 March – , laid down.
* 7 March – ''Taihō'' commissioned.
* 23 March – laid down.Chesneau (1998), pp.140–145McCart (1990)
* 25 March – First deck landing by a twin engined aircraft, a Mosquito on HMS ''Indefatigable''.
* 26 March – HMS ''Edgar'' launched.
* 15 April – USS ''Hancock'' commissioned.
* 29 April – USS ''Bon Homme Richard'' launched.
* 1 May – laid down.

* 3 May – HMS ''Indefatigable'' commissioned.
* 8 May – USS ''Ticonderoga'' commissioned.
* 20 May – HM Ships ''Mars'' and ''Warrior'' launched.
* 30 May – laid down.
* 19 June – ''Shōkaku'' and ''Taihō'' sunk in action.
* 20 June – ''Hiyō'' sunk in action.
* 21 June – laid down as (construction suspended at end of WWII).
* 28 June – USS ''Randolph'' launched.
* 1 July – laid down.
* 6 July – HMS ''Theseus'' launched.
* 8 July – HMS ''Ocean'' launched;
* 10 July – and laid down.
* 6 August – ''Unryū'' commissioned; USS ''Bennington'' commissioned.
* 10 August – ''Amagi'' commissioned.
* 18 August – ''Taiyō'' sunk in action.
* 19 August – laid down.
* 20 August – USS ''Antietam'' launched.
* 21 August – laid down.
* 28 August – HMS ''Implacable'' commissioned.
* 7 September – laid down.
* 15 September – USS ''Shangri-La'' commissioned; HMS ''Furious'' decommissioned, placed in reserve.Chesneau (1998), pp.85–88
* 16 September – ''Unyō'' sunk in action.
* 30 September – HMS ''Terrible'' launched.
* 2 October – HMS ''Triumph'' launched.''Colossus Class Light Fleet Aircraft Carriers''
(archived link, 3 December 2008)

* 8 October – ''Shinano'' launched.Chesneau (1998), p.185
* 9 October – USS ''Randolph'' commissioned.
* 15 October – ''Katsuragi'' commissioned.
* 19 October – ''Kasagi'' launched, never completed and broken up after the war.
* 24 October – USS ''Princeton'' sunk in action.
* 25 October – ''Chitose'', ''Chiyoda,'' ''Zuihō'' and ''Zuikaku'' sunk in action.
* 1 November – ''Aso'' launched, never completed and broken up after the war.
* 2 November – USS ''Lake Champlain'' launched.
* 16 November – HMS ''Magnificent'' launched.
* 17 November – ''Ikoma'' launched, never completed and broken up after the war; ''Shinyo'' sunk in action.
* 18 November – USS ''Valley Forge'' (CV-45) launched.
* 19 November – ''Shinano'' commissioned.
* 21 November – USS ''Valley Forge'' (CV-37) renamed .
* 26 November – USS ''Bon Homme Richard'' commissioned.
* 29 November – ''Shinano'' sunk in action.
* December – HMS ''Argus'' designated an accommodation ship.
* 14 December – USS ''Boxer'' launched.

* 16 December – HMS ''Colossus'' commissioned.
* 19 December – ''Unryū'' sunk in action.

1945
* 15 January – HMS ''Vengeance'' commissioned.
* 28 January – USS ''Antietam'' commissioned.
* 8 February – HMS ''Mars'' commissioned as .
* 27 February – HMS ''Powerful'' launched (construction suspended at end of WWII).
* 28 February – HMS ''Majestic'' launched.
* 17 January – HMS ''Venerable'' commissioned.
* March – ''Ryūhō'' severely damaged by US air attack.
* 20 March – USS ''Midway'' launched.
* 2 April – HMS ''Glory'' commissioned.
* 9 April – Escort carrier ''HMS Biter'' returned to U.S. Navy, immediately transferred to France, recommissioned as ''Dixmude''.
* 16 April – USS ''Boxer'' commissioned.

* 20 April – ''Ryūhō'' placed in reserve.
* 25 April – Incomplete ''Graf Zeppelin'' scuttled by Germany.Murfett (2008), p.435
* 29 April – USS ''Coral Sea'' launched.
* 5 May – USS ''Kearsarge'' launched.
* 7 May – Nazi Germany surrenders.
* 8 May – USS ''Crown Point'' renamed , USS ''Coral Sea'' renamed .
* 12 May – USS ''Tarawa'' launched.
* 10 May – laid down.Chesneau (1998), pp.140–146
* 3 June – USS ''Lake Champlain'' commissioned.
* 7 June – HMS ''Leviathan'' launched (ship never completed).
* 8 July – USS ''Princeton'' and USS ''Saipan'' launched.
* 24 July – ''Amagi'' heavily damaged during air raid.''KIDO BUTAI!'', Combinedfleet.com
* 25 July – ''Kaiyo'', having been damaged in action the previous day, is deliberately grounded and later refloated.
* 28 July – ''Kaiyo'' further damaged in action, settles on bottom with 20-degree list to port.
* 29 July – Attempts to refloat ''Kaiyo'' abandoned.
* 29 July – ''Amagi'' capsized.
* 6 August – U.S. nuclear strike on Hiroshima.
* 8 August – HMS ''Ocean'' commissioned.
* 9 August – Last of caretaker crew leave ''Kaiyo''; U.S. nuclear strike on Nagasaki.
* 12 August – USS ''Reprisal'' canceled.
* 15 August – Japan surrenders; WWII ends.

Post-war 1945–1949

1945


* USS ''Reprisal'' (incomplete) launched to clear slipway.
* 8 July – USS ''Valley Forge'' (CV-45) launched.
* 23 August – USS ''Leyte'' launched.
* 1 September – USS ''Wright'' launched.
* 5 September – USS ''Philippine Sea'' launched.
* 10 September – USS ''Midway'' commissioned.
* 22 September – HMS ''Hercules'' launched, laid up for possible future use.
* 13 October – USS ''Oriskany'' launched; ''Katsuragi'' assigned to repatriation duty.
* 19 October – HMS ''Edgar'' renamed and commissioned as .
* 27 October – USS ''Franklin D. Roosevelt'' commissioned.
* 18 November – USS ''Princeton'' commissioned.
* 20 November – ''Kaiyo'' decommissioned.
* 30 November – ''Junyō'' and ''Ryūhō'' decommissioned.
* 3 December – First landing by a jet-powered aircraft on a carrier, .Sturtivant (1990), p.216
* 8 December – USS ''Tarawa'' commissioned.

1946
* ''Ryūhō'' sold for scrap.
* HMS ''Unicorn'' decommissioned and placed in reserve;
* January – HMS ''Audacious'' renamed .
* 9 February – HMS ''Theseus'' commissioned.
* March – ''Graf Zeppelin'' refloated by the Soviet Union, repaired, and designated "PO-101" (Floating Base Number 101).
* 2 March – USS ''Kearsarge'' commissioned.
* 14 Mar – HMS ''Warrior'' commissioned as HMCS ''Warrior''.
* 19 March – HMS ''Eagle'' launched.
* April – ''Katsuragi'' placed on standby.
* 2 April – USS ''Coral Sea'' launched.
* 11 April – USS ''Leyte'' commissioned.

* 9 May – HMS ''Triumph'' commissioned.
* 11 May – USS ''Philippine Sea'' commissioned.
* 1 July – USS ''Independence'' and USS ''Saratoga'' used during a Bikini Atoll atomic test; both ships were damaged, but survived the test.
* 14 July – USS ''Saipan'' commissioned.
* 21 July – FH Phantom became the first purely jet-powered aircraft to operate from an American aircraft carrier.
* 25 July – USS ''Saratoga'' sunk by an underwater atomic bomb test at Bikini Island.
* 6 August – HMS ''Colossus'' renamed ''Arromanches'' and loaned to France.
* 16 August – ''Hōshō'' decommissioned.
* 28 August – USS ''Independence'' decommissioned.
* September – First helicopter landing aboard a naval escort vessel at sea.
* 1 September – Hulk of ''Kaiyo'' sold for scrap.
* 18 October – USS ''Ranger'' decommissioned.
* 3 November – USS ''Valley Forge'' commissioned.
* 8 November – USS ''Bennington'' decommissioned, placed in reserve.
* 15 November – ''Katsuragi'' decommissioned.
* December – HMS ''Indefatigable'' decommissioned.

* December – HMS ''Argus'' sold for scrap.
* 19 December – First Indochina War begins.
* 22 December – ''Katsuragi'' sold for scrap.

1947
* HMS ''Indomitable'' and HMS ''Formidable'' placed in reserve.
* HMS ''Majestic'' and HMS ''Terrible'' purchased by Australia.
* ''Junyō'' sold for scrap.
* 9 January – USS ''Essex'', USS ''Yorktown'', USS ''Bon Homme Richard'', USS ''Bunker Hill'', and USS ''Ticonderoga'' decommissioned, placed in reserve.
* 13 January – USS ''Belleau Wood'' and USS ''Cowpens'' decommissioned, placed in reserve.
* 15 January – USS ''Hornet'' decommissioned, placed in reserve.
* 28 January – USS ''Ranger'' sold for scrap.

* 9 February – USS ''Wright'' commissioned.
* 11 February – USS ''Cabot'', USS ''Monterey'', USS ''Langley'', and USS ''Bataan'' decommissioned, placed in reserve.
* 17 February – USS ''Lake Champlain'', USS ''Enterprise'', USS ''Franklin'', and USS ''Wasp'' decommissioned, placed in reserve.
* 1 March – USS ''San Jacinto'' decommissioned, placed in reserve.
* 22 March – USS ''Intrepid'' decommissioned, placed in reserve.
* April – HMS ''Venerable'' decommissioned, placed in reserve.Naval-History.net
* 22 April – HMS ''Centaur'' launched.
* 23 April – USS ''Lexington'' decommissioned, placed in reserve.
* 30 April – ''Hōshō'' sold for scrap.
* 6 May – HMS ''Albion'' launched.
* 9 May – USS ''Hancock'' decommissioned, placed in reserve.
* 16 August – ''Graf Zeppelin'' sunk in target practice by the Soviet Union.
* 12 August – USS ''Oriskany'' construction suspended.

* 1 October – USS ''Coral Sea'' commissioned.
* 7 November – USS ''Shangri-La'' decommissioned, placed in reserve.

1948
* January – HMS ''Furious'' sold for scrap.
* 25 February – USS ''Randolph'' decommissioned, placed in reserve.
* 21 March – HMS ''Magnificent'' loaned to Canada and commissioned as .Chesneau (1998), pp.58–60
* 23 March – HMS ''Warrior'' returned to UK.
* May – HMS ''Venerable'' sold to Netherlands.Chesneau (1998), pp.188–189
* 28 May – HMS ''Venerable'' recommissioned as HNLMS ''Karel Doorman''.
* 20 June – USS ''Princeton'' decommissioned, placed in reserve.
* 22 June – HMS ''Bulwark'' launched.
* 24 June – Soviet blockade of Berlin increased tensions in what would become the Cold War between NATO-allied nations and the Warsaw Pact.
* 27 October – USS ''Cabot'' recommissioned.
* November – HMS ''Warrior'' recommissioned, fitted with a rubber deck for trials.
* 16 December – HMS ''Terrible'' commissioned as .

1949
* HMS ''Unicorn'' recommissioned as transport carrier.
* ''Dixmude'' converted for use as a transport.
* 18 April – laid down.
* 4 April – NATO alliance formed.
* 23 April – USS ''United States'' cancelled.
* 21 June – USS ''Antietam'' decommissioned, placed in reserve.
* 30 June – USS ''Tarawa'' decommissioned, placed in reserve.
* 2 August – USS ''Reprisal'' (incomplete) sold for scrap.

1950–1959

1950
* HMS ''Indomitable'' recommissioned; HMS ''Indefatigable'' recommissioned as a training ship.
* 3 May – HMS ''Ark Royal'' launched.
* 13 May – USS ''Bataan'' recommissioned.
* June – USS ''Oriskany'' construction resumed.
* 16 June – USS ''Kearsarge'' decommissioned, taken in hand for modernisation.
* 25 June – Korean War begins.
* 28 August – USS ''Princeton'' recommissioned.
* 15 September – USS ''Monterey'' recommissioned.
* 25 September – USS ''Oriskany'' commissioned.

1951

* ''Aquila'' sold for scrap
* ''Arromanches'' purchased by France.
* January – USS ''Langley'' loaned to France.
* 15 January – USS ''Bon Homme Richard'' recommissioned.
* 16 January – USS ''Essex'' recommissioned.
* 17 January – USS ''Antietam'' recommissioned.
* 29 January – USS ''Independence'' sunk in weapons tests.
* 3 February – USS ''Tarawa'' recommissioned.
* 20 March – USS ''Hornet'' recommissioned.
* 10 May – USS ''Shangri-La'' recommissioned.
* 12 May – USS ''Hornet'' decommissioned for conversion to CVA.
* 6 June – USS ''Langley'' recommissioned as ''La Fayette''.
* July – First trials of a steam catapult, on .Sturtivant (1990), p.178
* 31 July – launched, first small ship designed to carry a helicopter.
* 10 September – USS ''Wasp'' recommissioned as CVA.
* 1 October – HMS ''Eagle'' commissioned.

1952
* First trial of angled flight deck, on .
* First trial of mirror landing aid, on .Sturtivant (1990), p.179
* 9 February – USS ''Intrepid'' recommissioned.
* 15 February – USS ''Kearsarge'' recommissioned.
* 31 January – USS ''Ticonderoga'' recommissioned.
* 4 April – USS ''Ticonderoga'' decommissioned for conversion to CVA.
* 9 April – USS ''Intrepid'' decommissioned for conversion to CVA.
* 23 April – HMS ''Powerful'' sold to Canada, work recommenced.
* 14 July – laid down.
* 19 September – USS ''Lake Champlain'' recommissioned.
* October – USS ''Boxer'' reclassified CVA.
* 13 November – HMS ''Vengeance'' loaned to Australia, recommissioned as HMAS ''Vengeance''; USS ''Bennington'' recommissioned as CVA.
* 14 November – USS ''Shangri-La'' decommissioned for modernisation.
* 16 December – laid down.

1953
* HMS ''Formidable'' sold for scrap.
* HMS ''Unicorn'' decommissioned, placed in reserve.
* 16 February – HMS ''Hermes'' launched.
* 20 February – USS ''Yorktown'' recommissioned.
* May – HMS ''Indomitable'' sold for scrap.
* 15 May – USS ''Bon Homme Richard'' decommissioned, commenced extensive refit.
* 1 July – USS ''Randolph'' recommissioned.
* 27 July – Korean War fighting ends with the Korean armistice agreement.
* 1 September – HMS ''Centaur'' launched.
* 5 September – USS ''Belleau Wood'' loaned to France.

* 5 September – USS ''Belleau Wood'' recommissioned as ''Bois Belleau''.
* 11 September – USS ''Hornet'' recommissioned.

1954
* HMS ''Perseus'' decommissioned, placed in reserve.Bishop & Chant (2004), p.51
* Mid-1954 – HMS ''Implacable'' and HMS ''Indefatigable'' decommissioned.
* 15 February – USS ''Hancock'' recommissioned as CVA.
* 9 April – USS ''Bataan'' decommissioned, placed in reserve.
* 23 April – USS ''Franklin D. Roosevelt'' decommissioned for modernisation.
* 26 May – HMS ''Albion'' commissioned.
* 18 June – USS ''Intrepid'' recommissioned in reserve.
* 1 August – First Indochina War ends.
* 2 August – laid down.
* September – HMS ''Pioneer'' decommissioned and sold for scrap;
* 11 September – USS ''Ticonderoga'' recommissioned after modernisation.

* 15 October – USS ''Intrepid'' returned to full commission.
* 4 November – HMS ''Bulwark'' commissioned.
* December – HMS ''Illustrious'' decommissioned.
* 11 December – USS ''Forrestal'' launched.

1955
* 10 January – USS ''Shangri-La'' recommissioned.
* 21 January – USS ''Cabot'' decommissioned, placed in reserve.
* 25 February – commissioned, incorporating an angled flight deck, two steam catapults, and a mirror landing system.
* 6 April – USS ''Franklin D. Roosevelt'' recommissioned with angled flight deck, steam catapult and hurricane bow.
* 14 May – Warsaw Pact formed.
* July – USS ''Midway'' decommissioned for modernisation.
* 1 July – laid down.
* 13 August – HMS ''Vengeance'' returned to UK.
* 15 August – USS ''Lexington'' recommissioned as CVA.
* 6 September – USS ''Bon Homme Richard'' recommissioned.
* 29 September – USS ''Forrestal'' commissioned.
* 8 October – USS ''Saratoga'' launched.
* 25 October – HMAS ''Vengeance'' decommissioned.
* 26 October – HMS ''Majestic'' christened as HMAS ''Majestic''.Cassells (2000), p.84

* 28 October – HMAS ''Majestic'' renamed and commissioned as ;''HMAS Melbourne (II)'', Sea Power Centre HMS ''Vengeance'' recommissioned in reserve.
* November – HMS ''Implacable'' sold for scrap.
* 1 November – ''Clemenceau'' (France) laid down.
* 15 November – USS ''Boxer'' reclassified as CVS.

1956
* HMS ''Indefatigable'' sold for scrap.
* HMS ''Glory'' decommissioned, placed in reserve.
* 16 January – USS ''Monterey'' decommissioned, placed in reserve.
* 15 March – USS ''Wright'' decommissioned, placed in reserve.
* 13 April – USS ''Hancock'' decommissioned.
* 14 April – USS ''Saratoga'' commissioned.
* 26 September – USS ''Ranger'' launched.
* 29 October – Suez Crisis begins.
* 3 November – HMS ''Illustrious'' sold for scrap.
* 15 November – USS ''Hancock'' recommissioned.

* 14 December – HMS ''Vengeance'' sold to Brazil.
* 27 December – laid down.''Jane's Fighting Ships 2000–2001'', p.796

1957
* HMS ''Theseus'' decommissioned, placed in reserve.
* January – HMS ''Hercules'' sold to India, construction restarted.Chesneau (1998), p.152
* 2 January – USS ''Oriskany'' decommissioned, started modernisation.
* 17 January – HMS ''Powerful'' commissioned as .
* 15 February – ''Foch'' (France) laid down.''Jane's Fighting Ships 2000–2001'', p.220
* 24 May – USS ''Coral Sea'' decommissioned for modernisation.
* 14 June – HMCS ''Magnificent'' returned to UK and placed in reserve as HMS ''Magnificent''.

* 10 August – USS ''Ranger'' commissioned.
* 14 September – laid down.
* 30 September – USS ''Midway'' recommissioned.
* 3 October – USS ''Saipan'' decommissioned, placed in reserve.
* 5 December – HMS ''Ocean'' decommissioned, placed in reserve.
* 21 December – ''Clemenceau'' launched.''CV CLEMENCEAU (R 98)'', French Fleet Air Arm

1958
* HMS ''Perseus'' and HMS ''Ocean'' sold for scrap.
* February – HMS ''Warrior'' decommissioned.''The HMS Warrior Story'', Ministry Of Defence web site
* 4 February – laid down.''Jane's Fighting Ships 2000–2001'', p.798
* 30 May – HMAS ''Sydney'' decommissioned, held in reserve.
* 6 June – USS ''Independence'' launched.
* 1 July – USS ''Enterprise'' (''Yorktown'' class) sold for scrap.
* 4 November – Ex-HMS ''Warrior'' sold to Argentina.
* 28 December – USS ''Philippine Sea'' decommissioned, placed in reserve.

1959

* 10 January – USS ''Independence'' commissioned.
* 26 January – Ex-HMS ''Warrior'' commissioned as ARA ''Independencia''.Chesneau (1998), p.50
* 30 January – USS ''Boxer'' reclassified LPH.
* 2 March – USS ''Princeton'' reclassified LPH.
* 7 March – USS ''Oriskany'' recommissioned.
* 15 May – USS ''Leyte'' decommissioned, placed in reserve.
* June – HMS ''Unicorn'' sold for scrap.
* 1 November – USS ''Cowpens'' sold for scrap.
* 18 November – HMS ''Hermes'' commissioned.

1960–1969

1960

* ''Dixmude'' hulked as an accommodation ship.Chesneau (1998), p.67
* HMS ''Ocean'' and HMS ''Theseus'' sold for scrap.
* 25 January – USS ''Coral Sea'' recommissioned.
* May – USS ''Tarawa'' decommissioned, placed in reserve.
* 21 May – USS ''Kitty Hawk'' launched.
* 28 July – ''Foch'' launched.''CV FOCH (R 99)'', French Fleet Air Arm
* September – ''Bois Belleau'' () returned to US Navy.
* 24 September – USS ''Enterprise'' launched.
* 1 October – ''Bois Belleau'' struck.
* 8 October – USS ''Constellation'' launched.
* 21 November – USS ''Belleau Wood'' sold for scrap.
* 6 December – Ex-HMS ''Vengeance'' recommissioned as NAeL ''Minas Gerais''.Chesneau (1998), p.57

1961

* 9 January – laid down.
* 4 March – HMS ''Hercules'' commissioned as .
* 29 April – USS ''Kitty Hawk'' commissioned.
* May – USS ''Bataan'' sold for scrap.
* 1 July – USS ''Valley Forge'' reclassified LPH.
* 27 October – USS ''Constellation'' commissioned.
* 22 November – ''Clemenceau'' commissioned.
* 25 November – USS ''Enterprise'' commissioned; first nuclear-powered aircraft carrier.''USS Enterprise CVN-65'', USN Official Web Site

1962
* 7 March – HMAS ''Sydney'' recommissioned as fast troop carrier.
* 15 March – USS ''Wright'' conversion to command and control ship started.
* Mid 1962 – HMS ''Albion'' designated as commando carrier.
* August – Indonesia plans invasion of West New Guinea; war plans include sinking of Dutch carrier ''Karel Doorman'' using Soviet-supplied bombers with anti-ship missiles, but ceasefire ended the threat.

1963
* 7 January – USS ''Antietam'' decommissioned, placed in reserve.
* 8 February – Short Take Off and Vertical Landing (STOVL) test aircraft and pre- Harrier prototype Hawker P.1127 first operates from .
* 15 July – ''Foch'' commissioned.
* March – ''La Fayette'' (USS ''Langley'') returned to USN.
* March – USS ''Saipan'' conversion to communications command ship started.
* 11 May – USS ''Wright'' recommissioned as command and control ship.

1964
* 19 February – USS ''Langley'' sold for scrap.
* 1 February – USS ''America'' launched.
* 2 August – Gulf of Tonkin Incident led U.S. to greatly increase its overt role in the Vietnam War.
* 1 September – USS ''Saipan'' reclassified as Major Communications Relay Ship (AGMR).
* 22 October – laid down.

1965

* 23 January – USS ''America'' commissioned.
* 8 April – USS ''Saipan'' renamed .
* July – HMS ''Magnificent'' sold for scrap.

1966
* HMS ''Centaur'' designated as depot ship.
* ''Béarn'' decommissioned.
* British 1966 Defence White Paper cancels defense projects such as CVA-01 and begins plans for phased end to UK carrier aviation.
* ''Dixmude'' returned to U.S. Navy, sunk as target.
* 15 February – USS ''Midway'' decommissioned for further modernisation.
* 2 May – USS ''Lake Champlain'' decommissioned.
* 27 July – USS ''Franklin'' sold for scrap.
* 27 August – USS ''Arlington'' recommissioned as communication relay ship.

1967

* HMS ''Victorious'' decommissioned for re-fit, subsequently damaged in a minor fire leading to decision to scrap.Sturtivant (1990), p.196
* 30 August – USS ''Cabot'' loaned to Spain, recommissioned as ''Dédalo''.Chesneau (1998), p.196
* 31 March – ''Béarn'' sold for scrap.
* 27 May – USS ''John F. Kennedy'' launched.

1968
* ''Arromanches'' redesignated as a helicopter carrier.Chesneau (1998), p.68
* 26 April – HNLMS ''Karel Doorman'' decommissioned, placed in reserve, end of Dutch carrier aviation.
* 22 June – laid down''Jane's Fighting Ships 2000–2001'', p.793
* July – USS ''Franklin D. Roosevelt'' decommissioned for modernisation.
* 7 September – USS ''John F. Kennedy'' commissioned.
* 3 October – USS ''Tarawa'' sold for scrap.
* 15 October – HNLMS ''Karel Doorman'' sold to Argentina.Chesneau (1998), pp.50–51

1969
* 1 January – USS ''Lexington'' reclassified as a training carrier (CVT).
* 13 February – USS ''Randolph'' decommissioned, placed in reserve.
* 12 March – Ex-HNLMS ''Karel Doorman'' recommissioned as ARA ''Veinticinco de Mayo''.
* 26 May – USS ''Franklin D. Roosevelt'' recommissioned.
* 30 June – USS ''Essex'' decommissioned.
* July – HMS ''Victorious'' sold for scrap.
* 1 December – USS ''Boxer'' decommissioned; USS ''Philippine Sea'' struck.

1970–1979

1970
* ARA ''Independencia'' decommissioned, placed in reserve.Bishop & Chant (2004), pp.62–63
* 14 January – USS ''Arlington'' decommissioned.
* 15 January – USS ''Bennington'' decommissioned, placed in reserve; USS ''Valley Forge'' decommissioned.
* 30 January – USS ''Princeton'' decommissioned.
* 31 January – USS ''Midway'' recommissioned.
* 13 February – USS ''Kearsarge'' decommissioned, placed in reserve.
* 27 May – USS ''Wright'' decommissioned, placed in reserve.
* 26 June – USS ''Hornet'' decommissioned, placed in reserve.
* 27 June – USS ''Yorktown'' decommissioned.
* 3 July – HMCS ''Bonaventure'' decommissioned.
* 15 August – laid down.
* September – Soviet aircraft carrier ''Kiev'' laid down.Chesneau (1998), pp.192–195
* September – USS ''Leyte'' sold for scrap.

1971
* HMS ''Centaur'' decommissioned.
* March – HMCS ''Bonaventure'' sold for scrap.
* 13 March – USS ''Boxer'' sold for scrap.
* 17 March – ARA ''Independencia'' sold for scrap.
* 23 March – USS ''Philippine Sea'' sold for scrap.
* May – USS ''Monterey'' and USS ''Princeton'' sold for scrap.
* 2 July – USS ''Bon Homme Richard'' decommissioned, placed in reserve.
* 30 July – USS ''Shangri-La'' decommissioned, placed in reserve.
* 29 October – USS ''Valley Forge'' sold for scrap.
* 3 December – Indo-Pakistani War of 1971 begins. Indian carrier carries out airstrikes against land and naval targets; Pakistani submarine PNS ''Ghazi'' sent to hunt the ''Vikrant'', but sinks under mysterious circumstances.
* 15 December – USS ''San Jacinto'' sold for scrap.

1972

* HMS ''Centaur'' sold for scrap.
* HMS ''Albion'' decommissioned and sold for scrap.
* 26 January – HMS ''Eagle'' decommissioned.
* 28 April – USS ''Lake Champlain'' sold for scrap.
* 13 May – USS ''Nimitz'' launched.
* 1 July – USS ''Wasp'' decommissioned.
* 5 December – Loan of ''Dédalo'' (ex-) to Spain converted to sale.
* December – ''Kiev'' launched, ''Minsk'' laid down.

1973
* USS ''Bunker Hill'' sold for scrap.
* 27 January – Paris Peace Accords; U.S. forces withdraw from the Vietnam War.
* 21 May – USS ''Wasp'' sold for scrap.
* 20 July – laid down.''Jane's Fighting Ships 2000–2001'', p.754
* 1 September – USS ''Ticonderoga'' decommissioned.
* 12 November – HMAS ''Sydney'' decommissioned.

1974
* 22 January – ''Arromanches'' decommissioned.
* 28 February – USS ''Antietam'' sold for scrap.
* 1 March – USS ''Kearsarge'' sold for scrap.
* 15 March – USS ''Intrepid'' decommissioned.

1975

* HMS ''Triumph'' decommissioned, placed in reserve.
* 1 April – USS ''Randolph'' sold for scrap.
* May – ''Kiev'' commissioned.
* 3 May – USS ''Nimitz'' commissioned.
* 1 June – USS ''Essex'' sold for scrap.
* 1 September – USS ''Ticonderoga'' sold for scrap.
* 30 September – ''Minsk'' launched;''Minsk'', maritimequest.com ''Novorossiysk'' laid down.''Novorossiysk'', maritimequest.com
* 11 October – USS ''Dwight D. Eisenhower'' launched; laid down.
* 13 October – USS ''Yorktown'' preserved as museum ship.
* 28 October – HMAS ''Sydney'' sold for scrap.

1976
* 30 January – USS ''Hancock'' decommissioned.
* March – HMS ''Bulwark'' decommissioned, placed in reserve.
* 1 June – USS ''Arlington'' sold for scrap.
* 1 September – USS ''Hancock'' sold for scrap.
* September STOVL Harriers equip Spanish aircraft carrier ''Dédalo'', returning her to fixed-wing carrier operations; first STOVL aircraft carrier.
* 30 September – USS ''Oriskany'' decommissioned, placed in reserve.
* 7 October – laid down.

1977
* 3 May – HMS ''Invincible'' launched.
* 30 September – USS ''Franklin D. Roosevelt'' decommissioned.
* 18 October – USS ''Dwight D. Eisenhower'' commissioned.

1978

* ''Arromanches'' sold for scrap.
* 1 April – USS ''Franklin D. Roosevelt'' sold for scrap.
* 27 September – ''Minsk'' commissioned.
* 17 February – ''Baku'' laid down.''Jane's Fighting Ships 2000–2001'', p.293
* October – HMS ''Eagle'' sold for scrap.
* 1 December – HMS ''Illustrious'' launched.
* 14 December – (''Invincible'' class) laid down.
* 26 December – ''Novorossiysk'' launched.

1979
* February – HMS ''Ark Royal'' (''Audacious'' class) decommissioned; end of conventional Catapult-Assisted Take-Off But Arrested Recovery (CATOBAR) carrier operations for the UK.
* 23 February – HMS ''Bulwark'' recommissioned.
* 8 October – ''Príncipe de Asturias'' laid down.''Jane's Fighting Ships 2000–2001'', p.632

1980–1989

1980

* HMS ''Bulwark'' placed in reserve.
* 15 March – USS ''Carl Vinson'' launched.
* 11 July – HMS ''Invincible'' commissioned; first purpose-built STOVL carrier, first ship to include a ski-jump ramp.
* 1 August – USS ''Wright'' sold for scrap.
* 22 September – HMS ''Ark Royal'' (''Audacious'' class) sold for scrap.

1981
* 26 March – laid down.''Jane's Fighting Ships 2000–2001'', p.344
* 27 March – HMS ''Bulwark'' decommissioned.
* 10 April – HMS ''Bulwark'' sold for scrap.
* 9 May – First carrier fitted with a ski jump, .
* 2 June – HMS ''Ark Royal'' launched.
* 13 October – laid down.
* 9 December – HMS ''Triumph'' sold for scrap.

1982

* 25 February – Australian government announces its intention to purchase HMS ''Invincible'' and rename it HMAS ''Australia''.
* 13 March – USS ''Carl Vinson'' commissioned.
* 19 March – Argentina invades South Georgia, launching the Falklands War; this war provides the impetus to slow the drawdown of the Royal Navy, including carrier aviation; deal to sell HMS ''Invincible'' to Australia cancelled.
* 23 March – USS ''Intrepid'' struck, preserved as a museum ship.
* 1 April – ''Baku'' launched.
* 1 May – Argentine carrier detects and attempts airstrike against British fleet, but is unable to launch due to unfavorable winds.
* 2 May – Argentine cruiser sunk by British submarine; carrier ''Veinticinco de Mayo'' withdraws to safe port for the duration of the war.
* 22 May – ''Príncipe de Asturias'' launched.
* 30 May – HMAS ''Melbourne'' decommissioned.
* 14 June – Argentine land forces in the Falkland Islands surrender, ending the conflict.
* 20 June – HMS ''Illustrious'' commissioned.
* 5 July – USS ''Shangri-La'' struck.
* September – ''Novorossiysk'' commissioned.Ireland (2007), p.133

1983
* 22 February – laid down.''Jane's Fighting Ships 2000–2001'', p.568
* 4 June – ''Giuseppe Garibaldi'' launched.

1984
* 12 April – HMS ''Hermes'' decommissioned, placed in maintained reserve.
* 27 October – USS ''Theodore Roosevelt'' launched.
* 3 November – laid down.

1985

* ARA ''Veinticinco de Mayo'' inoperable, laid up for possible modernisation.Ireland (2007), p.147
* HMAS ''Melbourne'' sold for scrap.
* 30 September – ''Giuseppe Garibaldi'' commissioned as helicopter anti-submarine warfare carrier.
* 1 November – HMS ''Ark Royal'' commissioned.
* 5 December – ''Leonid Brezhnev'' launched.
* 10 December – laid down.Polmar (1991), pp.136–137

1986
* April – HMS ''Hermes'' sold to India.Chesneau (1998), p.8
* 15 April – U.S. 1986 Bombing of Libya by carrier- and land-based aircraft.
* 25 August – laid down.
* 25 October – USS ''Theodore Roosevelt'' commissioned.

1987
* 11 December – ''Baku'' commissioned.''Baku'', maritimequest.com

1988
* 13 February – USS ''Abraham Lincoln'' launched.
* 30 May – ''Príncipe de Asturias'' commissioned.
* 9 August – USS ''Shangri-La'' sold for scrap.
* October – ''Leonid Brezhnev'' renamed .
* December – laid down.
* 4 December – ''Riga'' launched.

1989

* ''Giuseppe Garibaldi'' takes on Harrier aircraft, initiating Italian fixed-wing carrier operations.
* INS ''Vikrant'' ends CATOBAR operations and is converted with ski jump to all-STOVL operations.
* 14 April – laid down;''Jane's Fighting Ships 2000–2001'', p.218 first non-U.S. nuclear aircraft carrier.Rose (2007), p.284
* 20 May – Ex-HMS ''Hermes'' commissioned as .
* 25 July – USS ''Hornet'' struck, preserved as a museum ship; USS ''Oriskany'' struck to be preserved as a museum ship or scrapped.
* 5 August – ''Dédalo'' decommissioned.''Cabot'', maritimequest.com
* 20 September – USS ''Bon Homme Richard'' and USS ''Bennington'' struck.
* 11 November – USS ''Abraham Lincoln'' commissioned.

1990–1999

1990
* ''Riga'' renamed ''Varyag''.
* 30 April – USS ''Coral Sea'' decommissioned.
* 21 July – USS ''George Washington'' launched.
* 2 August – Gulf War begins with Iraq invading Kuwait.
* 4 October – ''Tbilisi'' renamed ''Admiral Kuznetsov''.''Admiral Flota Sovetskogo Soyuza Kuznetsov'', maritimequest.com

1991

* ''Baku'' renamed ''Admiral Gorshkov''.
* 21 January – ''Admiral Kuznetsov'' commissioned.
* 28 February – Gulf War ends with ceasefire.
* 13 March – laid down.
* 1 November – ''Ulyanovsk'' cancelled at 40% complete.Hiranandani (2006)
* 8 November – USS ''Lexington'' decommissioned.
* 25 December – Soviet Union dissolves, Cold War ends

1992
* Construction of ''Varyag'' stopped, transferred to the Ukraine.SinoDefence.com
* 4 February – ''Ulyanovsk'' scrapped; USS ''Bon Homme Richard'' sold for scrap.
* 11 April – USS ''Midway'' decommissioned, preserved as a museum ship.
* 15 June – USS ''Lexington'' donated as a museum ship.
* 4 July – USS ''George Washington'' commissioned.
* September – ''Novorossiysk'' laid up in reserve.

1993
* 7 May – USS ''Coral Sea'' sold for scrap.
* 30 June – ''Kiev'',''Kiev'', maritimequest.com ''Minsk'' and ''Novorossiysk'' decommissioned.
* 10 July – USS ''Ranger'' decommissioned, on donation hold as of 2004.
* 11 September – USS ''Forrestal'' decommissioned, on donation hold.
* 13 November – USS ''John C. Stennis'' launched.
* 29 November – laid down.

1994
* 1 December – USS ''Bennington'' sold for scrap.
* 7 May – ''Charles de Gaulle'' launched.
* 12 July – HTMS ''Chakri Naruebet'' laid down.''Jane's Fighting Ships 2000–2001'', p.689
* 20 August – USS ''Saratoga'' decommissioned.

1995

* 1 August – ''Novorossiysk'' and ''Minsk'' sold for scrap, ''Minsk'' not scrapped.
* 9 September – USS ''Oriskany'' sold for scrap, not scrapped.
* 10 October – HMS ''Ocean'' launched.
* 9 December – USS ''John C. Stennis'' commissioned.

1996
* 20 January – HTMS ''Chakri Naruebet'' launched.
* 9 August – USS ''America'' decommissioned.
* 14 September – USS ''Harry S. Truman'' launched.

1997

* ARA ''Veinticinco de Mayo'' decommissioned.Ireland (2007), p.152
* 31 January – INS ''Vikrant'' (R11) decommissioned, to be converted to a museum ship at Mumbai.Tembhekar (2010), ''The Times of India''
* 27 March – HTMS ''Chakri Naruebet'' commissioned.
* 30 July – USS ''Oriskany'' repossessed by the USN due to default by scrapping contractor.
* 1 October – ''Clemenceau'' decommissioned.

1998

* 12 February – laid down.
* April – ''Varyag'' sold to China.
* August – ''Minsk'' towed to China for use in an amusement park.
* 30 September – USS ''Independence'' decommissioned.
* 25 July – USS ''Harry S. Truman'' commissioned.

1999
* ''Varyag'' departed Ukraine under tow, refused passage through Bosporus Strait, stationed near the straits for three years.
* January – ARA ''Veinticinco de Mayo'' sold for scrap.''25 de Mayo'', GlobalSecurity.com

2000–2009

2000

* 1 January – USS ''Saratoga'' placed on donation hold.
* October – Scrapping of ''Dédalo'' commenced.
* 15 November – ''Foch'' decommissioned, and recommissioned as NAe ''São Paulo''.''France hands over aircraft carrier to Brazil'', CNN.com

2001

* 10 March – USS ''Ronald Reagan'' launched.
* 18 May – ''Charles de Gaulle'' commissioned.Ireland (2007), p.128
* 17 July – ''Cavour'' laid down.''Cavour — Light multirole Aircraft Carrier'', digilander.libero.it
* 7 October – War in Afghanistan begins.
* 16 October – NAeL ''Minas Gerais'' decommissioned.''Minas Gerais'', Global Security

2002
* ''Varyag'' allowed passage through Bosporus Strait, arrived in Dalian Shipyard in northern China.

2003
* 20 March – US-led 2003 invasion of Iraq launched.
* 12 July – USS ''Ronald Reagan'' commissioned.
* 7 August – USS ''Constellation'' decommissioned.''Naval Vessel Register'', US Navy
* 6 September – laid down.''Official Web Site of Pre Commissioning Unit George H.W. Bush (CVN 77)'', US Navy
* 11 September – USS ''Forrestal'' designated for disposal.
* 2 December – USS ''Constellation'' stricken.

2004
* NAeL ''Minas Gerais'' sold for scrap.
* 20 January – ''Admiral Gorshkov'' sold to India; being refurbished and renamed .''Kiev Class Overview'', maritimequest.com
* April – USS ''Independence'' nominated to be sunk as artificial reef.
* 20 July – ''Cavour'' launched.

2005
* 11 April – steel plate cutting started.''Indian Aircraft Carrier (Project-71)'', Bharat Rakshak
* 19 April – USS ''America'' towed to sea for live firing tests.''America's Final Mission'', The USS ''America'' Carrier Veteran's Association
* May – ''Juan Carlos I'' laid down.''LHD Juan Carlos I'', Armada Española official web site
* 14 May – USS ''America'' scuttled.''The Carrier List'', USN official web site
* 3 August – HMS ''Invincible'' decommissioned, placed in reserve until 2010.

2006
* 17 May – USS ''Oriskany'' sunk as an artificial reef.
* 31 May – ''Minsk'' sold at auction, disposition unknown.
* 7 October – USS ''George H. W. Bush'' launched.

2007
* 1 August – USS ''John F. Kennedy'' decommissioned, placed in reserve.

2008

* February – USS ''Forrestal'' prepared to be sunk as a reef; USS ''Independence'' and USS ''Constellation'' scheduled to be scrapped within five years.''NavyTimes'', 26 February 2008
* 10 March – ''Juan Carlos I'' launched.
* 27 March – ''Cavour'' commissioned.

2009
* 10 January – USS ''George H. W. Bush'' commissioned;''NAVY.mil'', USN Official Web Site, 12 January 2009 final ship of the ''Nimitz'' class.
* 28 February – INS ''Vikrant'' keel laid
* 12 May – USS ''Kitty Hawk'' decommissioned, placed in reserve.
* 7 July – First steel cut for
* 13 November – laid down"Keel laid for newest Navy aircraft carrier"
www.navytimes.com, 13 November 2009.

2010–2019

2010

* 30 September – '' Juan Carlos I'' commissionedArmada Española ''Navy News'', 30 September 2010

2011
* 11 Mar – decommissionedBBC News, 11 March 2011
* 26 May – First steel cut for UK Ministry of Defence, 26 May 2011
* 10 August – Ex-''Varyag'' completed, began sea trials for the PLAN.Hille, 2011

2012

* 8 June – (ex- Admiral Gorshkov) commenced sea trialsRadyuhin, V., 8 June 2012
* 25 September – Ex-''Varyag'' commissioned as Chinese aircraft carrier ''Liaoning''Bodeen, ''The China Post'', 26 September 2012
* 10 October – India and Russia announce delay in handover of INS ''Vikramaditya'' delayed twelve months until fourth quarter 2013''Times of India'', 10 October 2012
* 1 December – USS ''Enterprise'' decommissioned

2013
* 6 February – Príncipe de Asturias (R-11) decommissioned.
* 12 August – launched''Times of India'', 12 August 2013
* 9 November – launched.
* 16 November – (ex- Admiral Gorshkov) re-commissioned.

2014

* 17 July – launched.
* 28 August – decommissioned
* 11 Oct – commissioned. First of a new class of amphibious assault ships.
* 22 November – (ex-HMS Hercules) scrapped
* 28 November – commissioned into the Australian Navy. First Australian helicopter carrier.

2015
* 25 March – JS Izumo commissioned into the Japanese Navy as third serving helicopter carrier
* 31 March – decommissioned.
* 4 December – HMAS Adelaide (L01) commissioned into the Australian Navy. Second Australian helicopter carrier.

2016
* 2 June – ENS Gamal Abdel Nasser commissioned into the Egyptian Navy. First aircraft carrier operated by an African country.
*16 September – ENS Anwar El Sadat commissioned into the Egyptian Navy. Second Egyptian helicopter carrier.

2017
*14 February – Brazilian aircraft carrier São Paulo (A12) (Ex-French aircraft carrier Foch (R99)) retires from service.
*6 March – (ex-) decommissioned from the Indian Navy.
*22 March – JS Kaga commissioned into the Japanese Navy as fourth serving helicopter carrier.Jane's 360, 23 March 2017
* 8 April – begins sea trials.
*26 April – Type 001A aircraft carrier, later type 002 ''Shandong'', launched.CBNC, 26 April 2017
*26 June – begins sea trials.BBC News, 27 June 2017
*24 August – first steel cut.
* 8 September – Christened
* 7 December – commissioned
*21 December – launched

2018
* 3 January 2018 – Sale of to Brazil, for £84.6 million, announced.
* 29 June 2018 – PHM ''Atlântico'' (A-140) (ex-) commissioned to Brazilian Navy.

2019
*25 September – Chinese landing helicopter dock Hainan launched, the first of the new class Type 075
*10 December – commissioned.
*17 December – Type 002 commissioned as Chinese aircraft carrier ''Shandong'', the third and likely final

2020–present

2020
* 15 July – commissioned, the second and last Flight 0 helicopter carrier before production of the Flight 1 amphibious assault variant begins

2021
* 23 April – Chinese landing helicopter dock ''Hainan'' commissioned
* 28 June – commissioned
* 4 August – begins sea trials after delays
* 13 August – Italian landing helicopter dock ''Trieste'' begins sea trials
* 26 December – Chinese landing helicopter dock ''Guangxi'' commissioned, the second Type 075 landing helicopter dock

2022
* 27 February – TCG Anadolu begins sea trials
* 17 June – Chinese Type 003 aircraft carrier ''Fujian'' launched
* 2 September - is commissioned into the Indian Navy.

See also

* Fleet of the Royal Canadian Navy
* List of active French Navy ships
* List of active Italian Navy ships
* List of active Spanish Navy ships
* List of aircraft carrier classes of the United States Navy
* List of aircraft carriers
* List of aircraft carriers by configuration
* List of aircraft carriers by country
* List of aircraft carriers in service
* List of aircraft carriers of Germany
* List of aircraft carriers of Russia and the Soviet Union
* List of aircraft carriers of the Royal Navy
* List of aircraft carriers of the United States Navy
* List of amphibious warfare ships
* List of escort carriers of the Royal Navy
* List of seaplane carriers of the Royal Navy
* List of ships of the Imperial Japanese Navy
* List of sunken aircraft carriers
* List of United States Navy escort aircraft carriers
* People's Liberation Army Navy Surface Force
* Ships of the Indian Navy
* Timeline of aircraft carriers of the United States Navy

Footnotes

For most carriers, the dates listed here are those when the carrier was laid down, launched, commissioned, decommissioned and disposed of. If the carrier was a conversion from another ship, then the first date listed is when she was taken in hand to be converted; however, if a carrier was subsequently redesignated, its history is followed until disposal. The first time a ship is named in the list, it is linked to the relevant page within Wikipedia; if the ship was renamed, the first instance of the new name is also linked. Additionally, key relevant historical dates are interspersed with the ship-related dates to provide context.

For the purposes of this timeline, an aircraft carrier is a commissioned naval ship with at least one permanent flush deck designed for the launch and recovery of fixed-wing aircraft. This timeline does not include ships with temporary landing or take-off platforms, vessels designed for helicopter operations, marine assault ships of various designs, catapult ships, WWII escort carriers, merchant aircraft carriers, CAM ships, nor seaplane carriers and tenders.

The timeline is mainly divided into decades, the exceptions being the two World Wars and the interwar period, which are each treated as separate blocks. For the purposes of this list, the First World War is considered to have started on 28 June 1914 and ended 11 November 1918, while the Second World War is considered to have started on 1 September 1939 and ended 14 August 1945.

The actual text of the message from the First Lord of the Admiralty to the Wright Brothers, dated 7 March 1907, taken from ''The Old Flying Days'' by Charles Cyril Turner, p. 293, was:

Citations

uss kitty hawk citation 1980–1981

References

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USS ''Cabot'' (CVL-28)
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, ''Carriers'', French Fleet Air Arm, Retrieved 24 September 2008
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HMAS ''Melbourne'' (II)
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HMAS Sydney (III)
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HMAS Vengeance
, ''HMA Ship Histories'', Sea Power Centre, Royal Australian Navy official web site, Retrieved 13 September 2008
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, ''Maritime Quest'', maritimequest.com, Retrieved 15 October 2008
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, ''The Royal Navy Postwar'', Retrieved 1 November 2008 (archived links)

Other

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Securing Britain in an Age of Uncertainty: The Strategic Defence and Security Review
, HM Government (2010), pp. 75, , Retrieved 16 February 2011

External links

Royal Navy Escort Carriers

''World Aircraft Carriers List'', Haze Gray & Underway

{{Lists of aircraft carriers

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Aircraft carrier service, Timeline for
Lists of aircraft carriers