List of aircraft carriers of World War II


This is a list of aircraft carriers of the Second World War.
Aircraft carriers serve as a seagoing airbases, equipped with a flight deck and facilities for carrying, arming, deploying and recovering aircraft. Typically, they are the capital ships of a fleet, as they project air power worldwide without depending on local bases for operational support. Aircraft carriers are expensive and are considered critical assets. By the Second World War aircraft carriers had evolved from converted cruisers, to purpose built vessels of many classes and roles. Fleet carriers were the largest type, operating with the main fleet to provided offensive capability. Light aircraft carriers were fast enough to operate with the fleet but smaller and with fewer aircraft.
Escort carriers were smaller and slower, with low numbers of aircraft, and provided defense for convoys. Most of the latter were built from mercantile hulls or, in the case of merchant aircraft carriers, were bulk cargo ships with a flight deck added on top. Catapult aircraft merchant ships, were cargo-carrying merchant ships that could launch a single fighter aircraft from a catapult to defend the convoy from long-range German aircraft.
The aircraft carrier dramatically changed naval combat in the war, as air power became a significant factor in warfare. The advent of aircraft as primary weapons was driven by the superior range, flexibility and effectiveness of carrier-launched aircraft. They had higher range and precision than naval guns, making them highly effective. The versatility of the carrier was demonstrated in November 1940 when launched a long-range strike on the Italian fleet at their base in Taranto, signalling the beginning of effective and highly mobile aircraft strikes. This operation incapacitated three of the six battleships at a cost of two torpedo bombers.
In the Pacific Ocean clashes occurred between aircraft carrier fleets. The 1941 Japanese surprise attack on Pearl Harbor was a clear illustration of the power projection capability afforded by a large force of modern carriers. Concentrating six carriers in a single unit turned naval history about, as no other nation had fielded anything comparable. However, the vulnerability of carriers compared to traditional battleships when forced into a gun-range encounter was quickly illustrated by the sinking of by German battleships during the Norwegian campaign in 1940.
This new-found importance of naval aviation forced nations to create a number of carriers, in an effort to provide air superiority for every major fleet. This extensive usage required the construction of several new 'light' carriers. Escort aircraft carriers, such as, were sometimes purpose-built, but most were converted from merchant ships as a stop-gap measure to provide anti-submarine air support for convoys and amphibious invasions. Following this concept, light aircraft carriers built by the US, such as, represented a larger and more "militarized" version of the escort carrier. Although with complements similar to escort carriers, they had the advantage of speed from their converted cruiser hulls. The British 1942 Design Light Fleet Carrier was designed for quick construction by civilian shipyards and a short three-year service life. They served the Royal Navy during the war, and their hull design was chosen for nearly all aircraft carrier equipped navies after the war until the 1980s. Emergency situations during the war spurred the creation of highly unconventional aircraft carriers, such as the CAM ships.
The List of ships of World War II contains major military vessels of the war, arranged alphabetically and by type. The list includes armed vessels that served during the war and in the immediate aftermath, inclusive of localized ongoing combat operations, garrison surrenders, post-surrender occupation, colony re-occupation, troop and prisoner repatriation, to the end of 1945. For smaller vessels, see also List of World War II ships of less than 1000 tons. Some uncompleted Axis ships are included, out of historic interest. Ships are designated to the country under which they operated for the longest period of World War II, regardless of where they were built or previous service history.

List of ships

ShipCountryClassTypeDisplacement First commissionedFate
escort carrier7,80013 June 1944scrapped 1947
merchant aircraft carrier16,0001 February 1944returned to merchant service post-war
aircraft carrier36,50027 March 1927sunk 5 June 1942
seaplane carrier6,35029 September 1938torpedoed 1944, not repaired, scrapped 1954
merchant aircraft carrier8,0101 December 1943returned to merchant service post-war
escort carrier7,90015 September 1942scrapped 1946
aircraft carrier17,15010 August 1944sunk 27 July 1945
merchant aircraft carrier16,0001 September 1943
escort carrier11,40020 July 1943paid off 20 March 1946, scrapped 1969
Ancylusmerchant aircraft carrier16,000October 1943
aircraft carrier30,80028 January 1945decommissioned 8 May 1963, scrapped 1974
aircraft carrier23,500not completed, scrapped 1952
escort carrier7,80031 December 1943paid off 12 April 1946, scrapped 1972
escort carrier8,20017 November 1941paid off 6 November 1943, scrapped 1962
aircraft carrier14,8601 September 1918scrapped 1946
fighter catapult ship19401943
aircraft carrier22,00016 December 1938sunk 14 November 1941
escort carrier7,80028 October 1943paid off 6 December 1946, scrapped 1967
escort carrier11,40030 September 1942paid off 5 January 1946, scrapped 24 May 1980
escort carrier7,80030 June 1944scrapped 1947
Hannoverescort carrier11,00020 June 1941sunk 21 December 1941
escort carrier8,2002 March 1942sunk 15 November 1942
escort carrier10,20016 July 1945decommissioned 1955, scrapped 1960
escort carrier11,40020 February 1943decommissioned 29 August 1946, scrapped 1959
light aircraft carrier11,00017 November 1943decommissioned 9 April 1954, scrapped 1960
escort carrier10,00031 October 1942paid off 12 February 1946, scrapped 14 May 1946
aircraft carrier22,1501 May 1927struck November 1966, scrapped March 1967
escort carrier11,4002 August 1943paid off 20 March 1946, scrapped 1974
light aircraft carrier11,00031 March 1943decommissioned 13 January 1947, scrapped 1961
aircraft carrier30,8006 August 1944decommissioned 15 January 1970, scrapped 1994
escort carrier7,80020 May 1944sunk 21 February 1945
escort carrier8,2005 May 1942transferred to France as 1945
escort carrier9,8008 March 1943sunk 29 May 1944
escort carrier14,40030 December 1944decommissioned 1954, scrapped 1960
escort carrier9,80026 September 1942decommissioned 30 November 1946, scrapped 1960
aircraft carrier30,80026 November 1944decommissioned 2 July 1971, scrapped 1992
escort carrier7,80018 June 1944decommissioned 1946, scrapped 1960
aircraft carrier30,80016 April 1945decommissioned 1 December 1969, scrapped 1971
escort carrier7,80012 April 1943decommissioned 1946, scrapped 1972
aircraft carrier30,80024 May 1943decommissioned 9 January 1947, scrapped 1973
light aircraft carrier11,00024 July 1943decommissioned 21 January 1955, scrapped 2002
escort carrier13,0009 February 1944paid off 30 December 1945, scrapped 1955
escort carrier10,4009 April 1944scrapped 1959
escort carrier10,9005 March 1945decommissioned 1946, scrapped 1971
escort carrier9,8008 November 1942scrapped 1971
escort carrier7,8008 July 1943decommissioned 10 June 1946, scrapped 1947
escort carrier8,2003 March 1942paid off 15 March 1946, scrapped 1969
escort carrier11,4009 April 1943paid off 12 May 1946, sold into merchant service, scrapped 1972/73
escort carrier11,40019 September 1942decommissioned 14 August 1946, scrapped 1960
light aircraft carrier11,19025 July 1938sunk 25 October 1944
light aircraft carrier11,19015 December 1938sunk 25 October 1944
escort carrier18,11625 November 1942sunk 4 December 1943
aircraft carrier13,20016 December 1944transferred to France, renamed Arromanches 6 August 1946
seaplane carrier10,00018 April 1932scuttled on 27 November 1942, scrapped 15 May 1950
escort carrier11,373decommissioned 30 November 1946, scrapped 1971
escort carrier9,80015 June 1942decommissioned 1946, scrapped 1961
escort carrier9,60027 August 1943renamed, decommissioned 1946, scrapped 1959
escort carrier9,80010 December 1942decommissioned 1946, scrapped 1971
escort carrier10,40031 August 1943scrapped 1959
aircraft carrier22,5004 November 1916sunk 17 September 1939
light aircraft carrier11,00028 May 1943decommissioned 13 January 1947, scrapped 1960
escort carrier9,80028 April 1943decommissioned 1946, scrapped 1971
escort carrier8,2002 July 1942sunk 27 March 1943
seaplane carrier3,4455 September 1901paid off 13 June 1947
aircraft carrier22,60026 February 1924sunk 11 August 1942
escort carrier17,530work halted 2 February 1943; seized 20 June 1946, renamed Empire Fowey
escort carrier11,4006 August 1943paid off 28 March 1946, scrapped 1946
Empire ActivityEmpiremerchant aircraft carrier14,25029 September 194220 October 1945
Empiremerchant aircraft carrier8,00014 April 1943transferred to merchant service post-war; renamed Derryname
Empiremerchant aircraft carrier8,0007 July 1943transferred to merchant service post-war; renamed Derryheen
Empiremerchant aircraft carrier9,0001 December 1943transferred to merchant service 1946, renamed British Escort
Empiremerchant aircraft carrier8,00022 December 1943transferred to merchant service post-war; renamed Alpha Zambesi
Empiremerchant aircraft carrier9,0001 November 1943transferred to merchant service 1946, renamed British Pilot
Empiremerchant aircraft carrier8,00031 March 1944transferred to merchant service post-war; renamed La Cumbre
Empiremerchant aircraft carrier9,0005 October 1943transferred to merchant service 1946, renamed British Swordfish
Empiremerchant aircraft carrier8,0001 December 1943transferred to merchant service post-war; renamed Granpond
Empiremerchant aircraft carrier9,0001 December 1943transferred to merchant service 1946, renamed Naninia
Empiremerchant aircraft carrier8,00020 September 1943returned to merchant service 1947, renamed Alpha Zambesi
escort carrier7,8009 August 1943paid off 28 March 1946, scrapped 1946
aircraft carrier25,10012 May 1938decommissioned 1947, scrapped 1959
aircraft carrier30,80031 December 1942decommissioned 30 June 1969, scrapped 1975
escort carrier7,8009 December 1943decommissioned 14 August 1946, scrapped 1959
escort carrier14,40020 February 1943paid off 21 December 1945, sold as a merchant ship; scrapped 1975
aircraft carrier23,200not completed, construction halted on 19 September 1939, scrapped 28 February 1940
aircraft carrier23,00024 November 1940scrapped 1953
aircraft carrier30,80031 January 1944decommissioned 17 February 1947, scrapped 1964
aircraft carrier22,40014 October 1917scrapped 1948
merchant aircraft carrier8,0001 March 1944returned to merchant service 1946; scrapped 1958
escort carrier7,80028 December 1943sunk 25 October 1944
seaplane tender4,9651 November 1927decommissioned 15 July 1950
aircraft carrier22,50020 April 1916sunk 8 June 1940
aircraft carrier13,2002 April 1945scrapped August 1961
aircraft carrier23,200launched 8 December 1938, not completed, scuttled 16 August 1947
escort carrier7,80025 September 1943decommissioned 15 July 1946, scrapped 1959
aircraft carrier27,10015 April 1944sold for scrap, 1 September 1976
aircraft carrier10,8507 July 1923sunk 9 April 1942
aircraft carrier17,3005 July 1939sunk 5 June 1942
light aircraft carrier24,14031 July 1942sunk 20 June 1944
escort carrier7,80011 January 1944decommissioned 20 July 1946, scrapped 1960
escort carrier7,8001 June 1944decommissioned 17 January 1947, scrapped 1961
aircraft carrier26,50025 October 1941sunk 27 October 1942
aircraft carrier27,10029 November 1943decommissioned 26 June 1970; museum ship
light aircraft carrier7,47027 December 1922scrapped 1947
escort carrier14,4009 January 1943paid off 17 January 1947, scrapped May 1946
aircraft carrier30,53025 May 1940scrapped 1956
aircraft carrier32,62428 August 1944scrapped 1955
aircraft carrier32,1103 May 1944scrapped 1956
light aircraft carrier11,00014 January 1943decommissioned 28 August 1946, target ship scuttled 1951
aircraft carrier23,00010 October 1941scrapped 1955
aircraft carrier27,10016 August 1943decommissioned 15 March 1974, museum ship
aircraft carrier18,000laid down 26 November 1938, not completed, construction stopped June 1940
light aircraft carrier26,9495 May 1942scrapped 1947
escort carrier7,80018 January 1944decommissioned 14 June 1946, scrapped 1959
aircraft carrier38,2001 November 1929sunk 4 June 1942
escort carrier7,80027 November 1943decommissioned 15 May 1946, scrapped 1947
escort carrier7,8004 December 1943decommissioned 6 July 1946, scrapped 1960
aircraft carrier22,17815 October 1944scrapped 1947
escort carrier11,40025 August 1943paid off 19 July 1946, scrapped 1975
escort carrier7,80015 December 1943decommissioned 19 April 1946, scrapped 1947
escort carrier7,8007 June 1944decommissioned 16 August 1946, scrapped 1961
aircraft carrier27,1003 June 1945decommissioned 2 May 1966, scrapped 1972
Seaplane carrier11,5007 April 1913sunk 27 February 1942
light aircraft carrier11,00031 August 1943decommissioned 11 February 1947, scrapped 1964
aircraft carrier33,00014 December 1927sunk 8 May 1942
aircraft carrier27,10017 February 1943decommissioned 8 November 1991; museum ship
escort carrier7,8007 August 1943lost in action 24 November 1943
escort carrier13,5002 June 1941decommissioned 26 March 1946
escort carrier7,80014 May 1944decommissioned 24 October 1946, scrapped 1960
merchant aircraft carrier8,0001 April 1944transferred to merchant service post-war
escort carrier7,80027 April 1944decommissioned 9 August 1946, scrapped 1961
escort carrier7,8009 May 1944decommissioned 19 April 1946, scrapped 1947
escort carrier7,80010 July 1943decommissioned 31 July 1946, scrapped 1959
fighter catapult ship
escort carrier7,80026 January 1944decommissioned 12 December 1946, scrapped 1960
escort carrier7,80022 May 1944decommissioned 11 October 1946, scrapped 1960
merchant aircraft carrier16,0001 January 1944returned to merchant service post-war; renamed Marisa
escort carrier7,80026 May 1943decommissioned 21 February 1947, scrapped 1959
light aircraft carrier11,00017 June 1943decommissioned 16 January 1956, scrapped 1971
escort carrier7,8008 July 1944decommissioned 26 April 1946, scrapped 1960
escort carrier11,4007 September 1943crewed by RCN, paid off 10 October 1944, scrapped December 1977
escort carrier14,28012 December 1943to Netherlands 23 March 1946, scrapped 1971
escort carrier11,40020 August 1942decommissioned 28 October 1946, scrapped 1961
escort carrier7,80014 October 1943decommissioned 20 May 1946, scrapped 1959
escort carrier7,8003 January 1944decommissioned 15 May 1946, scrapped 1960
aircraft carrier13,2008 August 1945scrapped May 1962
escort carrier7,80011 February 1944scuttled 4 January 1945
fighter catapult shipsunk 1941
escort carrier11,40022 October 1943paid off 7 February 1947, scrapped February 1974
seaplane carrier/fighter catapult ship7,08010 December 1914known as HMS Ark Royal until 1934. Used as seaplane training ship and aircraft transport until converted in 1940. Paid off June 1946.
aircraft maintenance carrier13,20016 December 1944transferred to France 6 August 1946, renamed Arromanches
escort carrier7,80018 February 1944decommissioned 31 July 1955, scrapped 1959
Colossusaircraft maintenance carrier13,2008 February 1945scrapped September 1954
escort carrier11,4003 November 1943paid off 21 May 1946, scrapped 1976
light aircraft carrier11,00025 February 1943sunk 24 October 1944
escort carrier11,4005 February 1944crewed by RCN, paid off 16 February 1946, scrapped 1973
escort carrier11,40014 June 1943returned to USN 12 February 1946, sold for scrap May 1946
escort carrier8,3337 December 1943paid off July 1947, scrapped 1972
escort carrier11,40017 January 1944paid off 7 February 1947, scrapped 1975
aircraft carrier27,10029 June 1944decommissioned 13 February 1969, scrapped 1975
aircraft carrier14,5004 June 1934decommissioned 18 October 1946, scrapped 1947
escort carrier7,8002 June 1943paid off 22 January 1947, scrapped 1973
merchant aircraft carrier16,0001 July 1943transferred to merchant service post-war; renamed Rotula
escort carrier14,63025 April 1943paid off February 1946, scrapped 1973
escort carrier7,80021 February 1944paid off 2 July 1946, scrapped 1967
Regele Carol Iseaplane tender2,653 tons1898sunk 10 October 1941
escort carrier7,8006 July 1944decommissioned 9 May 1946, scrapped 1947
escort carrier7,80025 February 1944decommissioned 11 June 1946, scrapped 1960
escort carrier15,39022 December 1943paid off 29 January 1946, scrapped 31 May 1946
light aircraft carrier13,36031 March 1934struck 30 November 1945, scrapped 1946
light aircraft carrier10,6009 May 1933sunk 24 August 1942
escort carrier7,8002 March 1944decommissioned 19 June 1946, scrapped 1960
ex-Midwayescort carrier7,80023 October 1943lost in action 25 October 1944
escort carrier7,80026 May 1944decommissioned 9 May 1946, scrapped 1947
escort carrier11,40025 August 1942decommissioned 24 October 1945, scrapped 1960
escort carrier11,40024 August 1942decommissioned 21 October 1946, scrapped 1960
light aircraft carrier11,00015 November 1943decommissioned 1 March 1947, scrapped 1972
aircraft carrier33,00016 November 1927sunk as a target 1946
escort carrier7,8009 March 1944decommissioned 23 June 1946, scrapped 1959
escort carrier7,8003 February 1944decommissioned 12 December 1946, scrapped 1960
escort carrier7,80015 March 1944decommissioned 6 July 1946, scrapped 1958
aircraft carrier30,80015 September 1944decommissioned 30 July 1971, scrapped 1988
aircraft carrier64,80019 November 1944sunk 29 November 1944
aircraft carrier17,50015 November 1943sunk 17 November 1944
escort carrier7,80021 March 1944decommissioned 28 June 1946, scrapped 1960
light aircraft carrier11,26030 November 1941sunk 8 May 1942
aircraft carrier25,6758 August 1941sunk 19 June 1944
aircraft carrier15,90029 January 1937sunk 4 June 1942
escort carrier14,4003 April 1943paid off 1945, scrapped 21 April 1976
escort carrier11,40027 September 1943paid off 7 February 1946
escort carrier7,80028 March 1944decommissioned 27 July 1954, scrapped 1960
escort carrier8,33311 August 1943paid off 12 April 1946, scrapped 1969/70
escort carrier7,80020 January 1944paid off 6 May 1946, scrapped 1967
escort carrier7,80021 November 1943decommissioned 15 May 1946, scrapped 1947
escort carrier30,418not completed, scrapped 1951
escort carrier8,33320 November 1943paid off 25 September 1946, scrapped 1972
fighter catapult shipsunk 27 September 1941
escort carrier14,40021 December 1942paid off 29 December 1945, sold into merchant service as Riouw
escort carrier7,8004 April 1944decommissioned January 1947, scrapped 1959
escort carrier10,00029 April 1943paid off 12 February 1946, scrapped 1948
escort carrier11,40024 September 1942decommissioned 8 January 1947, scrapped 1962
aircraft carrier29,3007 March 1944sunk 19 June 1944
escort carrier18,1162 September 1941sunk 18 August 1944
escort carrier7,80019 November 1943paid off October 1945, scrapped 1946
aircraft carrier30,8008 May 1944decommissioned 1 September 1973, scrapped 1975
escort carrier14,40031 January 1943paid off 2 November 1946, scrapped 1964
escort carrier7,80031 January 1944paid off 12 April 1946, scrapped 1973
escort carrier7,8004 August 1943paid off 19 June 1946, scrapped 1971
escort carrier17,83031 August 1942sunk 15 September 1944
maintenance aircraft carrier16,51012 March 1943paid off 17 November 1953
aircraft carrier17,1506 August 1944sunk 19 December 1944
aircraft carrier13,20017 January 1945paid off April 1947
aircraft carrier13,20015 January 1945paid off 1952
aircraft carrier23,00029 May 1941scrapped 1969
escort carrier13,6713 December 1943paid off 1947, scrapped August 1971
aircraft carrier18,3002 April 1945paid off 1970, scrapped 1971
aircraft carrier14,70025 April 1940sunk 15 September 1942
aircraft carrier30,80024 November 1943decommissioned 1 July 1972
escort carrier17,140work halted June 1943; scuttled 29 January 1945
aircraft carrier25,10030 September 1937sunk 7 June 1942
aircraft carrier36,38015 April 1943decommissioned 27 June 1970
light aircraft carrier11,26027 December 1940sunk 25 October 1944
aircraft carrier29,80025 September 1941sunk 25 October 1944