List of aircraft carriers by country

The list of aircraft carriers by country includes all aircraft carriers organized by country of origin and service. Where appropriate, a single ship may be listed under multiple countries.

"See also":
* List of aircraft carriers
* List of aircraft carriers in service
* Timeline for aircraft carrier service

"The list below does not include helicopter carriers, aircraft carrying submarines, or ships that weren't commissioned."

"Note: BU means broken up - that is, that the ship was dismantled."

Argentina

Retired:
* Light carriers:
** ARA "Independencia" (V-1): "Colossus" class light carrier in service from 1959 to 1969
** ARA "Veinticinco de Mayo" (V-2): "Colossus" class light carrier in service from 1969 to 1999

Australia

:"See also: Aircraft carriers of the Royal Australian Navy"

Retired:
* Fleet carriers:
** HMAS "Sydney": "Majestic" class carrier in service from 1948 to 1958. Later recommissioned as troop transport
** HMAS "Melbourne": "Majestic" class carrier in service from 1955 to 1982
* Light carrier:
** HMAS "Vengeance": "Colossus" class light carrier on loan from Royal Navy from 1952 to 1955
* Seaplane tender:
** HMAS "Albatross": Unique seaplane tender in service from 1928 to 1933

Brazil

Active:
* Fleet carrier:
** NAeL "São Paulo": "Clemenceau" class carrier in service since 2000

Retired:
* Light carrier:
** NAeL "Minas Gerais": "Colossus" class carrier in service from 1960 to 2001

Canada

Retired:
* Light carriers:
** HMCS "Warrior": "Colossus" class light carrier in service from 1946 to 1948
** HMCS "Magnificent": "Majestic" class carrier in service from 1946 to 1956
** HMCS "Bonaventure": "Majestic" class carrier in service from 1957 to 1970
* Escort carriers of the Royal Navy crewed by Royal Canadian Navy personnel:
** HMS "Puncher": "Bogue" class escort carrier in service from 1944 to 1946
** HMS "Nabob": "Bogue" class escort carrier in service from 1943 to 1944

People's Republic of China

China has three non-functional aircraft carriers.

* Non-operational carriers:
** "Varyag": Currently in storage, non-operational
** "Minsk": Currently an attraction at the Minsk World amusement park in Shenzhen
** "Kiev": Currently an amusement park in Tianjin

France

Active:
* Nuclear powered aircraft carrier:
** "Charles de Gaulle": In service since 2001

Retired:
* Conventional carriers:
** "Béarn": Converted "Normandie" class battleship in service from 1927 to 1948
** "Clemenceau": "Clemenceau" class carrier in service from 1961 to 1997
** "Foch": "Clemenceau" class carrier in service from 1963 to 2000

* Light carriers:
** "Dixmude": "Charger" class escort carrier in service from 1945 to 1966
** "Arromanches": "Colossus" class light carrier in service from 1946 to 1974
** "Lafayette": "Independence" class light carrier in service from 1951 to 1963
** "Bois Belleau": "Bois Belleau" class light carrier in service from 1953 to 1960
* Seaplane carriers and tenders:
** "Foudre": Converted cruiser in service as a seaplane carrier from 1914 to 1918
** "Compinas": Converted merchant ship in service as a seaplane tender from 1915 to 1916
** "Nord": Converted merchant ship in service as a seaplane tender from 1915 to 1919
** "Pas-de-Calais": Converted merchant ship in service as a seaplane tender from 1915 to 1919
** "Rouen": Converted merchant ship in service as a seaplane tender from 1916 to 1919
** "Petrel" class: Eight light inshore seaplane tenders in service from 1931 into World War II
** "Commandant Teste": Seaplane transport and tender in service from 1932 to 1942
** "Belfort": Converted "Amiens" class sloop in service from 1939 to 1946
** "Diligente": Converted "Friponne" class sloop in service during 1940
** "Paul Goffeny": Former German tug type seaplane tender in service from 1948 to 1955
** "Robert Giraud": Former German tug type seaplane tender in service from 1948 to 1963
** "Marcel le Bihan": Seaplane support ship from 1948 to 1961

* Aircraft carrying submarine:
** "Surcouf": Aircraft carrying submarine in service from 1934 to 1942

Planned:
* Light carriers:
** "Engageante": "Friponne" class sloop planned for conversion but not completed
** "Conquerante": "Valliante" class sloop planned for conversion but not completed
** "Sans Souci": "Sans Souci" class seaplane tender captured by Germany in 1940 while building
** "Sans Peur": "Sans Souci" class seaplane tender captured by Germany in 1940 while building
** "Sans Pareil": "Sans Souci" class seaplane tender captured by Germany in 1940 while building
** "Sans Reproche": "Sans Souci" class seaplane tender captured by Germany in 1940 while building

* Carrier development programs:
** "Georges Pompidou" (tentative name) modified version of UK CVF design. The project is currently on hold. [ [http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/industry_sectors/engineering/article4183255.ece President Sarkozy ditches Franco-British carrier project - Times Online ] ]

* Planned carriers which did not enter service:
** "Joffre": "Joffre" class carrier construction cancelled in 1940
** "Painleve": "Joffre" class carrier plan cancelled in 1940
** "Verdun": Attack carrier development cancelled in 1961
** PH 75: Projected nuclear powered amphibious assault ship program during the 1970s

Germany

Retired:
* Seaplane tenders:
** "Glyndwr": Converted merchant type seaplane tender in service from 1914 to 1916
** "Adeline Hugo Stinnes 3": Converted merchant type seaplane carrier in service from 1914
** "Answald": Converted merchant type seaplane carrier in service from 1915 to 1919
** "Santa Elena": Converted merchant type seaplane carrier in service from 1915 to 1919
** "Oswald": Converted merchant type seaplane carrier in service from 1918 to 1919
** "Stuttgart": Converted "Stettin" class cruiser in service from 1918 to 1919
** "Krischan": Light tug type seaplane tender in service from 1934 and sunk in 1944
** "Gunther Pluschow": Light tug type seaplane tender in service from 1935 to 1945
** "Bernhard von Tschirschky": Light tug type seaplane tender in service from 1935 and sunk in 1944
** "Hans Rolshoven": Light tug type seaplane tender in service from 1938 and sunk in 1944
** "Greif": Light tug type seaplane tender in service from 1937 to 1945
** "Sperber": Light seaplane tender in service from 1938 to 1949
** "Ostmark": Light seaplane tender in service from 1939 and sunk in 1940
** "Schwabenland": Converted merchant type seaplane tender in service from 1939 to 1945
** "Friesenland": Seaplane tender in service from 1939 to 1945
** "Karl Meyer": "Karl Meyer" class seaplane tender in service from 1940 and sunk in 1944
** "Westfalen": Converted merchant type seaplane tender in service from 1940 and sunk in 1944
** "Max Stinsky": "Karl Meyer" class seaplane tender in service from 1941 to 1944
** "Imelmann": "Karl Meyer" class seaplane tender in service from 1941 to 1944
** "Boelke": "Karl Meyer" class seaplane tender in service from 1942 and sunk in 1945
** "Hans Albrecht Wedel": "Hans Albrecht Wedel" class light seaplane tender in service from 1941 and sunk in 1945
** "Bussard": "Bussard" class light seaplane tender in service from 1942 to 1945
** "Falke": "Bussard" class light seaplane tender in service from 1942 to 1946

Planned:
* Planned aircraft carriers which did not enter service:
** "Graf Zeppelin": "Graf Zeppelin" class carrier cancelled during fitting out
** "Flugzeugträger" B: "Graf Zeppelin" class carrier cancelled during construction
** "Seydlitz": Converted "Admiral Hipper" class cruiser cancelled during conversion

* Planned seaplane tenders which did not enter service:
** "Roon": Converted armored cruiser cancelled during conversion in 1917
** "Richtofen": "Hans Albrecht Wedel" class light seaplane tender cancelled during fitting out in 1942
** "Hermann Kohl": "Hans Albrecht Wedel" class light seaplane tender cancelled during fitting out in 1942

India

Active:
* Aircraft carriers:
** "Viraat": "Centaur" class carrier in service since 1987

Planned:
* Aircraft carriers:
** "Vikramaditya": Modified "Kiev" class carrier planned to enter service in 2010

* Development program:
** "Vikrant" class aircraft carrier (Indigenous Aircraft Carrier): 37,500 ton aircraft carrier. It is being built at Cochin SY, southern India, and is expected to enter service in 2011. There will be two built as of 2007.

Retired:
* Aircraft carriers:
** "Vikrant": "Majestic" class carrier in service from 1961 to 1997 and currently a museum ship

Italy

Active:
* "Giuseppe Garibaldi" (551) (1983) - Current fleet flagship

Planned:
* ""Cavour" (550)" (formerly named "Andrea Doria") undergoing trials, will be new fleet flagship

Retired:
* "Sparviero" (1927) (converted liner "Augustus", not completed as carrier) - Sunk 5 October 1944
* "Aquila" (1926) (converted liner "Roma") - BU 1951-1952
* "Giuseppe Miraglia" (1923) (seaplane carrier) - BU 1950
* "Europa" (1895) (merchantman converted to seaplane carrier) - Stricken 1920----

Japan

Retired:
* "Akagi" (1927) - sunk, Battle of Midway, June 1942
* "Amagi" (1944) - used as anti-aircraft platform and sunk in July 1945
* "Chitose" - seaplane tender from 1934 to 1942, rebuilt as light carrier and sunk at Battle of Leyte Gulf in October 1944
* "Chiyoda" - sunk at Battle of Leyte Gulf, October 1944
* "Chuyo" (1942) - sunk by U.S. submarine "Sailfish", December 1943
* "Hiyō" (1939) - sunk, Battle of Philippine Sea, June 1944
* "Hiryū" (1937) - sunk, Battle of Midway, June 1942
* "Hōshō" (1919) - decommissioned 1946
* "Junyō" (1942) - damaged during Battle of Philippine Sea, June 1944. Never repaired; scrapped postwar.
* "Kaga" (1920) - sunk, Battle of Midway, June 1942
* "Kaiyo" (1943) - disabled by Task Force 57 (British Pacific Fleet) aircraft July 1945 and scrapped postwar
* "Katsuragi" (1944) - used as transport to repatriate Japanese troops postwar and then scrapped
* "Ryuho" (1942) - damaged at Kure by U.S. air raid March 1945 and scrapped postwar
* "Ryūjō" (1933) - sunk, Battle of the Eastern Solomons, August 1942
* "Shinano" (1944) - sunk by U.S. submarine "Archerfish", November 1944
* "Shinyo" (1943) - sunk by U.S. submarine "Spadefish", November 1944
* "Shōhō" (1942) - sunk, Battle of the Coral Sea, May 1942
* "Shōkaku" (1941) - sunk, Battle of Philippine Sea, June 1944
* "Sōryū" (1934) - sunk, Battle of Midway, June 1942
* "Taihō" (1944) - sunk, Battle of Philippine Sea, June 1944
* "Taiyō" (1941) - sunk by U.S. submarine "Rasher", August 1944
* "Unryū" (1944) - sunk by U.S. submarine "Redfish", December 1944
* "Unyo" (1942) - sunk by U.S. submarine "Barb", September 1944
* "Zuihō" (1940) - sunk, Battle of Leyte Gulf, October 1944
* "Zuikaku" (1941) - sunk, Battle of Leyte Gulf, October 1944

Only "Hōshō", "Junyō", "Katsuragi", "Kaiyo," and "Ryuho" survived the war and these were scrapped by 1948.

Planned:
* "Aso" 4th unit of Unryu class
* "Ibuki" Heavy cruiser conversion; scrapped postwar
* "Ikoma" 5th unit of Unryu class
* "Kasagi" 6th unit of Unryu class----

Netherlands

Retired:
* Hr.Ms. "Karel Doorman" (ex-British HMS "Venerable", purchased 1948) - Sold to Argentina 1968 and renamed "Veinticinco de Mayo", BU
* Hr.Ms. "Karel Doorman" (ex-British "Nairana", transferred 1946) - Returned to Royal Navy for disposal in 1948 and replaced by HMS "Venerable"----

Russia

* See list of aircraft carriers of Russia and the Soviet Union----

Spain

Active:
* "Principe de Asturias": 17,000 ton STOVL carrier in active service, commissioned 30 May 1982.

Planned:
* Juan Carlos I (LHD1): 27,000 ton, expected in 2008

Retired:
* "Dédalo" - 11,700 ton "Independence" class light carrier, ex-USS "Cabot", in service 1967 through August 1989.
* "Dedalo" 9,900 ton ex-German cargo ship "Neuenfels" 1901, transferred to Spain 1921, converted to seaplane carrier 1922. Scrapped 1 March 1940----

Thailand

Active:
* HTMS "Chakri Naruebet" (1996)----

Ukraine

Retired:
* "Varyag"----

United Kingdom

"excludes escort carriers built during WW2 by US yards"

Active

* "Invincible" class
** "Illustrious" (1982)
** "Ark Royal" (1985)

Planned

* "Queen Elizabeth" class - supercarrier, CTOL/STOVL ships of 65,000-75,000 tonnes
** HMS "Queen Elizabeth" (2014)
** HMS "Prince of Wales" (2016)

In reserve

*"Invincible class
** HMS "Invincible" (1977)

Former

* "Argus" (1916)
* "Furious" (1916)
* "Glorious" class
** "Glorious" (1916)
** "Courageous" (1916)
* "Vindictive" (1918) - converted to cruiser 1925
* "Eagle" (1918)
* "Hermes" (1923) - first purpose-designed aircraft carrier
* "Ark Royal" (1938)
* "Unicorn" fleet maintenance carrier (1943)
* "Illustrious" class
** "Illustrious" (1939)
** "Formidable" (1939)
** "Victorious" (1939)
* "Indomitable" (1940)
* "Implacable" class
** "Implacable" (1942)
** "Indefatigable" (1942)
* "Audacious" class
** "Eagle" (ex-"Audacious") (1946)
** "Ark Royal" (ex-"Irresistible") (1950)
** "Eagle" - cancelled
** "Africa" - to Malta class then cancelled
* "Colossus" class
** "Colossus" (1943), to France 1946 as "Arromanches"
** "Glory" (1943)
** "Ocean"
** "Theseus" (1944)
** "Triumph" (1944)
** "Venerable" - to Netherlands 1948 as "Karel Doorman", to Argentina 1968 as "Veinticinco de Mayo"
** "Vengeance" (1944) - to Brazil 1956 as renamed "Minas Gerais"
** "Warrior" (1944) - to Canada 1946-1948, to Argentina 1958 as "Independencia"
** "Perseus" (1944)
** "Pioneer" (1944)
* "Majestic" class
** "Majestic" (1945) - to Australia 1955 as "Melbourne"
** "Hercules" (1945) - to India 1957 as "Vikrant"
** "Leviathan" (1945) - was never completed
** "Magnificent" - sold to Canada as HMCS "Magnificent"
** "Powerful" (1945) - to Canada 1952 as "Bonaventure"
** "Terrible" (1944) - to Australia in 1948 as "Sydney"
* "Centaur" class
** "Centaur" (1947)
** "Albion" (1947)
** "Bulwark" (1948)
** "Hermes" (ex-"Elephant") (1953), to India 1986 as "Viraat"
** "Hermes" - cancelled
** "Arrogant" - cancelled
** "Monmouth" - cancelled
** "Polyphemus" - cancelled
* "Malta" class - cancelled 1946
**"Malta"
**"New Zealand"
**"Gibraltar"
**"Africa"
* "Queen Elizabeth" class - cancelled 1966
**"Queen Elizabeth"
**"Duke of Edinburgh"
* "Invincible" class
** "Invincible" (1977)----

United States

* See list of aircraft carriers of the United States Navy
* See list of aircraft carrier classes of the United States Navy
* See list of escort aircraft carriers of the United States Navy----

References

* [http://www.hazegray.org/navhist/carriers/ Haze Gray & Underway World Aircraft Carrier Lists]
*Warrilow, Betty. "Nabob, the first Canadian-manned aircraft carrier" Owen Sound, Ont. : Escort Carriers Association, 1989.
*Chesneau, Roger. "Aircraft Carriers of the World, 1914 to the Present. An Illustrated Encyclopedia" Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 0 87021-902-2