Ranked: The Navy's 5 Best Aircraft Carriers Ever

Summary and Key Points: Aircraft carriers are among the most prestigious military assets, projecting airpower globally as floating airbases. Over the past century, no nation has built or innovated more in aircraft carrier design than the United States, with 11 supercarriers currently in service.

-Notable US carriers include the USS Langley (CV-1), the first US aircraft carrier; the USS Nimitz (CVN-68), the oldest serving carrier; the USS Lexington (CV-16), a key World War II vessel; the USS Gerald R.