Can a U.S. Navy Aircraft Carrier Be Sunk?

Summary and Key Points: U.S. Navy aircraft carriers, particularly the Nimitz-class, are enormous vessels designed for resilience and power projection. With a flight deck the size of four football fields, these carriers host a Carrier Air Wing and are protected by a Carrier Strike Group of submarines, cruisers, and destroyers equipped with advanced missile and defense systems.

-Even if an enemy missile or aircraft breaches these defenses, carriers are built with thick steel plating and watertight compartments to withstand damage.